Baroque Music for Recorder Ensemble - Various Dances
- Master ensemble playing
- Develop blend and balance
- Execute various Baroque dance forms
- Perfect collaborative music-making
About This Piece
Composers: Various Baroque Composers
Difficulty: Late Intermediate
Notes Used: D, E, F#, G, A, B, C, D (high), E (high), F# (high), G (high)
Key: D Major
Form: Suite of Dances for Recorder Ensemble
Allemande
Stately German dance in four parts (soprano/alto 1).
Courante
Lively French court dance in compound meter.
Sarabande
Slow triple meter with emphasis on beat 2.
Gigue
Lively gigue in 6/8 time to conclude the suite.
Performance Practice Notes
- Ensemble skills: Listen carefully to other parts; blend tone
- Balance: Adjust dynamics to support ensemble texture
- Intonation: Tune carefully to other recorders
- Dance character: Each dance has distinct character and tempo
- Articulation: Match articulation with other players
Historical Context
Baroque recorder consorts were popular in both professional and amateur music-making. These dance suites combine works from various composers arranged for recorder ensemble, representing the Baroque tradition of suite composition. Each dance originates from a different European country - Allemande (Germany), Courante (France), Sarabande (Spain), and Gigue (England) - demonstrating the cosmopolitan nature of Baroque music. Playing in ensemble develops essential skills for chamber music and prepares students for more advanced ensemble repertoire. This final piece of Book 3 celebrates collaborative music-making and the social aspect of recorder playing.
Performance Goal: Demonstrate excellent ensemble skills - blend, balance, intonation, and collaborative music-making. Master the character of each Baroque dance form while maintaining ensemble cohesion. This final piece completes Book 3 (Late Intermediate), representing the culmination of your Baroque recorder studies and preparing you for advanced professional-level repertoire. Congratulations on completing all 50 pieces of Book 3!
Practice Strategy
- Practice your part thoroughly before ensemble rehearsal
- Record ensemble rehearsals to check balance and intonation
- Listen to other parts' music to understand the complete texture
- Practice tuning with other recorders before playing
- Study the character of each dance form individually
- Work on breath control to sustain long phrases in ensemble
- Celebrate completing Book 3 by performing this suite with friends!