Middle Eastern Dance Suite is available as separate movements or as a complete set. Use the download link on this page to obtain the complete suite.

See the related files below for complete descriptions, recordings and downloads of individual movements.

This collection of dances represents some of the many faces of Middle Eastern music.

1. Introduction suggests the call to prayer of the muezzin with its free-flowing arabesques in the solo clarinet. Both this piece and the following one were inspired by a performance of the Los Angeles Guitar Quartet with Leo Chelyapov playing the solo clarinet. My thanks to Leo and to Jordan Charnofsky for granting permission to write this arrangement.

2. Der Yid in Yerushalayim is a traditional Klezmer dance, again with the solo clarinet although this time the other instruments play a more important role.

3. Silver Wedding is a popular, traditional Klezmer dance. The accented rhythms require a boisterous tempo. Dynamics are critical.

4. Turkish Delight is a wild melée, rapidly changing from one motif to the next as if you were in the middle of a busy bazaar. All the instruments have the opportunity to participate fully in the hypnotic rhythms and exuberant melodies. The work was composed by Irving Fields (1915 – 2016), a New York pianist. It was then adapted and arranged by Eric Stein, Martin van de Ven, Aleksandar Gajic, Bret Higgins and Milos Popovic, known collectively as Beyond the Pale, a Toronto based group that mixes Klezmer, Balkan and Romanian styles in a totally unique and infectious way. The quintet version was created based on their performance. I am indebted to Mr. Fields for granting permission to write this arrangement before his death.

This suite was first performed by The fiVe Woodwind Quintet at St. Andrews United Church, Pakenham, Ontario on April 14, 2013. Members were Elsa Slater (flute), David Sale (oboe), Angela Blackwell (clarinet), Bob Brown (horn) and Gordon Slater (bassoon).

Score: 42 pages Parts: 39 pages