Original Compositions / English Translations of Art Songs & Arias / Program Notes
Dance Suite
Alan Beeler (b.1939) completed his graduate study in theory and composition at Washington University, where he received an M. A. and Ph.D. He has taught music theory, composition, and oboe at Washington University College, Wisconsin State University, and Eastern Kentucky University, where he was Professor of Music Theory and Composition. His many compositions include works for solo piano, chorus, chamber ensemble, string orchestra, full orchestra, and voice.
His Dance Suite was written in the summer of 2008, and the composer writes that each movement “uses a single or double musical interval to control the melodic and harmonic activities in both instruments.
"The first is a Waltz in fourths and half steps that begins with a canon between the parts. The middle section is more active, with some of the intervals expanding and contracting. The closing section returns to the canon with the parts exchanged.
"The Polka uses thirds in a kind of dialogue. It is a conscious parody of the famous Beer Barrel Polka that I used to hear all the time when I taught music at Wisconsin State University in Stevens Point … .
"The March in Fourths is reminiscent of Bartók with similar exchanges between the instruments to those of the Waltz.
"The last piece is a cross between the English jig and the Italian tarantella, with two different whole tone scales connected by thirds and fourths between the instruments.
"I hope the performers and listeners have as much fun with these pieces as I did writing them.”