Suite of Old American Dances - Robert Russell Bennett

The classic 1949 concert band composition from American composer Robert Russell Bennett.

[@davidstapleton1490]

Have not heard or played this in over 30 years since the Army Band. Brings back great memories. Clarinet part is light and whimsical and so much fun!

[@LGwalt]

One of the all-time "greats" when it comes to the wind band, a true cornerstone of the genre.

[@unclejohn90]

I've had this piece stuck in my head for 8 years ever since high school symphonic band...and could not for the life of me remember the title. This was one of my favorite pieces we played!

[@sheltonharlow]

Played this many times in the Air Force Bands. Always crowd pleaser. Even the Jazzers liked playing it!

[@canusantonius]

A very difficult piece, but a work of art when performed well.

[@ecoRfan]

It's a full level 6 from what I hear

[@kylesoehl9157]

+Kaleb Miato Flowers i play tuba in it its really quite interesting

[@luckystongue8700]

haha same

[@luckystongue8700]

it is

[@prestongleckler6575]

@@ecoRfan level 4 in texas😭

[@droge410]

I played this in high school band one of my favorite things to play!!! Flute section baby!!!

[@zachsplep]

To play the right rhythm at 0:24 and 0:32, I teach my bands to say:"Put out the cat, and Put out the cat, and Put out the cat, and Put out the cat, right now!"

[@MuseDuCafe]

That's a way to get them to play just one passage correctly, and has nothing to do with 'teaching' them to, ya know, just read rhythms in general. Problem solved, no teaching took place.

[@coloraturaElise]

@@MuseDuCafe I hope you're not a teacher, because your negative attitude is not what students need. You have no idea whether or not zachsplep teaches well because of this one fun story, and you seemed to have missed the point. Zach, I want to play in YOUR band!

[@piptyole]

Hey. Whatever it takes to play it well, go for it!!!!

[@bradleyjames1857]

We're playing this as sight reading in my highschool symphonic band right now (and possibly as one of our actual songs) and that really just helped me.

[@e.antonygray7497]

@@coloraturaElise some folks have never had to actually prepare a piece for performance. You go to war with the army you've got. Tricky rhythms are tricky!

[@sofianishimura4231]

Now that i can play it, I absolutely love it.

[@bearded_trumpet_boy2321]

I got to play the trumpet solo with the flute/piccolo in Scottische, and that was the highlight of my college career. I had one or two others in the suite, but that one was my favorite

[@johnglass7383]

I performed this with the Oak Lawn Community Band in Dallas around 1997-98. Never forgot these wondrous melodies. I had just moved to the Dallas area, a much larger area than where I grew up, and this music is a fond memory of those first months there.

[@red-winged_blackbird]

I absolutely adore this piece. Thank you for posting it!!!!!!

[@andrewmacgill1704]

Played this in my teens in Hertfordshire UK. Loved it then and wonderful to revisit it 50 years later!

[@williamphillips6247]

Performed movements I through III back in the day. Fun piece to play. Love his Symphonic Songs for Band as well

[@fsdg515]

My band played this piece last year for competition and we won with a nearly perfect score! (I played French Horn on it)

[@frogman8879]

I played mallet percussion on this piece in sophomore year. Even though we only get featured a handful of times, this is probably my favorite piece that i'e ever played. The vibe chord in the end of wallflower makes me smile every time.

[@scotmelonball]

Love playing the euphonium for this. Our high school band director is taking it to festival

[@daniellecroft3331]

Alex Dudley I'm playing right now and euphonium part is so cool! I love it

[@phthartic]

Yay Euphonists! Ask for Manzoni Requiem. And Holst Suites.

[@apink3452]

Something about this music is just... funny as hell to me. In the best possible way. I remember wanting to laugh out loud the whole time my college band was playing this one.

[@robertperez2262]

I joked around with my section that the Wallflower Waltz was the hardest of all. We are the Sax section We played a whole eight measures in that movement

[@singlereedenjoyer]

It’s like goofy stereotype 40s concert band rep and I totally love it

[@KingConfusion]

Played first trombone with this. Best song ever

[@VanHelsing1300]

+The Equestrian I am currently playing this piece on 1st trombone. Its amazing :D

[@KingConfusion]

You're gonna love it. Especially Western One Step

[@theduh1011]

Western One Step on 1st Trombone was so much fun to do! I kinda liked the waltz too, since the tone made by the mutes was very nice

[@KingConfusion]

Exactly

[@VanHelsing1300]

+theduh1011 However the ending of western one step is kinda unsatisfying

[@bobkenehan7541]

Thanks to our band director Mr Bill Geis (back in the late 70’s) for pushing us to play great band music like this.

