Search results for: 'joshua fit the batle of jericho'

EEETTT

In Memory of our friend Tubabass Tzu-Ming Hsu Commissioned by EuTuba Euphonium and Tuba Ensemble.

This piece was commissioned by my close friend, Tubabass Tzu-Ming Hsu who was the member of EuTuba Euphonium and Tuba Ensemble and holds New Year's celebrations every year for Taiwanese bass and euphonium players. He told me that he would love to have a theme song for the New Year's event and we could play it every year. His enthusiasm for music and low brass group always touches me. Unfortunately, our friend left us before the premiere.

The first part of the piece begins with a powerful rhythm which means we have firm confidence and courage and ready to set off again. The opening section leads into a slow and touching melody which shows the charm of low brass.

I wrote this piece to encourage all the musicians and ensemble affected by the pandemic. Finally, I want to say to you in heaven, we will work hard to enforce your spirit and beliefs.

We will play this piece at New Year's events every year.

Wan-Yun Liang

For Brass Quintet, let's just let the composer describe this piece:

I began the composition of this work as a straightforward theme and variations.  As I got into it a little more, I began to wonder what would be the result if I made the theme tacit, but left enough clues within the body of the composition to see if anyone who performs, studies or hears this work, would have an opportunity to figure out the actual theme on which all of this is based.  That thought intrigued me, but I realized that in order to do this successfully, I had to leave enough clues to make it solvable, but not too many to make it obvious.  Seeing that there are probably over a hundred millionty-billion tunes out there, erring on the side of too many clues did not seem to be a hazard.  So this is my deal to all of you:  

1.)     If you produce a cogent and reasoned hypothesis as to which tune is being utilized, and you are correct, I will tell you so.

2.)     Don’t come up with something like:  “The first three notes are the same as the Star-Spangled Banner, so it must be the Star-spangled Banner”.  That just shows that you are lazy and expect to have the answer to be spoon-fed to you; that behavior, I assure you, will not be rewarded.  (HINT:  “It is not the Star-Spangled Banner).

3.)     Wild or random guesses with no basis on reasoning behind them will not be dignified with a response.

4.)      If no one guesses this before I die, the answer will be lost to the ages and speculation as to what tune it is will gnaw at your souls for all eternity.  I will not give my attorney a copy with the instructions to open it 25 years after my death, or anything like that.  Guess it, fine; don’t guess it; oh well…life goes on.

In order to make your task a tad easier, I will offer to you the following

items:

1.)     There is a reason why the intro and theme are in duple time, but all the variations are in triple time.

2.)     Transition segments, which may seem superfluous to the variations, serve a distinct purpose.

3.)     The dissonances of the 2nd Variation require further study.

4.)     Pay special attention to the motivic development, not only within a variation, but as it is handled throughout the piece.

5.)     Key selections were not random, but chosen for a very specific

reason.

6.)     Sometimes fruit will be borne in the least obvious places.

7.)     A mirror may be your best friend.

I don’t know if these clues help or hinder, but regardless I wish you all the best of luck should you desire to begin in this hunt.

Steven Cross, October 2013                                                                                

for unaccompanied Tuba

Will There Be a Time is a work for solo tuba that makes a statement against war. In the opening section, March and Battle, the tuba simulates the low rumble of the approaching tanks and gunshots of the fighting. The frantic cries of those trying to escape are mixed with the sounds of the battle in Fleeing Refugees while the hopelessness of the Aftermath asks the question, Will There Be a Time?

This work was inspired by a news report I heard when a woman, driven from her home by war, was briefly interviewed. She and her neighbour had been friends, having coffee together while they talked about their children, and now, she and her neighbour were forced to be enemies against their will by the warring factions and she couldn't understand why this had to be.