Armenian Dances, Part I by Alfred Reed - Score & Sound

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Armenian Dances, Part I
By Alfred Reed
Item: 00-BDM02031
Series: Belwin Classic Band
Grade 5
Format: Conductor Score & Parts
Based on authentic Armenian folk songs collected by Komidas Vartabed, this work has been expanded through contemporary use of rhythmic, harmonic, and melodic content to showcase the modern wind band. A wonderful staple in wind literature. (12:00) This title is available in SmartMusic.
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[@jacobstone3562]

This song is super under-appreciated. Its one of the best pieces ever composed. I just wish trombones didnt have so many rests (i play trombone)

[@evanmccaskill3687]

I play trombone too and it feels like over half the piece is rest. Feels like it.

[@person5480]

nobody cares maybe play jazz where you get melodies and solos dumbass

[@stefankurpick8425]

@@person5480 bruh nobody cares what you have to say

[@person5480]

Stefan Kurpick that’s literally what I said

[@poisondog88]

o bama maybe understand that some people don’t have the opportunity to play jazz band

[@sibusisiwendlovu7792]

I remember playing this piece 2 years ago in Carnegie hall, and man did I have the time of my life😭 I miss 2nd flute😭

[@joelfred2900]

I remember the time in 2020 I played 1st clarinet in front of my camera LMFAOOO

[@itsme-uk5ki]

@@joelfred2900 mood

[@itsme-uk5ki]

i played second flute in my high school band i loved it (flagler palm coast high)

[@natfletch05]

@@itsme-uk5kiyour high school band played this??? I only got to play this in high school in All State band lol

[@itsme-uk5ki]

@@natfletch05 yeah i played it in 2021 i was a sophomore. the symphonic class i was in played grade 5s and 6s

[@apples499]

Very fun piece to play as an oboist/English Hornist

[@tempest1909]

I played this song freshman year wind ensemble and I remember thinking, "man, third horn is so hard" now as first horn I look back and scoff. Amazing song though very fun memories.

[@bugle1972]

I last played this piece in 1989 at Morehead State University's Band Festival. The honor band was conducted by Dr. Harry Begian - the man that commissioned this work with Alfred Reed as a memorial of his father and his childhood in Armenia. Needless to say, the tempo was about twice as fast in most places throughout his interpretation. No mercy at all on a bunch of high school musicians, especially the tuba section during the last portion of this piece. Wow!

[@generalgta3528]

HEY, PLEASE REPLY TO ME!!!

[@tubasungod]

I'm playing this in a couple weeks and I absolutely love it! Reed really knew how to orchestrate and he always gives us tubas such great parts.

[@TheBerryMerryMan]

I’m playing this in about a week, at band qualified for like, idk, it’s called the southeastern division conference in Memphis Tennessee which is pretty cool, this is one of the 6 songs we will be playing, really fun piece

[@theflyingtuba]

I loved it as a tuba player

[@TheBerryMerryMan]

Isnt like the most yall get like a 16th note and then back to good ol quarter, half, and whole notes?@@theflyingtuba

[@theflyingtuba]

@@TheBerryMerryMan through the beginning of the piece yes, the ending is what’s fun.

[@TheBerryMerryMan]

Yea, the freaking furioso part goes hard, woodwinds, since I'm bassoon, bro, those sixteenth notes go hard@@theflyingtuba

[@brandonli9675]

The ending is literally the best.

[@Nikumi1]

oboe so good

[@BELLI-sq2eo]

nyarknc und

[@cheyenneajebe9779]

Claudellor_04 actually bass clarinet is the best and clarinet is better than whatever amalgamation the oboe is

[@chazchillings3019]

Clarinets had to do so so many scales just to be covered over by trombones. I found that flutes get melody and clarinets get to do trills and scales. But it was a fun piece. Equal to all parts really.

