Suite of Old American Dances Music Review

Suite of Old American Dances by Robert Russell Bennett is a very popular band piece composed in 1949. It consists of five difficult movements that include Cake Walk, Schottische, Western One-Step, Wallflower Waltz, and Rag. My band is currently working on this piece and I absolutely love it.

I. Cake Walk
The first movement was inspired by a traditional competition among black slaves. The slaves would put on a play for their white masters, who served as the judges. The master would choose his favorite skit and would reward the slave(s) with a cake. This is how the competition became known as the 'Cake Walk'. This movement is very fast and upbeat with many different sections that reflect the stages of the competition.

II. Schottische
This movement was written based off of a Scottish round dance, hence the name. It is very similar to a polka, but it is a little slower. The style switches between two types of playing throughout the movement. At the beginning the song is very light and dance-like, and then it quickly moves to a very loud and rambunctious section with almost no transition. This switch occurs several times throughout the piece.

III. Western One-Step
The Western One-Step is a variation of an early ballroom dance. This dance was often a precursor to the foxtrot. It is a very catchy movement filled with lots of sound. This movement is interesting because many instruments that usually do not have the melody carry the tune, such as the trombones.

IV. Wallflower Waltz
The fourth movement of this piece is a charming 20th century take on the classic Viennese waltz. It is a soothing tune with its familiar 1-2-3 meter. This movement is very light and beautiful. It features large english horn and trumpet solos throughout. In addition, there are many special mutes and playing styles used by the brass in order to create unique, distinct sounds.

V. Rag
The wonderful conclusion to the Suite features a bright and wild take on ragtime music. The piece is full of syncopated rhythms and 2-against-3 patterns that challenge the players. Rag is written in cut time and it very upbeat and fast, making for a fitting conclusion to the celebrated tune by Bennett.