Postcards from Oklahoma

Postcards from Oklahoma is a three-movement work for Pierrot Ensemble and percussionist. It depicts three short scenes from famous music venues in Oklahoma: Delmar Garden, Yukon Czech Hall, and Cain's Ballroom. It was commissioned by Bridge Ensemble of Michigan as part of their debut as an organization.

Movements:

I: Delmar Garden Promenade

II: Yukon Czech Hall Waltz, Polka, and Schottische

III: Cain's Ballroom Stomp

Duration: ~7 min.

Premiered on June 8th, 2025 by Bridge Ensemble at Pontiac Creative Arts Center, Pontiac, MI

Flute: Chelsea Kotziatek

Clarinet: Erin Dowler

Violin: Joseph Grey

Cello: John-Pablo Rojas

Piano: Yvonne Pruneau

Percussion: Tia Harvey

Bridge Ensemble Team:

Josh Tobias

Antonio Caballero

Lily Tobias

Program Note:

Postcards from Oklahoma is a set of three short pieces based on important 20th-century music venues in Oklahoma. I was inspired by my visits to the Yukon Czech Hall and listening to the Masopust Polka Band (of which my girlfriend, Julia, is a member!). The band has been a family tradition since 1890 (predating Oklahoma statehood) and is currently in its 5th generation. While listening to the band, I noticed people of all ages dancing to a schottische and how the steps were intertwined with the accent patterns of the music. I was moved by how young people were clued into the steps. I believe music and dance are inseparable, especially when they’re culturally significant. Watching tradition passed down through generations because of the existence of the Czech Hall led me to research more historic music venues and write this piece.

The first movement is based on Delmar Garden, a Victorian boardwalk-inspired amusement park in Oklahoma City. Operating between 1902 and 1910, it was the premiere location for entertainment and leisure. This movement evokes the calm grandeur of a summer morning in the 1900s by leaning into the “piano trio” aspect of the Pierrot ensemble.

The second movement is based on the Yukon Czech Hall and the music played by the Masopust Polka Band. The original building was built in 1899, then relocated and expanded in 1925, where it stands today. A beacon for Czech culture in Oklahoma, it provides a place for Czech descendants to connect and experience collective joy. The movement is a theme and variations that stem from the initial waltz, then moves into a polka and a schottische.

The third movement is based on Cain’s Ballroom in Tulsa. At one point home to Bob Wills and his Texas Playboys, the ballroom was built in 1924 as a car garage and converted into a dance venue in the 1930s. To pay homage to Western swing and its roots in Oklahoma, I feature fiddling techniques on the violin and cello and an improvisation-inspired section.

I hope to continue this focus on historic venues in Oklahoma and shine a light on the importance of the joining of music and dance.