[@randomfandomsdude8933]

I played this piece a year ago on 2nd flute. The runs were an absolute nightmare 😂 Had tons of fun though

[@isaaczhang2762]

Are you a high schooler, college student, or professional player? I am a high schooler and think this is really difficult for flute

[@tracyisdying820]

That whole section beginning at 5:40… absolute musical perfection

[@absolutefool8060]

0:03 movement 1 2:30 movement 2 4:36 movement 3 7:23 movement 4 9:09 movement 5

[@kendall9723]

Favorite piece ever played at an honor band😍

[@robbingtonthekicker8129]

6:47 might be one of the greatest big hits ever

[@koolaidman5745]

4:35 is the 5/8 for anyone that is looking for it.

[@Tamet4]

thanks

[@goldenknight2961]

Working on this for festival it’s such a complex meter I just watch for time now

[@93myj27]

I played this as a freshman in high school. And the 5/8 section was tough for me at the start

[@danielpopa2887]

I had the pleasure in enjoying this piece alongside my peers at my High School concert last week. We were terrified the first time it was handed out to each section, but we ate it all up in approximately three months of preparation. Until now, the intricate sounds of every instrument conjoined into mutiple melodies make me tear up. I wish to play this once more in college.

[@kell_0741]

Forever a classic, I'm privileged to play the same piece my dad did when he was in highschool and hopefully the same piece my kids will one day play.

[@mediocre_skewber]

🤓

[@kell_0741]

@@mediocre_skewber oh my god stop following me everywhere andy, it was like 2am, i was getting sentimental...

[@mediocre_skewber]

no way you were listening to this at 2am don't you have better things to do at 2am

[@kell_0741]

@@mediocre_skewber like what? practice? homework? workout? eat? its 2am. Im in bed, Im not doing anything but watching youtube. Im being called out in a youtube comment section please leave me to my jerma vod

[@mediocre_skewber]

@@kell_0741 you’re normally up busy with hw at that time anyway that’s what i had assumed

[@davidgalvan2114]

By far one of my favorite pieces to have played timpani on

[@Sky-gd7cw]

I’m playing this right now in two different community bands at the same time. In one of them I’m playing 1st clarinet and the other one I’m playing 3rd clarinet. Going to be interesting bouncing between the two parts frequently.

[@sulfurx777]

Best concert piece ever composed as far as I know

[@boo3474]

Playing this now as a sophomore in high school pretty fun piece

[@cruzmendez7362]

same bro

[@kiannathomas7579]

Played this year for MPA wind ensemble for my school I’m in tenth grade and never had so much fun fun in a piece, second trombone has never been more fun. Got a perfect score for this and Elsa procession to the cathedral and melody shop best set ever.

[@livrey8764]

Currently playing the xylophone part for my high-school band … definitely one of the most interesting I’ve had to play but I kinda love it 🤷🏻‍♀️

[@XYZ14_8]

I’m playing clarinet for my hs band, this song is amazing. Most likely the best song I’ve played b4

[@travisfazio3157]

The French Horn part though 😍

[@garlic_bread_toast4403]

French horn gang

[@garlic_bread_toast4403]

We’re playing this piece for contest this year and in the last 20ish measures I give myself a headache from playing too loud almost every time. Needless to say, it’s a fun song.

[@nanni5230]

​@Garlic_Bread_Toast Bring it out but don't overpower the rest of the band 🙂 The French horn has the best sound but it shouldn't be the only thing heard (love the French horn 😌)

[@garlic_bread_toast4403]

@@nanni5230 well, we had our first of three probably four (because state) contests and the host there said that it was the best he’d heard our school play in five years. We also performed way better this year than last year. Last year we got about a 47 and somehow still managed to make it to state, and this year we got 63, 68, and a 70 from the three judges.

[@cinder7127]

Played this in 10th grade concert... man that was good

[@kaylee4262]

This piece is so beautiful! I'm auditioning for my college wind ensemble on oboe.

[@shiprx]

im playing first oboe as a freshman in hs 😭

[@ihopenoonefindsthisaccount7687]

pro tip do not try to sight read this at 12 in the morning😀

[@nataliebundy7415]

Beautiful piece!

