Cadman, CW :: An American Suite

Charles Cadman was a member of the Indianist Movement in America, a group of composers who tried to incorporate Native American musical ideas into the Western classical tradition with the aim of producing truly American national music. In this piece, the main theme of the first movement is based on an authentic Omaha Indian tune, collected by Alice C. Fletcher and Francis La Flesche. This theme is whipped around in almost barbaric fury, around a gentler second theme. The second movement is based on two African American melodies recorded by Rosa Warren Wilson in South Carolina, both of which have a gentle, lullaby like quality. The last movement uses two old American fiddler tunes There s Sugar in the Gourd and Hoop-de-doo-den-do . These two tunes are passed around the whole flute orchestra until a grand ending brings the music to a close.

Instrumentation: Piccolo, 4 flutes, alto flute, bass flute. Optional included parts: G treble flute, contralto flute, contrabass flute, subcontrabass flute, double contrabass flute.