[@rooroo4191]

Played this my freshman year of high school, such a fun piece

[@erickfuerte4291]

im the only freshman in the band filled with sophomores and juniors and seniors. I'm learning this. ive only gotten through half of cake walk right now. I cri evrytim

[@joshwannapaas]

Damn freshman

[@erickfuerte4291]

I'm just a stupid freshman leave me alone ;-;

[@walcraeb19]

rooroo4191 this is my freshman year of high school, playing this on bass clarinet

[@graysonstewart1952]

rooroo4191 me as well, and we aren't doing to great... lol

[@pandannep]

Played this last year in Wind Ensemble, listening to it brings back good memories :')

[@timcao5687]

+pandannep same here :)

[@jordananderson9748]

+pandannep Hey Anne this was a very fun piece to play with you, I had such a hard time with the 3rd trombone part rofl

[@pandannep]

+Jordan Anderson

[@aneesskanjo7317]

Omg Anne and Jordan! :) This was so much fun to play with you guys! Makes me want to do band in college! ugh so many good memories for me too being the Only E-flat clarinet in the entire band haha!

[@devynboyle]

I'm playing it now on piccolo :D

[@Glinkaism1]

Rather fetching and charming. Thanks for sharing, room host! CHEERS!

[@samsignorelli]

Ahhhh memories of playing this in college band.

[@Thebeautystiches]

Every time i hear this i want my band to play it again in band class

[@vidalmartinezvento9460]

Fantástica y magistral interpretación, enhorabuena

[@karlzipser6308]

For some reason, I always want to hear this piece when an American holiday arrives, such as Independence Day.

[@--076]

This piece is a masterpiece. It really reminds me of pixely black and white ballroom 1920's dancing.

[@davidbloss7863]

Played this suite with the Heart of Texas Concert Band a few years ago. It always amazes me when a LARGE ensemble (we have 90 members) can master the delicate passages well!

[@mrsandbergmusic]

1. Cakewalk - 0:02 2. Schottische - 4:06 3. Western One-Step - 7:00 4. Wallflower Waltz - 10:41 5. Rag - 14:10

[@maestromuffin1]

oh my gosh….this really brings back the memories!!! how lucky I was to have my all state band director(new jersey) play this in my senior year….i was 1st chair euphonium. there has never been a better part to play!!! went on to major in euphonium at IU - but this was the best piece I've ever played!!!

[@bryanbruhn4608]

I got to play this as 1st chair trumpet in my High School Wind ensemble. So much fun

[@aestheticwhale2803]

i play 1st part solo trumpet (':

[@Matoyanks]

Playing euph on this

[@cherrypie5639]

I graduated from the Bloomington IU in clarinet performance. Small world 🌎

[@phthartic]

What is it with Euphonists? We seem to be prolific commenters. Definitely up there in my list. But I’ll take Holst, Shostakovich, and Verdi over Bennett I think. We know which pieces….

[@Shadowstar971]

We played this my senior year of high school and my god it was the most work I’ve put into a piece (first clarinet). Love it!

[@donvasquez1791]

We played it in H.S. 1975 CP! It is a fun piece, French horn bassoon duet too.

[@Jonatrus]

I've never played so many songs in my life!

[@geevanh4200]

♫♪ #SEMPER FIDELIS #QUA PATET ORBIS #JE MAINTAN DRAI ! ♫♪ great ♫♪♫♪♫♪☺ BRAVISSIMO @/bisbis 🎶🎵🎼 great music! a well tuned ensemble that sounds like an organ ! Fabulous banding! Compliments! #SEMPER FI #QPO #JMD🎵🎼🎼🎶🎵🥁🎺👌👌🙏🎺

[@LGwalt]

So - you liked it?

[@geevanh4200]

@@LGwalt of course!

[@ESCAPExFATE]

I'm playing this piece for our concert next Thursday. Solo Clarinet represent! ;D

[@geevanh4200]

ur the best ever!

[@MJ-sy2en]

I was our solo Baritone in Rag not that long ago. :)

[@jdghgh]

Great composition and an absolute blast to play. (Clarinet player)

[@axelnoriega993]

jdghgh I’m also a clarinet player and I wanted to die

[@antoniogallegosmusic]

I’m also a clarinet player

[@Ben-zl5fc]

OMG, This song makes me want to cry, (Especially Western One Step), my JH band is playing a few movements of this for TMEA Honor Band.

[@baileykoontz6954]

Played this at regional festival. Tenor Sax play 12 measures total in wallflower waltz. Our whole section was asleep 😂

[@nygaardstudios]

Love this piece. Thanks for sharing such a great recording too!

