''Made in America'' is an

orchestra An orchestra (; ) is a large instrumental ensemble typical of classical music, which combines instruments from different families. There are typically four main sections of instruments: * String instruments, such as the violin, viola, cello, ...

l composition in one movement by the American composer

Joan Tower Joan Tower (born September 6, 1938)http://www.schirmer.com/default.aspx?TabId=2419&State_2872=2&ComposerId_2872=1605 Biography on Schirmer is a Grammy-winning contemporary American composer, concert pianist and conductor. Lauded by ''The New Y ...

. The work was jointly commissioned by the

League of American Orchestras The League of American Orchestras, formerly the American Symphony Orchestra League, is a North American service organization with 700 member orchestras of all budget sizes and types, plus individual and institutional members. Based in New York Ci ...

and New Music USA#Meet The Composer, Meet the Composer. It was first performed in Glens Falls, New York by the Glens Falls Symphony Orchestra in October 2005.

Composition

''Made in America'' is composed in a single movement and has a duration of roughly 13 minutes. The main theme of the work is based on the song "America the Beautiful." Tower described the inspiration for the piece in the score program notes, writing:

Instrumentation

The work is scored for an orchestra comprising two Western concert flute, flutes (doubling piccolo), two oboes, two clarinets, two bassoons, two French horn, horns, two trumpets, trombone, timpani, percussion, and String section, strings.

Reception

''Made in America'' has received praise from music critics. Allan Kozinn of ''The New York Times'' praised the work, remarking: A recording of the work, performed by Leonard Slatkin and the Nashville Symphony, won the 2008 Grammy Award for Grammy Award for Best Classical Contemporary Composition, Best Classical Contemporary Composition, in addition to the Grammy Awards for Grammy Award for Best Classical Album, Best Classical Album and Grammy Award for Best Orchestral Performance, Best Orchestral Performance.

References

{{italic title Compositions by Joan Tower 2004 compositions Compositions for symphony orchestra