LINKS TO COMPOSERS and DESCRIPTIONS OF NEW MUSIC By RUSSELL PETERSON RUSSELL PETERSON'S original music for saxophone ensembles, and solo saxophone and band, all on a great-looking website featuring .wav audio files of the music. By MONICA SCHWARTZ (1.) "The Bassoon" a poem by Ken Waldman for 4 bassoons Music: Monica Schwartz (b.1978) Premiered at the 1998 International Double Reed Society Conference. 4 bassoonists with spoken text interspersed within the illustrative music, with text divided amongst the players. Duration: 7.5 minutes. $10 (including shipping) for score and parts $7 for recording by "the Orphans of the Pieta" bassoon ensemble (IDRS Conference--both quartet and octet on each tape). (2.) "Eleven for Eight" Octet for 7 bassoons and Contra Music: Monica Schwartz (b.1978) Premiered at the 1998 International Double Reed Society Conference, Linda Harwell conducting. 11 short movements. Some movements in the traditional style, some movements utilize extensive extended techniques. Duration: 24 minutes. $20 (including shipping) for score and parts $7 for recording by "the Orphans of the Pieta" bassoon ensemble (IDRS Conference--both quartet and octet on each tape). E-mail to Monica Schwartz
By KEITH MICHAEL DAVIS A Western Plains Overture 8-9 minutes, grade 4. This piece is ideal for good high school, college-level, or community bands, challenging but not exceptionally difficult, and easy to program. The broad opening fanfare in the horns and trumpets is followed by a bright, folk-like main theme. The slower, lyrical section showcases the solo flute and solo trumpet and features lush writing for the whole band. A variant of the bright main theme returns for the development, and the slow theme is reprised prior to the recapitulation of the horns opening fanfare, main theme and coda, which utilizes to good effect technical passages for woodwinds over a chorale in the brass. This piece was commissioned by the Nebraska Wind Symphony, and performed by them as part of their 20th Anniversary season, and has been recorded by the ACC Heartland of America Concert Band, conducted by Maj. Mark Peterson, for release in 1998. Please direct e-mail inquiries about this piece to: Wingert-Jones Music, Inc. Deus ex Machina A 3-movement piece for Concert Band or Wind Ensemble, 26 minutes duration in a tonal but contemporary style. Degree of difficulty: college (or very good high school) level Inspired by the great inventions of the Industrial Revolution, this work follows the creation of a machine from conception (first movement), fragmentary and searching at first, then crystallizing into a working model, full of quick rhythms and glittering percussion; through construction (second movement), heavy and ponderous, a set of variations with a constant "hammering" ostinato almost throughout; and finally, the machine in operation (third movement, "Production"), a movement influenced by Reich/Glass/Adams minimalism, but with more drama, with bold horn and brass lines, a fugato, and references to the previous movements' musical material. A tape recording of the third movement, by the Air Force Heartland of America Band conducted by Major Mark Peterson, is available. E-mail requests to: Wingert-Jones Music, Inc. "Delicate Survivors of Life's Mighty Storms"- difficulty level: college or university wind ensemble. A polytonal work with expressive, soloistic writing, especially for the flutes, piano, and mallet percussion. An extended, atmospheric first section, reminiscent of Joseph Schwantner's music, is followed by a musical depiction of a violent storm, full of dynamic extremes, dissonant chords, and thunderous percussion. This is followed by the final section: a quietly powerful chorale, which fades into the distance. Duration: about 18 minutes. Available from the composer: komodo@phonet.com. "HinĪ ma Tov: Variations on a Jewish Dance Tune" - difficulty level: high school or community band. This is a thoroughly tonal and enjoyable piece for almost any wind band! This piece would work as a central feature piece or as a closer. After a short introduction, the theme is presented by the low brass and reeds, a la "Russian Sailors' Dance." The five variations which follow are: a flute and harp feature, a Brahmsian variation, a jaunty sea chantey, a slow and pretty variation, and finally a rousing Israeli dance, full of rhythmic vitality and plenty of melodic writing for everyone. This piece will be fun for your audience AND for your band to play! Duration: about 10 minutes. Available from the composer at komodo@phonet.com.
March of the Flower Children This is a very lyrical march that features brass, woodwinds and percussion. It is dramatic and sometimes even slightly comical. A variety of sections make this work interesting and entertaining. Inspired by the composer's own two little flower children. Approximately Running Time: 4:30 Grade 3 to 4 (6 being the highest in difficulty) Recently performed by the Oregon State University's Symphonic Band, conducted by the composer. NEW MUSIC FOR BRASS CHOIR Variation XXI Based on a theme by Paganini, this short work for a brass choir would make a great encore number! It starts off rubato, then kicks into a cool jazzy swing, complete with rich colorful harmonies and tastey counter melodies. 4 Trumpets 4 Trombones 1 Bass Trombone 4 French Horns 2 Baritone Horns (Treble and bass clef) 2 Tubas Approximately Running Time: 1:30 Grade 4 (maybe 5) (6 being the highest) If you've got a hot brass section, this would be a great piece to show them off with! All prices are available upon e-mail request from Rob Birdwell
| |||||||||||||||||
 | | ||||||||||||||||
