Search results for: 'Quartet for brass'

1. Chestnut
2. Kaleidoscope
3. III. Caprice

“Divertimento for Wind Quintet” is a moderately difficult, vibrant piece in three short movements. The piece features dynamic contrasts, syncopation, varied tonal colors, full instrument ranges, tonal clusters of harmony, and imitative motifs that pass among the instruments. The work is delightful to play and hear. It's suitable for college and professional players, and it’s an excellent tool for teaching advanced students more refined ensemble and musicianship skills.

The first movement, “Chestnut” (3:00), is an entertaining story in which all the instruments combine to tell an animated tale. “Kaleidoscope” (2:40), the second movement, includes continually changing harmonic patterns and varied dynamics that create a wealth of shifting musical textures. The third movement, “Caprice” (2:50), is a whim brimming with energetic playfulness that radiates from all the instruments.

The instrumentation throughout is standard woodwind quintet with no alternative instrumentation or doubling. Each section can be performed as a standalone concert or contest selection.

The Wind Quintet setting of this gentle rag honors the dignified character of Scott Joplin's compositional form, giving each of the five players a voice. Optional repeats lend program flexibility to the duration of the performance. “Searchlight Rag” was first published in 1907, and the title refers to Searchlight, Nevada, where friends of Joplin had ventured to go prospecting.

Micah Ahern lived 7 courageous, hard-fought years with Neuroblastoma, a deadly form of cancer that attacks children. I had the privilege of knowing sweet little Micah where he was a student at Ditto Elementary School in Arlington Texas, where I am the school librarian.

He lost his battle July 28, 2016; he spent every day living his life to the fullest and was especially fond of baseball. Micah become an honorary member of the Texas Christian University (TCU) baseball team the last 3 years of his life, and even attended one of their playoff games in the College World Series shortly before he died. Micah's zest for life had a tremendous positive effect on everyone that he knew. He is loved and missed by many.

Donations can be made to the "Superhero Micah Foundation" here:

https://superheromicah.wordpress.com

Compass Kaleidoscope was commissioned by the Pennsylvania Quintet (Penn State Faculty members) in celebration of their 30 Year Anniversary. It is based on a theme related to Pennsylvania: Amish quilts. Pennsylvania is noted for its longtime quilt making arts, a tradition started in the early 1800's by Amish and Mennonite women in Lancaster county. Each of the five movements of the quintet is inspired by a different traditional quilt pattern chosen by a member of the quintet. The musical materials were derived from the geometric shapes, color palette, arrangement of blocks, the name of the design and traditional folk melodies. Some of the compositional ideas were informed by the composer's synesthesia where particular pitches are associated with colors.

Oboe, Clarinet, Alto Saxophone, Bass Clarinet and Bassoon

Drift was written for the TIMBER Reed Quintet at the Ohio State University. Upon attending rehearsals and listening to the dynamic of the group, I was fascinated with the way the five instruments blended their sound together and the vast array of timbres that could emerge from the various combinations. This sparked my vision to create a piece that would highlight these abilities. Drift makes use of rhythmic ambiguity and uses a Jazz influence to create a musical idea of drifting along. 

“This Is the Day” started as a piece for a few musicians to play during breaks in rehearsals of the Rutland (Vermont) City Band. Each instrument's part has its own character and moments in the spotlight, carefully articulated to bring out syncopated melodies in a contrapuntal texture.