The Enthusiast Polka (2018)

Arranged for three trumpets and concert band

Presumed to be composed by Jules Levy

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Duration: 2 minutes

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Commission/Premiere Info

Arranged for trumpeters Jason Burke, Cadence McMillan, Audrey Pitzer & Scarlett Porter, members of the Stockdale Christian School Wind Ensemble, Gary Scudder, Director, Bakersfield, CA

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Program Notes

Who wrote The Enthusiast Polka? It is far beyond the scope of this project, which was merely to transcribe and arrange this work, to figure out who wrote it. The easily obtainable information on the subject is inconclusive. What we do know is that there is a recording of the original version available on the internet in several places. The music on the original recording is preceded by an announcement that the United States Marine Band is about to play “The Enthusiast Polka”. Neither the Marine Band nor the Library of Congress has a score or parts to this piece. Rateyourmusic.com says that The Enthusiast Polka was recorded and released in 1894. Paddlesteamer, (a screen name) says that “This recording probably features Jules Levy as the main soloist on cornet.” This is a good guess, considering that Jules Levy, an Englishman who had emigrated to the U.S., was one of the most famous cornet soloists of the time. According to Wikipedia, he had emigrated to the U.S. from England by the year of the recording, was the first cornetist ever to be recorded and he recorded for Columbia Records (the company which recorded and distributed The Enthusiast Polka).
 

Music history is full of examples of instrumental virtuosi writing music for their own performance: Bach, Vivaldi, Mozart, Paganini and Rachmaninoff are just a few examples. Jules Levy was also a composer and arranger, so it’s not too much of a jump to think that he might have written this for himself. It’s also possible that he simply appropriated someone else’s music and put his name on it. For example, from IMSLP/Petrucci Music Library, one can download Schubert’s Ave Maria in an arrangement for cornet and piano with Jules Levy indicated as the composer. Levy's Young America Polka is none other than the Star Spangled Banner in an arrangement for cornet and piano (a polka in 3/4 ?).
 

In the few pieces attributed to Levy which I was able to download from the internet, I often saw a simple, homophonic style (in this case, a simple chordal accompaniment with a melody varying from simple to very complex and virtuosic). The Enthusiast certainly fits into this style.
 

But wait. There’s more! My great grandfather was named Elie Julien Levy. My father was given exactly the same name. In summary, without much evidence, I am attributing this work to Jules Levy and (because of the name similarities) dedicating it to my father. Without his encouragement (and my mother’s) my lifetime in music might never have been. It’s just that easy!
 

This arrangement features not one, but three soloists playing trumpets. The top line is the original cornet solo line. The second and third harmonize with the first. Therefore, this may be performed as a solo trumpet piece by playing the top line alone.
 

In this arrangement, the use of oboes, bassoons and horns, while highly desirable, is optional.

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About Jules Levy

Born in London, England in 1838, he reportedly began his study of the cornet with only its mouthpiece; his family could not afford the instrument itself. After immigrating to the United States, he began a significant musical career as a cornet soloist and was billed as "The World's Greatest Cornetist". He was widely regarded as a foremost player, although the claim of "World's Greatest" has some challengers. He was a member of Patrick Gilmore's band for several years, performing with them at the Centennial Exposition in Philadelphia in 1876. He was also a tester and promoter for C.G. Conn, manufacturer of musical instruments.  Levy performed many pieces, among the most famous were "Una Voce Poco Fa" by Rossini, "Carnival of Venice", "Grand Russian Fantasia", and his favorite: "Whirlwind Polka". He was arguably the first cornetist to be recorded, having participated in an early public demonstration of Thomas Edison's tinfoil phonograph. He later recorded commercially for Victor Records and Columbia Records.

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Jules Levy died at age 65 in Chicago, Illinois. (wikipedia)

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Please Contact Me to acquire the score and parts to the work.