Shop - Diff'rent Dances - best-sellers for three guitars

Guitar Ensemble School

www.derek-hasted.co.uk

Diff'rent Dances Books 1 to 5

Derek Hasted - for 3 Guitars

Rhythms of the world

Book 1 (CMP 393) : First Class Stomp, Rain Dance, Saraband, Tutu Tango
Book 2 (CMP 394) : Brazil Nut, El Kidd, Tyrolienne, Penultimate Waltz
Book 3 (CMP 395) : Conga Reel, Jigsaw, Russian Steppes, War Dance
Book 4 (CMP 396) : Imaginary Reel, Jazz'd a Minute, Triangular Dance, Sambarine
Book 5 (CMP 375) : Canariosity, Courante Affair, 20-40 Vision, Fundango

"well written ensemble music" - Classical Guitar Magazine

From the Foreword...

" This multi-volume set of pieces came out of an idea to capture a wide variety of the world's dance forms in a set of short and accessible Guitar Trios.

The motivation behind the concept is to bring together a whole collection of short pieces, each very different to the next, but each characterised by a well-defined rhythmic and harmonic layout which helps ensure that the pieces gel, not only on a first playing, but more importantly, on a first listening.

The emphasis is on capturing the spirit of each dance rhythm within a modest level of Classical Guitar technique; the intention is to experience the fun and joy of the huge variety of music in the world.

Whether the pieces are played singly or in sequence, this is a set of books with great contrasts in rhythms and harmonies, from gentle waltzes to aggressive war dances, from restful major keys to poignant minor keys. "

 Published by Corda Music - Price £3.50 per book + p&p

Ordering instructions

Saraband - something graceful from Diff'rent Dances Book 1

Supplied as Full Score and individual parts

A trio for intermediate Guitarists in which the tune is developed systematically and passed from player to player as the complexity increases. It is primarily resident in positions I and VII and benefits from particular emphasis on volume and tone changes. Many of the long notes benefit from being taken as high up the neck as permits, so that rich and full vibrato can be added. For example, top part, second bar here, really shouldn't be an open G if the player's skill permits.

Audio Clip (MP3 - 192K)

Audio problems?

Penultimate Waltz - something romantic from Diff'rent Dances Book 2

Supplied as Full Score and individual parts

This piece is a little longer than most of the Diff'rent Dances, and uses the full compass of the Ensemble Guitars to create a tall and clear sound. Line two has a series of counter-melodies which flow and breath in a way which helps the tune phrase itself. The piece is divided into sections, and each section figures in the total piece more than once, giving the illusion of a complex piece with less to practise!

And the title? Well, I've always thought that the Last Waltz sounded so terribly final....

Audio Clip (MP3 - 240K)

Audio problems?

Russian Steppes - something with fire from Diff'rent Dances Book 3

Supplied as Full Score and individual parts

This piece combines a slow, mournful tune symbolic of a peasant lament with this sabre-rattling cossack-prancing centre section. The bass part has been written to be accessible to those with a growing but still limited vocabulary of chords, and the preponderance of open strings means that the piece gives a rich and sustained sound even as the chords are changing. By the way, this incipit shows a rehearsal mark, which appears on each of the single-part sheets as an aid to practising.

Audio Clip (MP3 - 192K)

Audio problems?

Sambarine - something rhythmic from Diff'rent Dances Book 4

Supplied as Full Score and individual parts

Put blinkers on and play the rhythm exactly as written. Let the writing do the work! The swing in this piece comes from the interlocking of all the parts round the rhythms of each other. See from the extract that sometimes lines 2 and 3 are in step and sometimes they are interwoven.

This is a fine piece to go along with some sort of shakers - maracas, cabasa, or even, to be honest, woodblocks.

I've even been known to play a tambourine with my left foot. It's a bit low as a footstool, but it adds a lot of definition to the sound and provides a focus for the parts to dance around.

Audio Clip (MP3 - 224K)

Audio problems?

Fundango - something Spanish from Diff'rent Dances Book 5

Supplied as Full Score and individual parts

A mix of Fandango and Fun. See in the top part that you can snap or pull off to each open E. There is a centre section in which the tune is passed between lines one and two, and the whole thing proceeds with a real sense of purpose. The bass line is a little easier but none the less satisfying to play - it spans a considerable range itself, but provides a vital pulse against which the other parts dart and weave their magic.

Audio Clip (MP3 - 192K)

Audio problems?