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Russian Dance Suite
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Russian Dance Suite

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Russische Tanzsuite
Suite in 4 Sätzen

In some of his works the composer Kees Vlak dealt with different peoples, their characters, and above all he considered their musical heritages. When he was invited by the symphonic wind band of the Minsk Conservatory of Music, it was this visit that inspired him to write his "Russian Dance Suite". He was struck by the love of the Slavic Byelorussians for their country as well as by their musical tradition. It is somewhat unusual that the folk instrument that is commonly in use there resembles very much the Hungarian cimbalom, and it is not the balaika, an instrument you would think of in the first place.

Overture
In the overture the composer expressed his feelings when he was welcomed in Byelorussia and his very first impressions. The Byelorussians appeared to be cosmopolitan, not whimsical at and they are possessed by a forward-pushing energy. The overture therefore is of a forward-pressing nature.

Elegiac Dance
In this movement the composer evokes the bellicose conflicts that took place on Byelorussian soil, and also the state of poverty in which large numbers of the Byelorussian population have to live in.

Petrushka
The composer explains this movement as follows: “The music is reminiscent of Russian history. The 'petrushkas' was as group of people that lived in Moscow and other large cities of the country. It usually consisted of dancers, acrobats, musicians, singers, comedians and frequently also of impostors. During the reign of Ivan IV the Terrible in the 16th century, many of the petrushkas were bereaved of all their goods and chattels.”

Trepak
The final movement of the suite is a trepak. This lively Russian dance in a way is similar to the Italian tarantella. The character of the Byelorussian people and their innate power are standing out prominently in a rapid sequence of unexpected musical ideas.


Grade Level GB: 4-5
Grade Level USA: 3 (Intermediate)
Composer: Vlak, Kees
Genre: Concert Piece, Suite
Performance time: 0,00
Publisher: Rundel
Size: DIN A4
Info: Full Score + Condensed Score + Parts
Rundel Order Number: MVSR2424
Release Date: 2004

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* 30.09.1938† 05.12.2014
Cornelis (Kees) Vlak was born on 30th September, 1938 in Amsterdam. He was influenced by music at young age and when he was eight years old he got his first piano lessons. Later he played the trumpet in the fanfare orchestra “Waterland“. Vlak studied piano and trumpet at the Amsterdam Conservatory (exames 1959 and 1961), and composition and conducting at the Musiklyzeum Amsterdam. He earned...
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