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Located in the UK Located in the UK
    Located in the USA Located in the USA
      Located in Europe Located in Europe

        Commissioned by The Harry Mortimer Memorial Trust

        • brass band

        Programme Note

        Paradise Dances is a musical portrayal of the story of Adam and Eve. The first section depicts the Garden of Eden in all it’s perfection, before the appearance of the Serpent. The music slows and the mood changes with the arrival of the Serpent (represented by Eb bass), and a gradual climax follows as Eve is beguiled. The music rises to a second climax as God discovers that his orders have been disobeyed and the forbidden fruit has been tasted. He casts Adam and Eve out of the Garden of Eden, and there follows a fast, violent dance, representing their anger at being banished from Paradise. A slower, calmer section, which refers to the opening music of the piece, leads to the final dance, which conveys Adam and Eve’s feeling of growing optimism, as they realise that they can create a new life outside of Paradise.