Large Ensemble - Level 3 - Digital Download
SKU: A0.837244
Composed by Vaclav Blaha. Arranged by Daniel S. Augustine. Multicultural,World. Score and parts. 37 pages. Daniel S. Augustine #6102699. Published by Daniel S. Augustine (A0.837244).
Blue Skirt Waltz was originally written by Vaclav Blaha (1901-1959), a Bohemian trumpet player and composer. The song’s original name was Cervenou Sukynka (Red Skirt Waltz). He recorded the song in 1944 as an instrumental (although there are Czech lyrics).
In the late 1940s, Frankie Yankovic was reviewing a catalog of Bohemian music and liked the song, but thought that it needed lyrics. He asked the well-known lyricist Mitchell Parish (of Stardust and Sleighride fame) to write new lyrics, and Parish did so, changing the color of the skirt from red to blue.
In 1949 Frankie Yankovic and His Yanks recorded Blue Skirt Waltz and it reached #22 in the Country charts. Columbia Records eventually sold 2,500,000+ copies of the recording, and it is estimated that over 4,000,000 recordings by all musical groups have been sold.
This arrangement is intended for a small German or polka band, but the instrumentation is flexible: 2 Clarinets, Alto Sax, Tenor Sax (doubling Euphonium), 2 Trumpets, Eb Alto/Tenor Horn (plus Horn in F), Trombone, Euphonium (both bass and treble clef), String Bass, Tuba, Accordion (or Piano), and Drums. Intermediate level. Duration: about 2’45.