[@佐々木保-h9n]

とても素晴らしい演奏と思います。 細かいリズムまでしっかり表現され、なかなかここまでは難しい曲です。

[@ryantrostle5622]

I had this as a piece in my high school regional band (I was seated on the 1st flute part) and this is anything but a “cake walk”

[@e.antonygray7497]

that's for the dancers.

[@Occulus]

I have been looking for a good recording of this piece ever since I performed it at Seminar at Western Michigan University in 1993. Awesome :D

[@help-im]

just got back from playing this at our concert everytime this song brings a smile to my face edit: im so glad this finally got 1000 likes

[@phthartic]

Piece. Not song.

[@EmmaKnickerbocker]

My wind ensemble is playing this, and man is this fun! I play first trombone on it and I'm getting parts I usually wouldn't get to play being a trombone. I really like these songs!

[@jamesb9026]

0:00 Cake Walk 4:04 Schottische 7:03 Western One-Step 10:40 Wallflower Waltz 14:09 Rag

[@Crotiont]

Movement One (Cakewalk) Measure Timestamps: 0:25 - 22 0:41 - 38 1:02 - 58 1:17 - 73 1:43 - 98 2:08 - 122 2:26 - 140 2:45 - 158 3:03 - 175 3:23 - 195 3:38 - 209

[@TomSmith-ym9ej]

Fabulous clarinet parts!

[@fletcherjohnson2467]

We're playing this for our Music Performance Assessment performance in March (1st trombone). I hated it at first, but I've come to love this piece.

[@iMatt456]

Currently playing 2nd trombone on this. Wish I was playing 1st trombone, though lol. Still fun to play. Incredible piece.

[@danielwalker2381]

Were playing this for wind ensemble ^^ probably one of my favorite pieces

[@greenduskgaming7439]

I am currently getting the experience to play this in PYP (Portland Youth Philharmonic) in middle school, and let me tell you, this piece will kill my lungs!

[@timcao5687]

ah, the good old days of pywe, with larry... now pywe is garbage

[@TheRichie63]

Wow! this is so funny. Just yesterday, I whistling the Cake Walk Movement and my client who was as well flutist like I am, said "you know that song??? what was it from ?" as I replied "Suite of Old American Dances", as we called it jokingly "Suite of Old American Trances". LOL! Some music just sticks in your head....

[@evans7665]

for me that piece was Armenian dances part I by read. I can still play the cornet soli towards the end by memory.

[@drcossack86]

Got this for one of the two community bands I'm in, on Trombone. It's fun for sure, but man is it difficult. I thought getting Holst's Second Suite last year was rough - that piece is a cakewalk (no pun intended) compared to this.

[@daniellecroft3331]

Such an interesting piece, and I actually got the melody a lot on the euphonium! So cool

[@ericm0057]

Danielle Croft Ay Euphonium is so fun to play on this piece

[@fredobermyer3467]

Played Baritone on this in the Inter High band. Great part.

[@yoko3182]

So excited to play this in our upcoming concert. Especially since I'm the only one on the first trumpet part, so I get all the solos. :-P

[@60darklord]

We're playing this this year and on tuba god those high F's(above staff) are gonna cause me heart failure.

[@andycockrum1212]

we played it last year. dont stress the lips and itll be much easier (and much better) for your lips!

[@nickwhitaker1572]

The composer really didn't think about being kind to us BBb tubes when he wrote the high split on this, otherwise it's one of the most enjoyable pieces I've ever played on tuba

[@thetruepyromancer2928]

Have to learn this for PMEA Regional Band. Wish me luck.

[@tommyvo8189]

Euphonium's are just awesome!

[@Dyllon2012]

The euphonium part on this piece is such a blast

[@1random2productions3]

Just received this, and I'm intimated but in the exciting way

[@garrisoncluff5367]

I remember playing tuba in this suite.

[@noelleobrien7525]

playing piccolo on this in wind symphony 3:23 = best part (even though I don't play the lick)

[@BlueRoseGeek]

We're playing this in band right now, and I get the English horn solo in the Wallflower Waltz :-)

[@gamerrga840]

im playing this and im in 6th grade and its allways stuck in my head and its very difficult

[@gamerrga840]

btw im playing tuba

[@joeptrumpet]

Hey I'm playing on that!

[@TBDBITL7879L1]

Hey, me too!

[@FullStripe97]

I play 9th euphonium in this piece. We only went up to a high Bb but it hurt my face so much! Euphoniums (You phone ee yum)

[@Altoclarinets]

N... ninth????? Are you playing a brass band arrangement?

[@thomaslai1381]

Former first flute here, I remember hating Wallflower Waltz so much, everything else was great though!

