American Dance Music (chamber version) (Brass Quintet + Percussion)

American Dance Music celebrates uniquely American music popularized by American dance crazes. A sophisticated hoe-down leads into a Latin dance combined with a Baroque cannon! The slow Serenade recalls the 40s style slow dances while Jazz brings the 50s to the table. The finale, ROKIT, is infused with elements of jazz, rock and funk.

Genre: Brass Quintet & Percussion | # of Players: 6
Level: Medium Difficult | Duration: 12:00

Instrumentation
Bb Trumpet 1-2
F Horn
Trombone
Tuba
Drumset
Xylophone

Program Notes
American Dance Music was commissioned by RHYTHM & BRASS in 1995. McCarthy was asked to compose a piece that would be musically challenging for the group and appealing to audiences. Thus, such a work was written by McCarthy that celebrates uniquely American music popularized by American dance crazes. The Unsquare Dance pairs the tuba and xylophone in a sophisticated hoe-down with frequent meter changes creating music that is un-square. Latina is patterned after the "Lambada," the dance made famous in the film "Dirty Dancing." Latin rhythms combine with a Baroque style canon. Serenade recalls the 40s style slow dance with a Tommy Dorsey-like trombone solo and a musical language of modem jazz. Jazz borrows from the 1950s bebop era and the like of Dizzy Gillespie, Gerry Mulligan and Stan Kenton with another tuba and xylophone duet. ROKlT is unabashedly dedicated to the composer's favorite rock/funk group, Tower of Power. With the all important drum solo, this movement combines the elements of jazz, rock and funk so prevalent in the 70s styles of groups such as Tower of Power, Blood, Sweat and Tears, and Chicago.