Pilgrim Suite No. 3 - America Triumphant

"Pilgrim Suite No. 3 - American Triumphant" is by American composer, Marion Austin Dunn (Marion Austin Dunn (26 April 1888 — 13 April 1959). I know very little about her, but I believe that was from Minneapolis, Minnesota.

"America Triumphant (Pilgrim Suite No. 3)" was published in 1920 by White-Smith Publishing Company. It bears the dedication: "Inscribed to Mr. Gaston M. Dethier".

Gaston Marie Dethier (1875–1958) was an American organist, pianist, and composer of Belgian birth. He served as organist of the Church of St. Francis Xavier in NYC, and taught at the Julliard School.

"America Triumphant" is a very rare item, and certainly unique. It's a combination of the grand "town hall recital tradition," but also has elements of Radio City Music Hall in NYC. When you listen to the opening, you can picture a massive Wurlitzer rising from below the stage, with a light show, period correct of course, going on all around!

It all begins with an opening overture/fanfare featuring massive chords that are often duplicated in both hands. This leads to a section featuring pedal trills while the Solo tuba sounds fanfares above this. The fanfares dissolve away into the central section, which features a dialogue between the Solo clarinet and flutes 8' and 4'. This transitions back to the opening material after quite an unusual "cadenza" featuring the Solo tuba (enclosed), and the opening material returns, but with more extravagant passages. The final coda is a combination of the first section, harmonically varied, and a wild flourish pushing forward and rushing to the final thunderous D-flat major chords!

I upload this with grateful thanks for the United States and it's majesty. I hope we can survive our turmoils and regain our place of leadership and respect in the world.

I wish everyone peace and day of Thanks!

The score is attached below, as well as a photo of the dedicatee, Gaston M. Dethier and his brother, Édouard.

Please see the First Comment.