Variations on a Shaker Melody from Appalachian Spring Score

“Variations on a Shaker Melody” is an excerpt from “Appalachian Spring” which was composed in 1943-44 as a ballet for Miss Martha Graham on a commission from the Elizabeth Sprague Coolidge Foundation. The ballet was first performed by Miss Graham and her company at the Coolidge Festival in the Library of Congress, Washington, D.C., onOctober 30, 1944.

The original scoring called for a chamber ense mble of thirteen instruments. The present arrangement for symphony orchestra was made by7 the composer especially for performance by school and community orchestras.