Second Dance Suite (score & parts) - EH/CL

Second Dance Suite

for English horn and clarinet
by Matthew Herman - American composer

The Second Dance Suite is a contemporary and whimsical update of the instrumental dance suites common during the Baroque Period.  In place of the traditional antiquated dances, the music evokes a polka, waltz, tango, and mambo.  Throughout the set, the English horn and clarinet parts intertwine, overlap, and exchange places.  The performers get an equal share of the melodic, harmonic, and even percussive elements in each dance.  The Second Dance Suite provides an excellent opportunity for players to demonstrate flashy techniques and sassy personalities.

Dr. Matthew Herman is the Assistant Professor of Music Theory and Theory Division Coordinator at Western Kentucky University.  Their current research focus is on the pedagogy of music theory and composition, with recent presentations on composition pedagogy at the NAfME National In-Service Conference and the KMEA Professional Service Conference.  They have won numerous teaching awards, and they were recently named a “Friend of the Arts” by the Sigma Alpha Iota music fraternity.

With works currently published by Trevco, Carl Fischer, and Polymnia, Dr. Herman’s compositions have been widely performed, with several large-ensemble and chamber works featured on publicly-released CDs.  In 2020, Dr. Herman was chosen as the official commissioned composer for Kentucky by the Music Teachers’ National Association and the Kentucky Music Teachers’ Association.  This culminated in an honorable mention in the 2020 MTNA Distinguished Composer Competition.

Dr. Herman holds a doctorate of musical arts in composition from Temple University, a master of musical arts from Bowling Green State University, and a bachelor of music in theory and composition from The College of Wooster.  In addition to their current position at WKU, Dr. Herman has also taught music theory and composition at Shenandoah Conservatory, West Chester University and Temple University.