Dinosaur Dance (Ensemble)

Michael Udow

General Info

Year: 1991
Duration: c. 6:00
Difficulty: (see Ratings for explanation)
Publisher: ACA
Cost: Score and Parts - $21.50   |   Score Only - $0.00

Instrumentation

Solo Timpani

Player I:
Player II:
Player III:
Player IV:

Program Notes

Jonathan Haas's first compositional request of me was for a timpani and percussion ensemble work for his Lincoln Center touring out-reach group, Drumfire. His friend and colleague, Ben Herman, was the soloist. The premiere took place in 1992 at Carnegie Hall on an American Symphony Orchestra concert.

When composing melodically for timpani, I am drawn towards the beautiful timbre exhibiting aspects of cello/bass qualities within this instrumental console. This work, intended for four or five timpani, maintains the "get-down" bass tessitura of the instrument with off-beat rhythmic jabs and contrapuntal themes presently by the ensemble. Do not be confused by the title. I am not inferring that timpani are dinosaurs. Quite to the contrary, I think [the mechanical craftsmanship of the instrument is far from being fully developed. The title was anointed by my then six-year-old daughter, Rachel, who came running down the steps as I was playing through the part saying, "Dad, that's a Dinosaur Dance".

Commercial Discography

Online Recordings

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Recent Performances

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Works for Percussion by this Composer

A Bird Whispered, ""Your Children Are Dying"" – Percussion Quintet
Acoustic Composition No. 1 (Solo) – Multiple Percussion; Tape
Acoustic Composition No. 1 (Ensemble) – Percussion Duo; Tape
Acoustic Study No. 1 – Multiple Percussion
African Welcome Piece – Percussion (12)
As the Wind Colors – Percussion Quartet
Barn Burner – Multiple Percussion; Trombone; Piano
Bog Music (Solo) – Multiple Percussion; Percussion Ensemble
Bog Music (Ensemble) – Percussion Quartet
Concerto for Percussion with String Quartet – Multiple Percussion; Strings
Coyote Dreams – Percussion Trio; Marimba
Cycle, Retrace, Progress, Be Still – Vibraphone; Dance
Dance for J.P.C. – Percussion Quartet
Dinosaur Dance (Solo) – Timpani
Dinosaur Dance (Ensemble) – Percussion Quartet; Timpani
Dreams from A Bayou - Long Ago but not Forgotten - – Vibraphone; Flute
Duet (Udow) – Multiple Percussion; Dance
Flashback – Percussion Quartet
Flashback with MIDI – Percussion Quintet; Tape
Four Movements (Udow) – Percussion Quartet
Fracture – Multiple Percussion
Illusion I – Solo Percussion - Claves; Conductors (5)
Inside - Out with a Secret P.S. – Snare Drum
Lightning II – Percussion Trio; Oboe; Saxophone
Limits – Percussion Trio
Music for Cross-Cultures, No. 1 – Percussion (12)
Reality I – Percussion Quintet
Remembrance (Udow) – Multiple Percussion; Wind Ensemble
Sandsteps I – Percussion Duo
Shadow Songs I – Percussion (12)
Shadow Songs IV (Sextet) – Percussion Sextet
Shadow Songs IV (Ensemble) – Percussion Ensemble; Marimba
Suite for Jazz Drums and 4 Handclappers – Drum Set
Tennei-Ji – Marimba
The Contemporary Percussionist – Multiple Percussion
The Enchanted Land – Percussion Duo; Oboe
The Shattered Mirror –
Thoughts from Almost Near Somewhere – Percussion Sextet
Threnody – Multiple Percussion; Tape
Timbrack Quartet – Percussion Quartet
Token City – Multiple Percussion; Video
Two Transparent Structures for Percussion Quintet (Ensemble) – Percussion Ensemble; Marimba
Two Transparent Structures for Percussion Quintet (Quintet) – Percussion Quintet
Understanding – Percussion Octet; Tape
Vistas – Multiple Percussion; Bass Clarinet
Zig-Zag – Percussion Duo