Ferde Grofé was born in New York City on March 27, 1892, and died in Santa Monica, California, on April 3, 1972. The first performance of the Grand Canyon Suite took place at the Studebaker Theater in Chicago, Illinois, on November 22, 1931, with Paul Whiteman conducting His Orchestra. 

The Grand Canyon Suite is scored for three flutes (3rd doubling piccolo), two oboes, English horn, two clarinets, bass clarinet, two bassoons, contrabassoon, four horns, three trumpets, three trombones, tuba, timpani, percussion, harp, piano/celesta, and strings. Approximate performance time is thirty-three minutes.

The Grand Canyon Suite is by far the most popular work by the American composer, arranger, and pianist Ferde Grofé. The original inspiration for the work took place in 1916. Grofé and friends drove through the Arizona desert to witness sunrise in the Grand Canyon. The party set up camp and, the next morning, rose before dawn. Grofé was overwhelmed by the beauty and majesty of the Grand Canyon sunrise.

In 1929, Grofé recalled his experience in an orchestral movement entitled “Sunrise.” Over the next two years, Grofé continued work on his Grand Canyon Suite, completing the piece in the summer of 1931. Paul Whiteman conducted the world premiere, which took place in Chicago on November 22, 1931. Since that time, the piece’s brilliant orchestration and arresting portrait of one of nature’s great miracles continue to captivate audiences.

The Grand Canyon Suite is in five movements, each with a title describing the scene depicted by Grofé’s music. This concert features the third movement, On the Trail, which has been featured in numerous movies, television shows, and advertisements.