Gopak

Gopak is the first movement of a set of Symphonic Dances written for the Hofstra Unibersity Wind Ensemble, directed by Peter Boonshaft, who commissioned and premiered the work in 2009. Gopak is a tribute to my Polish and Ukrainian roots. My father used to dance traditional Ukrainian dances including the Gopak, and some of my earliest musical memories include the joyful, energetic, and rhythmic feel of those wonderful folk dances.Gopak has a strong feeling of two beats, is accented quite heavily, and is energetic from beginning to end. The melodies are completely original, but the lively feel of the music calls to my mind the energy of the Gopak, notes composer Eric Ewazen.