Castle House Rag
James Reese Europe (arr. Thomas Clark)
Subtitle: Trot & One-Step
General Info
Year: 1914
Duration: c. 2:30
Difficulty: (see Ratings for explanation)
Original Medium: Dance band
Publisher: Jos. Stern
Cost: Score and Parts – Out of print.
For availability information, see Discussion tab, above.
Instrumentation
Full Score
D-flat Piccolo
Oboe
Bassoon
E-flat Soprano Clarinet
B-flat Soprano Clarinet I-II-III
B-flat Soprano Saxophone
E-flat Alto Saxophone
B-flat Tenor Saxophone
E-flat Baritone Saxophone
E-flat Cornet
B-flat Cornet Solo-I-II-III
B-flat Tenor
E-flat Horn or Alto I-II-III-IV
Trombone I-II-III
Euphonium
Tuba
Percussion, including:
- Bass Drum
- Bells
- Crash Cymbals
- Rattle
- Snare Drum
- Wood Block
Errata
None discovered thus far.
Program Notes
In 1914, the most famous exponents of modern social dance were Vernon and Irene Castle. Their revolutionary style did away with bulky moves associated with dances of the late nineteenth century and replaced them with elegant and streamlined athleticism. The Castles brought a new wave of popularity to dancing and much of their popularity was due to their daringness; the white Castles had hired an African-American orchestra to accompany them in a time when such public integration was nearly unknown. James Reese Europe (1881-1919) served as the Castle’s musical director.
Castle House Rag is a multi-themed work with sparse and subtle use of syncopation. But the effect that is has is electrifying due to the unabashed energy exhibited and a quasi-improvisational manner in which the musicians play.
- Program Note from Library of Congress
Media
(Needed - please join the WRP if you can help.)
State Ratings
None discovered thus far.
Performances
To submit a performance please join The Wind Repertory Project
- United States Military Academy (West Point, N.Y.) Band (Daniel Toven, conductor) - 28 January 2023
- SUNY Potsdam Crane Wind Ensemble (Brian K. Doyle, conductor) - 24 September 2021
- United States Marine Band (Washington, D.C.) (Jason K. Fettig, conductor) – 26 May 2019
Works for Winds by This Composer
- Castle House Rag (arr. T. Clark) (1914)
- Castle House Rag (orch. Smith) (1914/)
- The Castle Walk (with Ford T. Dabney) (1914)
- Castles in Europe (arr. T. Clark) (1914)
- Castles in Europe (arr. Wilson) (1914/2020)
- The Clef Club (arr. Lamb) (1910/2016)
- Congratulations Waltz (arr. J. von der Mehden) (1914)
- The Final Countdown (arr. John Glenesk Mortimer)
- James Reese Europe and His Society Orchestra (arr. Lamb) (1914/2016)
- James Reese Europe's 369th Hellfighter Band (arr. Lamb) (1917/2017)
Resources
- "Castle House Rag." Library of Congress. Web. Accessed 28 May 2019
- Europe, J.; Clark, T. (1914). Castle House Rag : Trot & One Step [score]. Jos. W. Stern: New York.
- The Horizon Leans Forward..., compiled and edited by Erik Kar Jun Leung, GIA Publications, 2021, p. 320.
- Sager, David. "The Castles in Europe One-Step (Castle House Rag)"--Europe's Society Orchestra (1914)". Library of Congress. Web Accessed 28 May 2019