Title: Slavonic dances op. 46, no. 4 & 8: Arranged for Chinese orchestra

Composer:Dvorak Antonin

Arranger:Tsui Ying-fai

Year: 2022

Genre:

• Large ensemble
• Arrangement
• Chinese orchestral music

Call No.: SC1535

Description: Slavonic Dances are two sets of symphonic dances (Op. 46 and Op. 72) composed by Antonín Dvořák, comprising eight dances each. In 2021, amidst the COVID-19 pandemic, Tsui Ying-fai arranged dances Nos. 4 and 8 from Op. 46 for the Hong Kong Youth Chinese Orchestra (HKYCO). Tsui's arrangement, omitting wind instruments entirely, served to fill HKYCO's concert repertoire (which is otherwise rarely wind-less) during a time when wind players were prevented from attending rehearsals due to health risks. For both dances, Tsui adds parts for glockenspiel, vibraphone, and marimba while using plucked or bowed strings for the original wind parts. Dance No. 4 is a minuet in the style of sousedská and unfolds in a ternary structure with graceful melodies. Dance No. 8, in stark contrast, is a furiant set at "presto"-a dance with a fiery temper despite its song-like, quieter middle section. The arrangement was set to premiere at the HKYCO annual concert in January 2022, but the concert was canceled due to a new wave of COVID surge.

Note:

• Arrangement of the orchestral piece of the same title
• Arrangement without wind instruments. For performance during COVID-19.

Instrumentation: yangqin (2), liuqin (1), pipa (1), zhong ruan (1), da ruan (1), zheng (1), timpani (1), bass drum/cymbals/triangle (1), glockenspiel/vibraphone/marimba (1), gaohu (1), erhu (1), zhonghu (1), cello (1), double bass (1) / Op. 46, No. 8: yangqin (1), liuqin (1), pipa (1), zhong ruan (1), da ruan (1), zheng (1), timpani (1), bass drum/cymbals/triangle (1), glockenspiel/vibraphone/marimba (1), gaohu (1), erhu (1), zhonghu (1), cello (1), double bass (1)