Publisher Desc.  Early Americans is an original composition for string orchestra which depicts the people from three periods of early American development: the era of the Native Americans, the Colonial Period and the time of Westward Expansion. In the first part (I Native Americans), solo celli imitates the beat of a drum over which the first violin plays a plaintive modal melody which is later layered in canonic style by the other strings. The second section (II Colonists) depicts the classical European dance style brought to the colonies with Yankee Doodle superimposed over the top. In the final section, Westward Expansion (III Pioneers) is symbolized by the square dance tune which is also posed in canonic style.