Blue and White Dance was commissioned by the Northeast District of Kappa Kappa Psi in celebration of its 25th anniversary and receives its premiere today by the United States Air Force Band, Major Scott Guidry, conductor. When I received the original commission request, the only suggestions were that the piece be celebratory in nature and include, in some way, the fraternity hymn. I attempted to satisfy these requests, writing a work which is generally bright and happy.

There are two main themes for the piece, each containing two parts and repeated in the form ABAB. The first main theme begins with a melodic second and a harmonic fifth (a reference to the 25th anniversary) and the second theme is in 7/8 (again a reference to the 25th anniversary since 2+5=7).

However, most of the material is derived from the final phrase of the hymn, the one with the words "I am a brother in K, K, Psi." This ascending and descending tetrachord (the first four notes of a major scale) is used melodically, harmonically, and even as the key areas for the four main sections of the piece: Eb, D, C, and Bb. It is also stated quite clearly on two occasions.

Finally, the title of the work refers to the fraternity colors, and I felt that the two main themes represented the sort of contrast provided by these colors.