Juba Dance: Concert Band Score & Parts

Name: Juba Dance: Concert Band Score & Parts
Brand: Alfred Music
SKU: 36-50100307
Price: 70.00 USD
Availability: InStock

From the Suite In the Bottoms

By Robert Nathaniel Dett / arr. John Philip Sousa and Loras John Schissel

Grade: 4

Item: 36-50100307

$70.00

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Nathaniel Dett was one of John Philip Sousa's favorite composers, even in a time when racial relations in the United States were less than optimal. Dett's music is filled with melodic charm and harmonic interest. Juba Dance arranged by John Philip Sousa and Loras John Schissel plays and sounds much like a march. (2:00)

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Series: Heritage of the Concert Band Series - LudwigMasters

Publisher: LUDWIGMASTERS

UPC: 676737652289

SKU: 36-50100307

Instrumentation: Concert Band

More about this title

About the Composer: Robert Nathaniel Dett

Robert Nathaniel Dett (1882-1943) was a composer, organist, and conductor whose work bridged classical European forms with African American musical traditions. Born in Quebec, Dett studied in Philadelphia and Europe, later establishing himself as a major voice in early twentieth-century American music. His compositions, which include art songs, piano works, and choral pieces, showcase sophisticated harmonic language and deep melodic invention.

Dett earned recognition from prominent musicians of his era, including John Philip Sousa, who championed his work despite the racial barriers Dett faced throughout his career. His legacy rests on his ability to elevate vernacular American musical sources to concert music without sacrificing their essential character or vitality. Dett's contributions to American music remain vital to contemporary concert programming.

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Why we love this

Sousa's arrangement captures the infectious rhythmic vitality of Dett's original conception while keeping the ensemble parts accessible at Grade 4. The piece balances the drive of a march with the melodic sophistication that made Dett's work stand out among his peers, giving students a substantive concert work that doesn't feel simplified. Programming this honors both the heritage of the concert band and a composer whose influence shaped American music education.

What to expect

Juba Dance radiates rhythmic exuberance and melodic warmth. The piece moves with the character of a joyful processional, driven by infectious syncopation that stays rooted in clear harmonic progressions. There's a celebratory spirit here, grounded in the compositional craft that made Dett's music respected among his contemporaries.

Who it's for

Concert bands at the Grade 4 level seeking repertoire that combines accessibility with genuine artistic substance. This work also serves educators building programming that authentically represents African American composers and the concert band heritage.

How to get the most out of it

Keep the tempo steady and march-like throughout; resist the urge to slow down during lyrical passages, as the piece draws much of its charm from forward momentum.
Balance the melody across sections rather than concentrating it in the cornets; this highlights Dett's orchestration and ensures the arrangement feels full rather than solo-driven.
Emphasize the syncopated rhythmic figures without exaggerating them; they should feel natural and sprung, not labored.

How to use it

This work fits naturally into a program celebrating American musical heritage or composers of color. At two minutes, it pairs well with longer concert pieces as an engaging curtain-raiser or strategic programming moment that shifts energy without requiring students to reset their instruments.

Skills your students will build

Maintaining steady pulse in syncopated rhythmic contexts
Balancing ensemble sound across multiple independent melodic lines
Interpreting articulation and style in march-influenced concert band music
Reading and executing the characteristic harmonic progressions of early twentieth-century American concert music