123325CC-DFAC-4070-A0CA-577C323D4660
| ID | 123325CC-DFAC-4070-A0CA-577C323D4660 |
|---|---|
| Titlecode | R00801 |
| Title Name | Four American Portraits |
| Marketing Copy | Theme and variations inspired by Thomas Edison, Lillian Gish, Neil Armstrong, Jesse Owens |
| Instrumentation | 2(1d Piccolo).1(d English Horn).2(1d Bass Clarinet).1(d ContraBassoon): 2.1.0.0: Percussion(1).Piano: Strings |
| Commission | Commissioned by the Columbus (OH) Pro Musica Chamber Orchestra |
| Dedication | (not set) |
| Program Notes | The work called Four American Portraits was composed during my extended period as guest professor at Ohio State University, and premiered by the Columbus Pro Musica in April 1986. Originally entitled Four Ohio Portraits, it derives all of its material from music associated with that midwestern state. The piece consists of an initial statement, using melodic and harmonic fragments of the '60s rock tune "Hang On, Sloopy" --a trademark of the Ohio State University marching band--and a 1908 presidential campaign song for William Howard Taft. Four variations follow that initial statement, and make use of its material. Each variation is intended to evoke associations with a famous American. These are, in order of the variations: Thomas Edison, Lilian Gish, Neil Armstrong, and Jesse Owens--incidentally, all natives of Ohio. The sequence of variations should suggest the traditional four-movement pattern of a symphony, with the second (Lilian Gish) "movement" being slow and lyric, and the third brilliant and scherzo-like. A slow and fairly mysterious bridge passage then connects the "scherzo" to the rapid, exuberant Jesse Owens "finale." |
| Title Brand | 2 |
| Year Composed | 1985 |
| Copyright Number | (not set) |
| Copyright Year | (not set) |
| Duration | 17 |
| Ensemble Size | 13 |
| Date Created | 2008-10-31 20:31:15.000000 |
| Date Updated | 2025-09-30 20:31:15 |
| Inhouse Note | (not set) |
| Bsc Code | (not set) |
| Text Author | (not set) |
| Premier Performance Memo | (not set) |
| Recording Credits | (not set) |
| Review | (not set) |
| Awards | (not set) |
| Title Category | 7 |
| Title Movements | (not set) |
| Title Grade | (not set) |
| Set Series ID | (not set) |
| Title Instrument Category Text | Full Orchestra |
| Title Sub Category Text | (not set) |
| Title Sub Category | 31 |
| Title Instrument Header | 41 |
| Title Grade Text | (not set) |
| Clean Url | four-american-portraits-r00801 |