“Drums” - A Symphonic Poem
Duration: 9 minutes
Instrumentation:
2[1,2/pic].2[1,2/EH].3[1,2,3/BC].2[1,2] — 4331 — T+2 — strings
Percussion: Xylophone, Drum set, Small Bass Drum (optional, covered by Timpani)
Editing and engraving by Nicholas Hersh.
“Drums,” also known as “African Drums,” “Rhythm Drums,” and “Those Jungle Drums,” was originally one of the tunes included in the very successful 1932 Johnson stage show entitled Harlem Hotcha which played at Connie’s Inn in Harlem. Andy Razaf wrote all the lyrics. Handy Brothers, owned by the famous blues composer W. C. Handy, published most of the tunes from the show but released “Drums” back to the composers. It was described as “the voluptuous and entwining terpsichorean number (in other words, ‘cootch dance’).” It would metamorphose from a titillating Harlem stage show number to an orchestrated symphonic tone poem entitled “Those Jungle Drums” with lyrics added later by Langston Hughes to accompany it as an art dance. In a hand written note, Johnson describes the structure of the piece:
African Drums- 32 bars of solo drums played by timpani announces or sets the atmosphere and rhythm for a female dancer after which begins an imaginary (?) dance accompanied by the whole orchestra which gives out the dance motive for two bars and is answered by an orchestrated figure depicting the stamping and shouting of the other participants. Then follows a faster and swifter tempo and dance by the other members of the group. This is developed to the solo announcement of the drums again. Then follows the song of Africa and the drums. After this there is a flute solo accompanied by bass violin and tom toms alone depicting the voodoo dance and from here the composition is developed to a grand climax which combines all the themes and drum rhythms with one final announcement of the theme by the orchestra in one triumphant and savage shout and the end.
Johnson recorded an abridged version as a piano solo in 1945 for Moe Asch. The orchestration which runs over nine minutes is a remarkable and unique piece of Harlem Renaissance musical repertoire.
Program note © Scott E. Brown 2021