Incantation and Dance came into being during Chance’s residency at Greensboro. He wrote it in 1960 and originally called it Nocturne and Dance – it went on to become his first published piece for band. Its initial incantation, presented in the lowest register of the flutes, presents most of the melodic material of the piece. Chance uses elements of bitonality throughout the opening section to create a sound world mystically removed from itself. This continues as the dance elements begin to coalesce. Featuring a wealth of melodic and rhythmic inventiveness, as well as the innovative treatment of the percussion scoring, Incantation and Dance remains one of the trusted standards in the wind band literature.

John Barnes Chance was an American composer renowned for his contributions to wind band repertoire. He studied composition at the University of Texas and worked as a timpanist for the Austin Symphony Orchestra before serving in the U.S. Army Band. His works, known for their rich harmonies and rhythmic energy, include Incantation and Dance, Variations on a Korean Folk Song (which won the 1966 ABA Ostwald Award), and Blue Lake Overture. Tragically, his career was cut short at the age of 39 due to a fatal accident. Despite his short life, his music remains a cornerstone of band literature.

Program note and composer biography researched and written by Elisabeth Jackson