[@notauser4856]

For Alto and Tenor sax we have 110 bars of rest and 12 bars of playing in the Wallflower Waltz!

[@_animatic327_]

OMG IS THAT THE WESTERN ONE-STEP FROM THE SUITE OF OLD AMERICAN DANCES PLAYING IN THE BACKGROUND?!?!

[@tehehetochan1500]

たまりませんのを！😊

[@toasty64]

Symphonic band 😊

[@hotdogman162]

love this pice and were going to play it in band

[@katking9974]

I thought this was a super boring piece when I played it in band as an oboe, but listening to this recording and how fast it is makes it sound so much more interesting.

[@MattyBur1]

first trumpet - freshmen! my lips = dead! we played all 5 movements.

[@Hydrograd]

Clarinet Baby in Wind Symphony

[@benlepsch2107]

when yo have to ply the solo b flat cornet part.

[@BrianShi-is-the-Illuminate]

it goes up too high, like "where did the other piccolo come from"

[@monali7374]

omg so funny haha!

[@BrianShi-is-the-Illuminate]

Hi Mona

[@chriswhatley7991]

I helped play this piece in the Brevard College Band. College bands Don't play things for beginners!

[@grugalicious]

Schottische is literally monsters inc and up theme mixed together

[@carsonisawesome6423]

Played bass trombone for this in college. Did RR Bennett choose not to include downbeats in the 2nd half of the waltz?

[@ParadoxParanormal15]

Playing this now. First alto lol

[@mosesnelson27]

bass trombone is so much fun

[@ught2304]

UNM 2022-1

[@Sonofbun]

I just switches to tuba last week. I need to learn this in 3 weeks, no pressure right?

[@mattburch7637]

How'd it go? Lol

[@Thithy8]

I want to know too, how'd it go?

[@Sonofbun]

+_litzy :D it actually went pretty well. Of course I couldn't play the whole entire piece due to it being only 1 piece out of 13 we where playing and I needed to allocate my time to some other pieces aswell ( most of them where for trombone my main instrument). When I was on tuba I also played Xerxes incantation and dance and conversational with the night. The concert went great though and sounded great.

[@Thithy8]

That's great!! I'm glad everything well! :D

[@BrianShi-is-the-Illuminate]

Son Of Bun that's sounds like an awesome concert, Xerxes is another really great piece

[@bradleyjames1857]

Euphonium. 😊

[@Kirbyfire73]

I will forever hate the fact that the rag is written in cut time and not 2/4

[@aidancolbeck7086]

+GreenDuskGaming you arent in Portland Youth Philharmonic you are in Portland Youth Wind Ensemble I played it too bro -the 4th horn

[@garyhigs]

To joeptrumpet: were you really playing with the Cincinnati Wind Symphony on this recording? Great performance. Love this piece.

[@koyomi3000]

Seems like you may have the resolution at 240p.

[@sofianishimura4231]

I'm f***ing 14, how am I supposed to play this?!?! Gahhhh. Oboe part.

[@timcao5687]

well im 13 and 1 play 1st cornet, it isnt that hard...

[@aidancolbeck7086]

12 but 4th horn so much rest...........

[@justinselgrad1382]

The struggle is real! I played the oboe part when I was 14 as well. It's rough! Practice, practice, practice ... I used to listen to the song constantly to get it in my head. Jeez - I remember that one solo in the One-Step @8:45 that pretty much sets up the whole scene ... I would play it and after getting through it just stop to let my nerves settle as the rest of the bad played then jump back in.

[@andrewsilber]

I played it on oboe/english horn around that age too-- I remember having a hell of a time getting the counting right on the EH solo in Wallflower Waltz.

[@aidancolbeck7086]

yeah I just listened to this recording so much I had it memorized :D

[@Mfinally]

❤️​

[@B-Buns]

Grrrrr, alto sax has so many rests on Wallflower :(

[@dudo7838]

Blake Bun don't mind me, just replying to a 2 year old comment

[@andrewcol]

Not sure what you're talking about? 40+ measures is just the composer showing his love?

[@nerdwords1607]

Yeah trombone 3 doesn’t play all of Wallflower, it sucks

[@carolynschmidt173]

Morning Laurel springs New England

[@ashslim9]

I played trumpet!

[@catrulerofdeath]

Ouch. I was on flute, but even that was hard.

[@bacongod8315]

4:53

[@nathanduritza5182]

Cakewalk 10 3:03

[@SuperMonaLisaBros]

The first and fourth movement were torture.

[@calebnarayan]

11:29

[@jacobschear6322]

0:02

[@iisaucerjason2218]

Jason Su