Jungle Dance (score)
Jungle Dance is a flute ensemble composition by Wil Offermans for bottles and flutes with parts for both beginners and advanced players.
"The flute is certainly one of the oldest and most popular instruments in the world. Throughout times, we can see an enormous variety of fascinating styles and models. Most flutes have been made out of a tube. Actually, many hollow objects with at least one opening - for example a nutshell, a coffee cup or a bottle - can be blown like a flute. Jungle Dance has been composed for flutes, various bottles and a bird whistle. All bottles should be blown on the neck to produce a flute-like sound. The bottles and bird whistle can be regarded as the rhythm section. The flutes perform the melodies and chords.
To perform Jungle Dance you need a minimum of 10 players. However, Jungle Dance can be performed by any larger ensemble of even 50 or more players. In that case, each part can be performed by several players."
"The flute is certainly one of the oldest and most popular instruments in the world. Throughout times, we can see an enormous variety of fascinating styles and models. Most flutes have been made out of a tube. Actually, many hollow objects with at least one opening - for example a nutshell, a coffee cup or a bottle - can be blown like a flute. Jungle Dance has been composed for flutes, various bottles and a bird whistle. All bottles should be blown on the neck to produce a flute-like sound. The bottles and bird whistle can be regarded as the rhythm section. The flutes perform the melodies and chords.
To perform Jungle Dance you need a minimum of 10 players. However, Jungle Dance can be performed by any larger ensemble of even 50 or more players. In that case, each part can be performed by several players."
Features
- title: Jungle Dance
- subtitle: for bottles and flutes (flute ensemble)
- composer: Wil Offermans
- publisher: Zimmermann, Germany
- number: ZM31430
- year: 1995
- instruments: solo-flute in C; 5 flutes in C; 2 bass flutes (or just flutes); bird whistle; small bottles high and low; bass bottles
- duration: 6 minutes
- language: introduction and explanation in German, French and English
- score: 11 pages plus part scores
- notes:
- suitable for any size of flute ensemble (minimum 10 players).
- Jungle Dance has been recorded by Wil Offermans at the CD The Magic Flute (CDE-971 / E-records).
Video
Part Score Instructions
Here below is an explanation on the various instrumentation used in Jungle Dance.
- Small Bottle high = a very small bottle (about 2 cl. or less; small liquor bottle). Can be selected by the players.
- Small Bottle low = a small bottle, sounding a bit lower compared to 'Small Bottle high' (about 3 cl. or less; small liquor bottle). Can be selected by the players. Both the small bottles can be tuned higher by adding some water in the bottles. The small bottle parts are suitable for higher level players.
- Bird Whistle = any whistle that can produce 3 pitches with a flutter-like sound (or add a flutter sound yourself). Very good and suitable is a so-called samba-whistle.
- Bass Bottle = any big bottle (wine bottle or bigger) is ok. It is advised that the player chooses a bottle which sounds well for her/him. Suitable for the A level in combination with the B and C level players. Make sure to have a larger number of Bass Bottle players, so that the sound becomes good audible. The rhythm can be exercised while dancing/moving on the quarter beat.
- 2nd bass flute /alto /C-flute = especially intended for beginners (A level). This part does not necessarily to be performed since it is a simplified version of the 1st Bass Flute part. Preferred is to have more players performing the 1st Bass Flute part as that has the real bass line.
The beauty of Jungle Dance is that the piece can be performed by any size of flute ensemble and with flutists of different levels. In the table below you find an indication of how many players can double each part in relation to the total amount of musicians. You can also find the level indications (A) for beginners, (B) for middle and (C) for advanced level. While obviously it is just for your orientation, use the table to divide the scores to suitable players.
Links
- more 'Jungle Dance' videos on Youtube
- Visit For the Contemporary Flutist Online, Offermans' extensive website about modern flute techniques.