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American Dream, An (Download)

for percussion ensemble and offstage trumpet
Level: Medium
Duration: 4:00
Personnel: 11 players
Release Date: 2023
Product ID : TSPCE23-018DL
Price: $42.00
Item #: TSPCE23-018DL

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Description

An American Dream by Brian Slawson is an emotional showpiece for large percussion ensemble that weaves together familiar elements of Americana. Arranged in a cinematic style, the piece begins with a traditional drum cadence that gradually becomes modernized as it approaches and reaches a powerful climax. It then transitions into a blissful dream sequence lead by the metallic keyboard instruments. The surreal setting continues as a distant, somber offstage trumpet reverently plays Taps. Finally, the music grows into a rousing and celebratory Sousa-style parade march. Although An American Dream tells a clear story on its own, it's an ideal piece for underscoring patriotic video presentations as well.

Use of this product is governed by the license terms outlined here.

Instrumentation

Trumpet in B-flat

Crotales (2 octaves)

Glockenspiel

Chimes

Vibraphone

Xylophone

Marimba — low A

4 Timpani

Drums — concert snare drum, field drum, marching snare drum, 2 toms, concert bass drum

Cymbals & gongs — 2 suspended cymbals, 2 pairs crash cymbals (one w/ BD attachment), tam-tam

Accessories — cowbell, 4 temple blocks

Reviews

“An American Dream” is a programmatic work that calls for ten percussionists plus an offstage trumpeter who also performs a few suspended cymbal rolls. The work begins with a traditional sounding drum cadence followed by most ensemble members moving to mallet parts of varying difficulty. There is also a timpani part that includes clearly marked pitch changes, a snare drum part similar to what one might find in an intermediate concert band piece, and a bass drum with cymbal attachment part. These parts also vary in their difficulty, making “An American Dream” ideal for a group with different experience levels.

The musical material is made up of patriotic tunes familiar to Independence Day concertgoers, including “The Battle Hymn of the Republic” and “Taps” (played by the offstage trumpet). The keyboard parts are written for two mallets and utilize many essential techniques, including rolls, double stops, scalar material, and arpeggiated passages. There are several key changes, which help make this an ideal pedagogical piece for less experienced performers. “An American Dream” would certainly work very well on an Independence Day or American patriotism concert.

—Joseph Van Hassel
Percussive Notes
Vol. 61, No. 6, December 2023

Description

An American Dream by Brian Slawson is an emotional showpiece for large percussion ensemble that weaves together familiar elements of Americana. Arranged in a cinematic style, the piece begins with a traditional drum cadence that gradually becomes modernized as it approaches and reaches a powerful climax. It then transitions into a blissful dream sequence lead by the metallic keyboard instruments. The surreal setting continues as a distant, somber offstage trumpet reverently plays Taps. Finally, the music grows into a rousing and celebratory Sousa-style parade march. Although An American Dream tells a clear story on its own, it's an ideal piece for underscoring patriotic video presentations as well.

Use of this product is governed by the license terms outlined here.

Instrumentation

Trumpet in B-flat

Crotales (2 octaves)

Glockenspiel

Chimes

Vibraphone

Xylophone

Marimba — low A

4 Timpani

Drums — concert snare drum, field drum, marching snare drum, 2 toms, concert bass drum

Cymbals & gongs — 2 suspended cymbals, 2 pairs crash cymbals (one w/ BD attachment), tam-tam

Accessories — cowbell, 4 temple blocks

Reviews

“An American Dream” is a programmatic work that calls for ten percussionists plus an offstage trumpeter who also performs a few suspended cymbal rolls. The work begins with a traditional sounding drum cadence followed by most ensemble members moving to mallet parts of varying difficulty. There is also a timpani part that includes clearly marked pitch changes, a snare drum part similar to what one might find in an intermediate concert band piece, and a bass drum with cymbal attachment part. These parts also vary in their difficulty, making “An American Dream” ideal for a group with different experience levels.

The musical material is made up of patriotic tunes familiar to Independence Day concertgoers, including “The Battle Hymn of the Republic” and “Taps” (played by the offstage trumpet). The keyboard parts are written for two mallets and utilize many essential techniques, including rolls, double stops, scalar material, and arpeggiated passages. There are several key changes, which help make this an ideal pedagogical piece for less experienced performers. “An American Dream” would certainly work very well on an Independence Day or American patriotism concert.

—Joseph Van Hassel
Percussive Notes
Vol. 61, No. 6, December 2023


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