Arcady Dubensky was born in Viatka, Russia, on October 15, 1890. After
being graduated from the Moscow Conservatory in 1909 he played the
violin in the orchestra of the Moscow Opera. In 1921 he came to the
United States, where he later became a citizen. He served as violinist
of the New York Symphony Society, and after that of the New York
Philharmonic Orchestra, until his retirement in 1953.
Dubensky had written many works for orchestra, whose sound technique and
fresh approaches command respect. One or two of these are of popular
appeal without sacrificing sound musical values. Of particular interest
is the _Stephen Foster Suite_ for orchestra (1940), in which Dubensky
quotes five Stephen Foster songs: “My Old Kentucky Home,” “Jeanie With
the Light Brown Hair,” “Some Folks,” “I See Her Still in My Dreams,” and
“Camptown Races.” The composer goes on to explain: “The first part
represents to me a beautiful summer evening in the country. From far
away I hear a choir, coming gradually closer and then fading into the
distance. It sings to me the wonder song, ‘My Old Kentucky Home.’ The
second part is built around ‘Jeanie With the Light Brown Hair.’ Here the
melody is given to a tenor solo, with a soft, gentle orchestral
accompaniment beginning with a short introduction. The last two parts
are for orchestra. The fourth part centers around the song ‘I See Her
Still In My Dreams.’ It is a dreamy song, and I have given it the
character of an intermezzo played by string orchestra, muted. If this
movement is played in slow tempo, and pianissimo, it sounds not at all
realistic but like the dream it portrays. The fifth part, ‘Camptown
Races’ is the focal point of the suite. The theme is treated in a number
of different keys and always in a different character. Sometimes it is
delicate and graceful, and sometimes rude and robust, but always it is
gay.”