[@dn6893]

This piece is so fun on euph

[@dylanu7896]

I, in my tired demlium, thought it was called American Dream part I

[@dinonuggy08]

Our director is still seeing which pieces we can handle and this is one of them. Its my Sophmore year in high school and im so excited cause I got 1st alto and the Furioso and 357(11:05) is really getting me. I need to practice more and hopefully he decides we play this piece. Im so excited

[@maillevenne2928]

This is the first piece I have with a cool oboe part after years of playing flute parts and "oboe" parts that are really just flute parts anyway

[@goldenknight2961]

Can’t wait to play this at festival this year

[@jaybowden8092]

I wish Mr. Reed would have shown more love to us Eb clarinetist out here

[@chazchillings3019]

We had a Mr. Reed too.

[@cadentrombone5345]

@@chazchillings3019 ?

[@sky-boy6038]

Might play this in band soon!

[@grantthememelord981]

Playing this tomorrow as a 9th grader, 4th horn, with the SOU Honor Band directed by Dr. Christine Lundahl. I'm super excited!

[@mxstila6220]

I'm currently playing this in my all county band as 3rd clarinet! I like the piece but I swear the 32 triplets, 5/8 parts, and key signatures are getting me. Guess I have to practice lol

[@hodgepodgevideos]

I'm about to play this at All-state. I've got a few weeks to learn how to be an All-state English horn player. I'm jealous of the oboe part though, it sounds fun. I'm first chair oboe, but since I'm playing English horn, 2nd chair oboe gets a chance to shine.

[@abizarrejojofan9725]

This song is great my teacher replaced what we would have played with this and shared how much it meant to her before giving it to us but as Alto Sax 1 I'm a bit worried to learn it all in a month and a half

[@isaac_tuba]

I get to play this piece as principal tuba in All State and all the “1 tuba” parts have ridiculous rhythms. can’t wait to spend all afternoon figuring them out

[@skyleigh5844]

the euphonium part confuses me so much as well lmao

[@Airplanes0123456789]

h

[@skyleigh5844]

@@Airplanes0123456789 thanks for that

[@seanhernandezmusic]

Were you in the Arizona all state band, I heard they played this piece?

[@isaac_tuba]

BandTrashSean108 yeah I’m in Arizona, we played it this year

[@fw_kay]

dude i get absolute chills at 7:23 yall DONT understand 😭

[@truetobecosplay3438]

Dude the runs kill me so much😭😭 My fingers don't wanna move that fast💀

[@SkySpadeMikazena]

4:35 is defiantly my favorite section of the entire suite

[@gerardoarredondo3093]

Same

[@Anthony-th7tr]

The way it’s written with the sax and bassoon duet is quite beautiful. The bouncyness of the oboe and flutes is also quite admirable. The way the horns come in with that 5/8 feel like royal almost but still feeling like you are a peasant dancing in the market streets of Armenia

[@garlic_bread_toast4403]

This section hurts my brain because whenever I try counting I get lost after like 5 measures

[@Dardaan17]

I love this piece as much as the next person, but I can't help but notice that the triplet run in the first measure doesn't fit in one beat like it's supposed to. Maybe I'm missing something? If anyone knows, let me know. Thanks

[@nicolemusic02]

As tuba player who played this year, this piece was really fun to play but some of the rhythms were really confusing o get my head around

[@nubfried]

hey my fren gog is playing this

[@alyssab1047]

measure 189 is my schools FAVORITE

[@rhysiscool53]

send timestamp

[@TheTwitchyGreen]

i would die to play the bass sax part

[@anglobostonian]

We played this in eighth grade band. Tough stuff, but very rewarding.

[@Semor-bn1lh]

Must've been a very good middle school band. Not even my highschool band would dare touch this lol.

[@goldenknight2961]

Bro must be from Texas if a middle school east that good

[@anglobostonian]

@@goldenknight2961 actually this was in Vermont.

