Abstract
Americana Suite is a seven movement musical composition inspired by nineteenth and early twentieth century American master paintings. Representative artists from each of the major schools of American painting include Frederic Church, Winslow Homer, Mary Cassatt, Childe Hassam, George Bellows, Edward Hopper and Georgia O'Keeffe. Essentially pluralist in style, the suite is written for ensembles of varying size and genre, spanning from full orchestra and contemporary big band to intimate jazz chamber ensembles and electro-acoustic hybrids. Four of the seven movements are written for jazz ensembles and incorporate improvisation, while the other three orchestral movements explore romantic, impressionist and cinematic idioms. Historical summaries of each school, artist and painting are followed by detailed aesthetic and theoretical analyses of the respective movements. Harmonica virtuoso Howard Levy performs as a special guest artist.