Shamadan Dance

This work has been written within the framework of the Obertöne project by the Bezirksblasmusikverband Linz-Land (Austria). It was dedicated to Anton Forstner as a thank you for his years of support to wind music in the Linz-Land District. The Shamadan is an old oriental folk dance full of symbolism in which a female dancer – often on the occasion of a wedding – balances a candelabra on her head as a token of spiritual light.

In this work, the euphonium takes up the role of the dancer. At the very beginning, the soloist already has the opportunity to shine in an unaccompanied recitative. Next, the soloist and band alternate, and in the course of the work the band also plays an important part with various technical highlights. More variation is created with a solo passage accompanied by percussion and hand claps, culminating beautifully in a grand tutti towards the end of the piece. Challenging music with much to enjoy!