Fort Erie (from A Collection of New Cotillons)
by Francis Johnson · arranged by Samuel Araya
- Instrumentation
- Cello, Piano
- Duration
- 1'2''
- Publisher
- Samuel Araya (self-published on IMSLP, 2021); original: G. Willig's Musical Magazine, Philadelphia, 1818
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About this piece
Francis Johnson (1792–1844) was a Philadelphia bandleader and composer, often described as "the first published African American composer"[1]. Fort Erie is No. 10 in his 1818 A Collection of New Cotillons, a set of dance tunes for the ballroom. Samuel Araya's free arrangement gives the tune to the cello, with a piano part that doubles the melody and supplies a light 6/8 accompaniment. It lasts about a minute and suits a student ready for a first piece in 6/8.
Technical overview
A lilting 6/8 dance in F major, all in first position on the G, D and A strings and ending with a D.S. al fine. B-flat on the A string needs a backward extension, the second strain adds a B-natural and crossings between the G and D strings, and there is one grace note. No slurs or dynamics are marked, so the focus is the long-short crotchet-quaver pattern and even quaver groups.
Technical focus
- A String Notes
- Accidentals
- D String Notes
- Extensions
- G String Notes
- Grace Notes
- Rhythm
- String Crossings