M. Gould: Latin American Symphonette

Description

Morton Gould, equally comfortable in the worlds of both "serious" and "light" music, presented his symphonettes (an Americanization of the term "sinfonietta," much like kitchenette and dinette) as works of a truly American vernacular, drawing on popular culture as well as classical forms.

His Fourth Symphonette is a departure from the musical language of the previous symphonettes, as it is bursting with latino rhythms, each distinct style in its own movement: I. Rhumba, II. Tango, III. Guaracha, and IV. Conga.

Completed in 1940, the work was premiered by the NYA Symphony in New York, under the direction of Fritz Mahler. The saxophones, guitar and piano, although desirable, are optional and fully cued in the other parts. Generally, all parts are well cross-cued so that the work can be performed with a smaller orchestra.

Instrumentation in set: 3(1&3 d.Picc).2.3(+BCl).2: 2ASax(dCl).TSax(dCl).BSax(dCl): 4.3.3.1: Timp.Perc.(3): Hp.Gtr.Pno: Str(9.8.7.6.5).