Arabesque by Samuel R. Hazo

MusicWorks - Grade 5
Commissioned by the Indiana Bandmasters Association for the 2008 All-State High School Honor Band, this stunning work from the pen of Samuel Hazo is a tour de force of Middle Eastern sounds for the contemporary wind band. From delicate and sensual soloistic writing to full-blown ensemble passages with rapid fire tutti rhythms and frenzied percussion, here is a rewarding piece with drama and depth that will be the high point of any concert or festival program. Period!
Audio recorded live by the 2008 North Carolina 11-12 All-State Honor Band – Samuel R. Hazo, conductor
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[bunniwastaken]

WE MAKING IT OUT OF THE DESERT WITH THIS ONE 🗣️🗣️🗣️🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥

[deep_fried_toast]

“give the woodwinds hell.”
-Samuel R. Hazo

[erickrolled]

The conductor handed this piece out in my band. I was happy until I remembered I was first flute.
RIP me

[nicholas]

me listening to arabesque: "wow so cool, id love to play this"
director: *handing out arabesque*
also me: *surprised pikachu face*

[fmonky]

"Don't quote me on this, but we need more trumpet" -Samuel R. Hazo

[thebaconenigma]

The Tuba part was an absolute blast to play (literally)

[blazerivers]

the end kills me. if the last note was just one beat longer it would be 1000 times more satisfying.

[tigerlover]

I have a playing test on this tomorrow. I'm ready to take the L

[Swuidward_]

One of Samuel Hazo best work. Terrific dynamic contrast, a lot of middle eastern influenced melodies in the piece. Brass have their chance to shine and Woodwinds have A LOT of moving lines. Bass Clarinet sounds awesome in this piece!

[sarahgallagher]

At 4:30 my band had a very bad habit of getting a huge adrenaline rush and speeding up about 10 bpm. Not quite sure how we managed that, but it was very consistent. We were told not to multiple times.

[brookewinchester]

Allow me to summarize the comments so that you don't have to waste time reading them
50%- lists what instrument they played this on, "this was hell to play"
40%- "I played this as a fetus and it was so easy!1! compliment me!1!1"
10%- "Good song"

[insanityofmine]

That flute solo in the beginning though

[strawberry_wavepoint]

Played this on Xylophone last year. it was a blast! Samuel R Hazo is amazing, but he definitely has something against flutists

[chop.shticks]

2:52 The equalized of the low brass. Only the skilled shall survive. Seeing this piece as a hs junior I really see how far I have progressed since second grade.

[js_musicmedia]

Only Sam Hazo can pull off having four different melodies at the same time

[yourfavomg]

this is my favorite piece ever. 5:05 still gives me chills every time i listen.

[colinz]

My senior year, this piece was everybody’s favorite. I played the bongos. You have no idea how hard and awesome it is to play them at The whole band loved this song so much but every time we were about to finish the whole piece without stopping, the girl playing the oboe near the end always messed up and we had to start all over again

[timmaher]

This could make a good song in a field show for marching band, with a couple adjustments

[jellyfire]

I swear to god; Hazo has so many things against flutes, and always gives us the hardest part, but somehow… likes us the most and gives us all the solos? MAKE IT MAKE SENSE! I so badly want to play this piece with my band!

[lizlee]

This is such a magnificent piece. My granddaughter had THE flute solo when her high school band played it for the spring concert the other day. Being a flute player myself I could tell that part was hard just from watching the video of the concert. Now that I see the score, it's killer!