1st Performance: 1979 by the Rochester Philharmonic Orchestra, William Cahn-soloist

From the turn of the century until about 1930, there was a tremendous dance “craze” in America. One instrument in particular, the xylophone, found its way into the dance bands, probably because of its ability to accentuate the syncopated rhythms of the newer dance music.

One of the most popular of the dance bands was the Green Brothers’ Novelty Xylophone Band. Their group consisted of string and wind instruments. as well as two or three xylophones played by Joseph and George Green, who were both virtuosos on the instrument. George Green was hailed as the world’s greatest xylophonist, and he greatly expanded the instrument’s expressive potential through his many compositions and transcriptions. The Green Brother were very active in the budding record industry, and they recorded hundreds of dance tunes for virtually every major record label in existence before 1930. Their popularity was world wide and their music, though relatively light in character, is nevertheless demonstrative of the energy, joy, and direct sentiment of its time.

18 page score, arranged for full orchestra (22 parts)