K41. Nightshade

Music for Ballet

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This ballet—Nightshade—is conceived for the young and young at heart. Comprised of 16 dances set in a wilderness glen with a pond, any subset may be chosen for performance, though Lupine and Revenge of the Dandelions are linked conceptually. The titles of each dance, named after mostly American wild flora, hint at the storyline. Nightfall arrives with the signature dance, Nightshade. Scored for pit orchestra, it may of course be performed by larger ensembles, professional or advanced.

Conductors: for score and parts of this ballet, Nightshade, contact me.

For Pit Orchestra

• 2 Fls (both dbl Picc)
• 2 Obs (2nd dbl Eng Hn)
• 2 Cls (2nd dbl Bs Cl Snapdragons only)
• 1 Bn
• 2 Hns, 2 Tpts, 1 Trb
• 2 Timpani
• 2 Perc (tri, cr cyms, glock, sn dr, whip)
• Harp
• Strings

Specific instrumentation for each dance (no doubling unless listed)

• For Daisies, 2 piccs no fls, 1 perc (tri), no harp
• For Water Lilies, 1 perc (tri)
• For Foxtail, 1 fl, 1 picc, 1 ob, E hn, no perc, no harp
• For Duckweed, 2 fls 1 picc, 1 ob, E hn, no perc, no harp
• For Pine Nuts & Poppy Seeds, 1 fl, 1 picc, no timp, no perc
• For Milkweed, 1 fl, 1 picc, 1 perc (glock), no harp
• For Snapdragons, 2 fls 1 picc, 1 Cl, Bs Cl, 2 perc (glock, whip, sn dr), no harp
• For Cattail, 2 fls 1 picc, 1 perc (tri)
• For Buttercups, no timp, 1 perc (tri)
• For Lupine, 1 perc (sn dr), no harp
• For Revenge of the Dandelions, 1 fl, 1 picc, 1 ob, E hn, 1 perc (cr cyms), no harp
• For Watercress, no perc, no harp
• For Trumpeters, 2 piccs no fls, 2 obs E hn, 2 perc (tri, cr cyms)
• For Nightshade, 2 fls 1 picc, 1 ob, 1 perc (glock), no harp
• For Morning Glory, 2 obs E hn, 1 perc (cr cyms)
• For Sunflowers, 2 perc (tri, cr cyms)

Performance Time: 1 hr 4 min
      1.  Daisies - 2:05
      2.  Water Lilies - 5:53
      3.  Foxtail - 1:32
      4.  Duckweed - 5:54
      5.  Pine Nuts & Poppy Seeds - 2:36
      6.  Milkweed - 6:52
      7.  Snapdragons - 8:44
      8.  Cattail - 3:04
      9.  Buttercups - 1:47
      10.  Lupine - 1:50
      11.  Revenge of the Dandelions - 2:48
      12.  Watercress - 4:16
      13.  Trumpeters (pas de deux) - 3:52
      14.  Nightshade - 5:11
      15.  Morning Glory - 5:13
      16.  Sunflowers - 1:52

The MP3 of the signature dance Nightshade available for download below is a studio recording using live instruments; the other MP3s are synth recordings. The MP3s below may be downloaded for free personal use and shared with friends. (I reserve all copyrights on this music, contact me directly for explicit permissions.)