Tales of Euclid Beach Park
clarinet, violin, cello, piano
(2023/2024)
Chris Neiner
Score
Tales of Euclid Beach Park
clarinet, violin, cello, piano (2023/2024)
Chris Neiner
Approximate Duration
25 Minutes
Program Note
Tales of Euclid Beach Park is my third work for the stupendous musicians of Stars in the Classics. This latest collaboration continues in the spirit of my earlier works by drawing on history. Euclid Beach Park was an amusement park in Cleveland, Ohio that operated from 1895 to 1969, a total of 74 seasons. Under the direction of the popcorn-making Humphrey family, the park rose to fame as an exemplary amusement park complete with a massive dance pavilion, beach and pier, many rides, campgrounds, many rides, thrilling roller coasters, and legendary confections.
The Arch and Grand Carousel opens with the anticipation and excitement of walking into the park under the entry arch—which is still standing! The music turns to the grand carrousel, the heart of the park. In the clarinet, a Strauss-like waltz comes to life and floats along as the carrousel begins to spin. Manufactured in 1910 by the Philadelphia Toboggan Company, the carousel now operates at the Cleveland History Center.
In the first half of the twentieth century, dance pavilions were a staple of amusement parks. They were large, impressive, glamourous buildings that could accommodate hundreds of dancers. The Euclid Beach Park dance pavilion boasted an 18,000 square feet floor. During its life, the dance pavilion witnessed a varied array of dances including the foxtrot and two-step of the 1910s-1920s, the big band era of swing in the 1930s-1940s, and the twist of early rock and roll in the 1950s.
The pier was an original attraction that lasted all 74 seasons. In the beginning it was intended as a dock for passenger ferries. However, the ferry service didn’t last, and the pier became a popular place to stroll, relax, or watch the sunset. Watching the sunset from the pier was an experience that repeatedly came up in conversation and literature. I specifically wanted to capture a scene from Euclid Beach Park–A Second Look. “The pier provided a romantic setting... the park seemed to float in the night, aglow with the thousands of lights, with many of the sounds muted by the waves."
The important roller coasters were the Racing Coaster, Thriller, and Flying Turns. The Racing Coaster featured a set of two adjacent tracks where trains raced alongside each other. The Thriller was the fastest, tallest, and most popular roller coaster. However, the innovative roller coaster was the Flying Turns. Its toboggan-style track made for an exciting ride that felt like a bobsled flying through the air. I translate the excitement of these famous coasters through fast, animated ups and downs, a counterpoint of racing ideas, and melodies that sway to-and-fro. Buckle up and enjoy!
Chris Neiner
in Bb
Violin
Cello
each fermata longer than the previous
π humorous, silly
fermata longer than the previous each fermata longer than the previous each fermata longer than the previous pizz.
humorous, silly
bouncing along, dim. poco a poco
bouncing along, dim. poco a poco
bouncing along, dim. poco a poco
bouncing along, dim. poco a poco
P P
playful, singsong playful, singsong
whimsical, semi-Viennese whimsical, semi-Viennese
semi-Viennese
semi-Viennese
each fermata longer than the previous each fermata longer than the previous each fermata longer than the previous
humorous, silly each fermata longer than the previous
& ? & ?
& ? & ?
II Swi g a d a Twist at the Da ce Pavi i
Spirited, Swing
wild, raucous! wild, raucous! wild, raucous! wild, raucous! poco sul pont.
Violin
Cello
The Charleston – Mack & Johnson (1923)
wild, raucous! wild, raucous! wild, raucous! wild, raucous! poco sul pont.
Three Preludes – Gershwin (1926)
133
Boogie Woogie Bugle Boy – Raye & Prince (1941)
Tutti Frutti – Richard & LaBostrie (1955)
III The Pier at Su set–Re i isce ce
background flickering background flickering background flickering rippling, luminescent tre corde
f pizz. pizz. f f f dry, rambunctious l.h. dry, rambunctious dry, rambunctious dry, rambunctious
IV Hi s Thri s a d F yi g Tur s
Violin
Cello