66. The Music Program – Commissioning New Work

Copy of a violin part from Dalton’s Suite commissioned in 1955 from the American composer Henry Cowell.

This mimeograph is an original violin part from the orchestral work written for Daltons’ students in 1955 by the important American composer Henry Cowell.

Henry Cowell occupies an interesting position in the history of American music. In the 1920s he was involved in progressive musical activities that blended Eastern and Indian music and experiments in tone clusters and dissonance. Later in his career he embraced a more traditionalist style that drew upon American folk idioms.

Dalton’s Suite, reflecting the more folk-like American style, was likely commissioned by Dalton Music teacher Harold Aks, who also probably conducted the premiere.

Dalton continues to participate in the creation of contemporary music in a variety of ways. The school orchestra has annually commissioned a new work from a composer in residence, and premiered it each Spring since 2013. The composers have included Jessie Montgomery, Eric Nathan, Paola Prestini, Thomas Reeves ’12, and this year, Judd Greenstein. We also offer a music composition elective in the 7th and 8th grades.
—Jordan Brown, Middle & High School Music Teacher