[@superiorcatapult]

@@goldenknight2961 Our middle school band played it last year, from Texas

[@courier6496]

9:09 best part by far

[@garlic_bread_toast4403]

I’m kind of conflicted on how to feel about this part because for horn 90% of it is offbeats, 2% of it is rests, 5% of it is sixteenth note runs I can’t play right, and the last 3% is one of the most fun parts I’ve had in any song

[@robbingtonthekicker8129]

These ads are in the worst spots

[@IronwilI]

2:28 my favorite part starts

[@tyfxo3858]

2:09 this part is so good if only oboe didn’t steal the spotlight from saxophone

[@krysztof6917]

There's a reason why oboes get alot of solos

[@chadzack9748]

I got 4 ads mid song. This gets a dislike for the gremlin who decided to put ads in the middle rather than beginning and end. Shame on you.

[@Falcon000]

pretty sure that’s a yt thing rather than a then thing but ok

[@superiorcatapult]

@@Falcon000 Nope, their choice

[@azzowrath]

This is something straight out of Super Mario Galaxy I swear

[@bflattrumpet7389]

Were Part 2???????/????///?

[@jayd5694]

I just came

[@ericli2475]

In which way, exactly?

[@jayd5694]

Eric YuXiang Li ya know

[@rece9151]

I just came...k

[@obinnanwakwue5735]

Oh no

[@Falcon000]

me too 🥵🤤😩

[@rijinlee5245]

i play clarinet

[@meowikoru]

This song is sooo good! I'm in 7th grade and playing this in band

[@robbingtonthekicker8129]

I'm sure of it

[@evanjoyce9680]

@@robbingtonthekicker8129 lmaoooo

[@newhopegathering]

Yeah this is definitely a 7th grade band piece 😂

[@alexiastefansdottir6511]

@@newhopegathering I played it in 8th grade and we ended up getting TMEA 3c honor band with that recording. kzbin.info/www/bejne/eJqyqWOmitSdqNk

[@superiorcatapult]

@@newhopegathering It’s very possible for bands in certain states (Texas)

[@user-nl2xw8wp5c]

10:26 start of horn excerpt

[@brenden6693]

Why do clarinets get to rule the piece :(

[@brenden6693]

Nah

[@josh6267]

Because were god

[@marches45]

Because Reed composed his pieces around clarinet choir.

[@BAnderson0320]

trumpets are definitely better, hands down

[@disamis6873]

No Tubas are the best’

[@madadadaddie]

i love this piece but the last part sounds like sabre dance to me 😭

[@clayless8701]

6:53

[@davintsolenyanu9049]

Missing 8th grade Perc 1😭

[@Somefuckingdumbass1811]

Playing armenian dances in 8th grade is crazy.

[@davintsolenyanu9049]

@@Somefuckingdumbass1811 we were 3rd band in the us😭

[@joseperez5254]

4:18

[@joseperez5254]

4:11

[@BladeTNT2018]

Over 400 measures?

[@Stevenwoodward-ii1uw]

Yes like ill look at my piece but i think its like 417 or something

[@BladeTNT2018]

I counted the total number of measures, it's 422. This song is the first one that I have seen that is over 300 measures long

[@cadenleeripberger]

"Part I" as if this weren't enough

[@Zaynemikulan2]

5:21 5:44 6:42 9:09

[@meemmahn2856]

2nd alto sax here. How the FUCK do I play THREE consecutive 32nd triplet runs

[@eviefrogs777]

4:35

[@eviefrogs777]

5:00

[@eviefrogs777]

9:07

[@eviefrogs777]

9:32

[@eviefrogs777]

10:54

[@JEWong47]

Find me a bad Alfred Reed French horn piece pro tip you can't

[@cadentrombone5345]

Even as a trombone player the only things i remember from his pieces are the horn parts lol

[@kennyboy1175]

9:50

[@ogqhris2133]

10:26

[@lucasharvey4389]

始まりはとても遅いです！

[@rijinlee5245]

we playing dis in my middleschool band

[@brenden6693]

Rijin Lee unless y played this on your own time I highly doubt that a MIDDLE SCHOOL BAND would play a GRADE 5 PIECE! But I’m in middle school and I play this on my own time :)

[@brenden6693]

Ashley Chapman fine if everyone actually works for it than fine but 99.99% most people in middle school bands slack off and don’t care.

[@ashtonrelevo]

I’m in middle school and I’m working on this

[@kennyboy1175]

4:35

[@henryfu784]

4:59