Old Folks at Home (Dvorak)

Could Dvorak have known that he was writing a standard piece for young bands when he created this piece? This rendition of Old Folks at Home is ideal for a variety of occasions - concerts, graduation ceremony, and special events.

Genre: Band | # of Players: Standard
Level: 1.5 | Duration: 2.30

Instrumentation
Flute 1/2
Oboe 1/2 (opt)
Eb Clarinet
Bb Clarinet 1/2/3
Alto Clarine
Bb Bass Clarinet (opt)
Bassoon (opt
Alto Saxophone 1/2 (opt)
Bb Tenor Sax (opt)
Eb Baritone Sax (opt)

Trumpet
F Horn 1/2/3/
Trombone 1/3
Trombone 2 (opt)
Euphonium
Tuba
Timpani (opt)
Percussion 1 (opt) (triangle)

Program Notes
Dvorak's arrangement for orchestra of The Old Folks at Home was made in the 1890s for a Summer School held in Spillville, Iowa. Those attending were mostly drawn from a local Czech-speaking community and Dvorak enjoyed sharing time with people who spoke his own language. As instrumentalists the players were limited, many little more than beginners; yet in his arrangement Dvorak created a musically authentic and attractive setting of Stephen Foster's popular melody that is truly a masterpiece in economy of demand. Many years later, in 1942, Edwin Franko Goldman invited Erik Leidzen to transcribe Dvorak's arrangement for concert band.