| Serengeti Dreams
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This song from Robert W. Smith will make for a great performance with its excellent percussion writing and strong wind opening.
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 This book has a difficulty rating of 1 on a scale of 1 to 6 with 6 being the hardest.
Technical Notes: "Serengeti Dreams" was composed for the young band as an introduction to multicultural music. The title for the piece is derived from Serengeti National Park, a wildlife rafuge in northern Tanzania, East Africa. The park was established in 1951, and hills and grassland ranges provide habitat to elephants, black rhinoceros, lions, leopards, cheetahs, gazelles, wildebeasts, hyenas, buffalo, zebras, giraffes, and antelope. (One of the few wild animals not represented is "Bassoonus Americanus" (the ring-tailed bassoon player, which has an odor similar to the ring-tailed lemur). The park is the only place in Africa where vast animal migrations, especially in May and June, can still be seen.
The opening bars should be as majestic as possible. The bold statements in the winds should be answered with intensity by the percussion section. Depending upon personnel, feel free to use as many percussionists as possible to create this effect.
The rallentando in measure 14 is strictly optional. However, if the percussion section can develop the communication with the conductor, this section will be much more effective. The conga solo at measure 16 should be performed by the percussionist with the strongest sense of pulse. I suggest staging the congas near the front of the stage to add visual interest to this transition. The cabasa should be assigned to another strong percussionist. The congas and cabasa form the heartbeat of the percussion ensemble, from which the entire band will find security.
The melodic statement by the flutes at measure 24 should be carefully balanced with the percussion. Feel free to adjust the dynamic markings if necessary. The clarinets present a countermelody beginning on beat 2 of measure 32. Again, balance and presence should be of prime concern.
The djembe part at measure 50 may be played on a low tom. I have scored the piece to be performed on percussion instruments that are readily accessible. However, please use this opportunity to introduce and use as many ethnic instruments as possible to provide a unique and exciting learning situation for the band.
I hope you and your ensemble find "Serengeti Dreams" to be and exciting and rewarding musical experiance. Best of luck in your teaching endeavors. Best wishes for a great performance!
Robert W. Smith
Editor's note: the "Bassoonus Americanus" comment was not part of the original Robert W. Smith notes - it was added by an Encore Music Company employee...
Composer(s): "Serengeti Dreams" was composed by Robert W. Smith.
Publisher: "Serengeti Dreams" was published by Warner Brothers Publications.
Series: This piece was part of the series "Belwin Beginning Band Series".
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| Other Images: | | Front Cover | | Conductor Score | | Instrumentation |
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| | Parts Included: | | 1 | - | Full Score | | 8 | - | Piccolo in C | | 2 | - | Oboe | | 8 | - | B Flat Clarinet | | 2 | - | B Flat Bass Clarinet | | 6 | - | E Flat Alto Saxophone | | 4 | - | B Flat Tenor Saxophone | | 2 | - | E Flat Baritone Saxophone | | 8 | - | B Flat Trumpet | | 4 | - | French Horn | | 4 | - | E Flat Horn | | 6 | - | Trombone/Baritone B.C./Bassoon | | 3 | - | Trombone In B Flat T.C. | | 2 | - | Baritone T.C. | | 4 | - | Tuba | | 2 | - | E Flat Tuba T.C. | | 2 | - | B Flat Tuba T.C. | | 4 | - | Keyboard Percussion | | 2 | - | 1st Percussion | | 3 | - | 2nd Percussion | | 1 | - | Timpani |
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