Florida native David Samuel is an American composer and educator based in Alabama, where he is the director of bands at Foley High School. He was educated at Troy University (bachelor’s and master’s). He has composed and arranged music for marching bands, jazz bands, and concert bands, winning several Editor’s Choice awards through J. W. Pepper for his work. He is featured on Excelcia Music Publishing, the Wind Repertory Project, and his Facebook artist page.
Samuel wrote Dance of the Imp in 2020. He says:
This piece was commissioned by Jason Nitsch and the Heritage High School Band. Jason is a fellow colleague and composer with Excelcia Music Publishing. I would like to say thank you to Jason for the support and encouragement to get my music out there.
One word comes to mind for Imps: mischief. This piece depicts just that with a mysterious, yet playful theme. Imagine a playful imp dancing around a fire on a lonely starry night… planning up some quirky scheme. The piece opens up with the minor triads in the Trombones, and the melody is introduced in the Clarinets. The full band depicts the Imp at work as the Flute, Clarinet, and Trumpets push the theme to new developments, while the Saxophones, Euphonium, and Xylophone play descending and ascending counter melodic figures. Afterwards, the piece depicts the Imp with playful like figures as the woodwinds carry the the theme while the Trumpet and Euphonium enhance the melody. The piece then moves to major, but quickly moves back to minor. Once again the Imp’s work is always uncertain. I hope you enjoy Dance of the Imp, and hopefully you will leave pondering what will happen next.
Follow along with the score as you listen:
See more about Dance of the Imp at the Wind Repertory Project, Sheet Music Plus, and J. W. Pepper.