I. Cake Walk

II. Schottische

IV. Wallflower Waltz

III. Western One-Step

The extremely popular Suite of Old American Dances (composed in 1949) is an original work for band. In this suite the composer seeks to set the mood of a Saturday night barn dance–with all the gaiety which the festivity demands–by recalling several of the characteristic dances remembered from childhood. The goal is achieved with an artistic piece of music–not a novelty as one might expect from such a setting. Bennett has described the music as “native American dance forms… treated in a ‘riot’ or instrumentation colors,” and the composition is distinguished by superb effectiveness of instrumental writing and facile flow of musical ideas. The dances include "Cake Walk," "Schottische," "Western One-Step," "Wallflower Waltz," and "Rag." In recalling the composition of this work, Bennett wrote, “there was no particular purpose in mind… except to do a modern and, I hope, entertaining version of some dance moods of my early youth. Another purpose was to do a number with no production tie-up!” (Robert R. Bennett, BMN, Devine/The Annual Obituary, and Acton Ostling). 

R. R. Bennett was one of America’s most capable arrangers of Broadway shows for over forty years. He was also a most competent composer. In response to a 1979 questionnaire, he summarized his educational experience with, “country high school.” For professional honors, he admitted, “Oscar, Emmy, Handel Award, and Hadley Medal.” 

Program note extracted from Program Notes for Band by Norman E. Smith