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Title	Escenas de los Aztecas
Article no.	4061303
Category	Concert/wind/brass band
Subcategory	Concert music
Instrumentation	Ha (concert/wind band)
Format	PrtStm (full score and parts)
Country of publication	Belgium (be)
Publisher *	click here
Publisher's article no. *	click here
Year of publication	2012
Price	click here
Composer	Barnes, James
Opus no.	op.141
Difficulty level	5
Evaluation level of countries	C4 (Swiss 1st class); D5 (German highest level)
Duration	13:47
Additional info/contents	The work has three recognizable sections, but it is cast in a single movement. The first portion, entitled Jaguar Dance employs a crude flute (ocarina), log drums and other Aztec instruments such as jawbones and rattle sticks to invoke a sort of folk dance celebrating the animal that the Aztecs worshipped and respected above all others: the jaguar. The second portion of the work, first introduced by a lenghty English Horn solo, is called Cantares, or Ghost Dance. Cantares were mystical chants employed by Aztec high priests to attempt to invoke the return of their ghostly ancestors. (Again like the Romans, the Aztecs worshipped not only multiple gods, but also their ancestors). The third portion of the piece Human Sacrifice, is a moderate dance in 7/8 time, intended to invoke the horror of the massive Aztec religious sacrifical ceremonies, where thousands of captured prisoners from neighboring tribes were slaughtered atop the high pyramid as a gift to the various Aztec gods. The victims were held down on a large stone altar while a priest stabbed them in the chest and ripped out their beating hearts, which were thrown into a gigant sacrifical flame. (Once can hear the beating heart in the bass drum). The victims were then beheaded and their bodies were rolled down the steps of the pyramid, companied by hysterical screams and shouts of the maniacal crowds gathered to witness this barbaric ritual. Towards the end of the last scene, the listener can hear drum rolls starting slowly, then beginning to increase in velocity, which is intended to give the listener the impression of one of the countless bodies rolling down the steep steps of the pyramid. 1. Jaguar Dance 2. Cantares (Ghost Songs) 3. Human Sacrifice Prt PicFlt/(Okr opt.) Flt 1,2 Ob 1,(2/EHrn) Fag 1,2 EsClr Clr 1,2,3 BClr CBClr ASax 1,2 TSax BSax Trp 1,2,3,4 Hrn in F+Eb 1,2,3,4 Trb in C 1,2,3 (BC) Trb in Bb 1,2,3 (BC+TC) Euph in C 1,2 (BC) Euph in Bb 1,2 (BC+TC) EsTub (BC+TC) BTub (BC+TC) Tub in C KB Perc 1,2,3,4,5,6: -BD -BTr -Bng -Cbz (large, or metal shaker) -Wispi -China Cym -MCym -AntCym -Egg Schüttelrohr/Rkg -Glsp (extended range required (high D)) -Gng (small) -Gui (large) -Log Drums (3, or TTmTms) -Mar (5.0 octaves (optional 4.3)) -Mark Tree (metal) -RnSt -Rattle Stick -Sistrum -BTr -SD (Piccolo) -Splash Cym -SuCym (2, medium or large) -TamTam -Tmb -Tmbl (5) -TDr -TmTm (low, 3) -Trng -Vib -Vsl (or Jawbone) -Xyl
Sample sheet music	click here
Sample score *	click here
Sound sample *	click here
Video sample *	click here
Listen to this in the Musicainfo Radio *	click here
Available	yes
ergänzender Text *	click here

	Format
	Escenas de los Aztecas (concert/wind band), full score and parts
	Escenas de los Aztecas (concert/wind band), full score
	13 Mid Europe: Stadtkapelle Landeck, audio CD
	14 Mid Europe: Harmonie Sternberk, audio CD
	Danza Sinfonica: The Music of James Barnes, audio CD click here
	HaFaBra Music #37: Escenas de los Aztecas, audio CD click here

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