Calusa Corn Dance

Calusa Corn Dance is from a larger work written for the Apollo Quartet called MoonStrike, "commemorating the 50th anniversary of the Apollo 11 moon landing and features American Indian stories. American Indian legends are very colorful and have a tendency to take twists and turns within the narrative.

Regarding the Moon, it is very consistent that the traditional tales involve trickster characters and competitions for ownership of this precious object. [The larger work] is bookended with an arrangement of a Calusa Corn Dance. For Southeast Indians, the Green Corn Dance took place during the annual, fall Harvest Moon." - Jerod Impichchaachaaha’ Tate

Mixed Meter: This piece is in 7/8 time, grouped with 2+2+3 eighth notes in a bar

Oblique Motion: Violins’ melodic material moves up and down over the viola and cello’s ostinato

Rhythmic Pattern: One 7/8 measure in length
1. quarter, quarter, dotted quarter
2. quarter, quarter, quarter, eighth

Ostinato: quarter, quarter, dotted quarter

Tempo: Allegro/Vivace