Juba Dance: Concert Band Score

Name: Juba Dance: Concert Band Score
Brand: Alfred Music
SKU: 36-50105307
Price: 12.00 USD
Availability: InStock

From the Suite In the Bottoms

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

Grade: 4

Item: 36-50105307

$12.00

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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

ISBN10: 8-88-852367-7

ISBN13: 979-8-88-852367-4

UPC: 676737652371

SKU: 36-50105307

Instrumentation: Concert Band

More about this title

About the Composer: Robert Nathaniel Dett

Robert Nathaniel Dett (1882-1943) was a pianist, composer, and conductor whose work bridged classical forms with African American musical traditions. Born in Queenston, Ontario, and educated at Oberlin Conservatory, Dett became a leading figure in concert music during the early twentieth century, earning recognition from peers like John Philip Sousa for his melodic sophistication and harmonic depth.

Dett's compositions drew inspiration from spirituals, folk idioms, and dance forms, translating them into concert works that demanded serious musical attention. His legacy rests not only on his original compositions but on his role as an advocate for Black composers and performers at a time when concert halls remained largely closed to them.

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Why we love this

Sousa himself championed Dett's music, and this arrangement honors that respect by preserving the melodic charm and harmonic interest that made Dett's work stand out. The march-like character gives bands a spirited concert piece that feels both fresh and rooted in authentic American musical tradition, making it an excellent vehicle for exploring the depth of early twentieth-century Black compositional voices.

What to expect

Juba Dance moves with the vitality and forward drive of a march yet carries an undercurrent of lyrical warmth. The music swings between energetic rhythmic momentum and moments of harmonic sophistication that invite the listener to lean in and hear what Sousa heard in Dett's compositional voice.

Who it's for

Concert bands at the Grade 4 level looking to program meaningful American music with historical weight. Directors seeking repertoire that opens conversations about representation and legacy in the concert band canon will find this piece both musically rewarding and pedagogically rich.

How to get the most out of it

Emphasize the melodic lines throughout; Dett's gift for songful writing is the heart of this arrangement. Keep inner voices transparent enough that the principal melody sings clearly over the ensemble.
Treat the march character as a springboard for articulation clarity rather than rigid precision. The rhythmic vitality comes from crisp tonguing and clean attacks, not metronomic uniformity.
Balance the harmonic interest Sousa and Schissel have preserved. This is not a standard march; the chord changes and voice-leading reward careful listening, so shape phrases to let harmonic motion breathe.

How to use it

Program this as a centerpiece in a concert exploring American composers or Black artists in concert music history. Its two-minute length makes it ideal as a concert opener or as part of a thematic programming block with other American heritage pieces.