Edwards ECSTATIC DANCE for Two Violins

Ross Edwards

Ecstatic Dance for Two Violins (1978 1990)

G. Schirmer Australia Pty Ltd Sydney, NSW

Violin

Violin

Score in C duration circa 5 minutes

If this work is to be performed publicly as a live concert, permission must be secured from the Australasian Performing Right Association (APRA) Locked Bag 5000 Strawberry Hills NSW 2012

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Email: apra@apra.com.au

If this work is to be streamed, synchronised or performed publicly as an opera, ballet or theatrical dramatico musical performance, a grand rights and/or synchronisation licence must be secured from G. Schirmer Australia Pty Ltd.

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Editing and typesetting by Bernard Rofe

Commissioned by Belinda Webster for performance by 2MBS FM Radio (Sydney)

Copyright © 2011 by G. Schirmer Australia Pty Ltd, Sydney, NSW, a division of Wise Music Group International Copyright Secured. All Rights Reserved.

Unauthorised reproduction of any part of this publication by any means including photocopying is an infringement of copyright.

ECSTATIC DANCE

(1978 90)

for two violins

Ecstatic Dances grew out of a flute duo I contributed to a garland of miniatures celebrating Peter Sculthorpe’s 50th birthday in 1979. A flute and clarinet arrangement has been made by Roger Armstrong. I made a detailed revision of both scores in 2013.

The first dance makes use of the mediaeval European polyphonic device known as hocketing to produce a graceful interplay of hypnotic insect sound patterns. After a melodic flowering it dissolves briefly into a remote, nocturnal sequence which functions as an interlude. The second dance, radiant and insistently melodic, is often performed on its own. It exists in many versions, including one for two violins, and in Chorale and Ecstatic Dance for string quartet, string orchestra and full orchestra.

Ecstatic Dances was commissioned by Belinda Webster for Radio 2MBS FM, Sydney, especially for the flautist Geoffrey Collins, to whom it is dedicated.

Ross Edwards