Orchestra

20 Duets for Horn and Tuba is perfect for a get together with a friend or for a teacher and student. This set includes pieces from Bach, Beethoven, Chopin, etc.

Horn, Tuba and Percussion

Jim Grant writes:

When I received the message from the Moreau VanTuinen Duo (Danielle Moreau, percussion; Danielle VanTuinen, euphonium) and Deanna Swoboda, tuba, that they wanted to collaborate with me on creating a trio for thier instruments, I immediately thought, “Well now, here comes some fun…!” In our initial skype meeting we decided that the new piece would be through-composed, ca. 10 minutes in duration, and would feature a blend of serious, crazy, and lyrical music; that I would fashion a separate version of the new piece to feature French horn in the same role as euphonium; and that we would invite a small group of adventurous colleagues to become co-commissioners of this new composition (see List of Commissioners page).

The result is 3D, music that touches on three distinct “mood dimensions.” A somber, evocative introduction leads to an explosive, rhythmically-charged, comically crazy joy ride, which yields to a rhapsodic duet between the two horns supported by an undulating moto perpetuo accompaniment in the marimba. That’s the piece, in a nutshell.

The three Lead Commissioners, Deanna, Danny (VanTuinen), and D (Moreau) could not have been more gracious and helpful during the composing of 3D, answering questions and offering feedback on sketches and ideas. Indeed, their fingerprints are all over this music.

The title, 3D, takes its name not only from the three distinct musical dimensions this music explores. It also represents a nod of respect to the three Lead Commissioners, whose excitement and support for this project captured my imagination from the very start. To Deanna, Danny and D, and to each of the stalwart participating co-commissioners, I offer my deepest gratitude.

Baritone Voice and Alto Saxphone

Based on a fable by Aesop (620–564 BCE):

The fables of Aesop often address human foibles in an entertaining and humorous manner. While performing A Middle-aged Man and His Two Mistresses the vocalist is encouraged to create a lighthearted, playful atmosphere.

Duration: 6’50”

The first movement, ‘Start of the Journey’, is light and filled with excitement and anticipation of the ‘journey’ ahead. The middle of the movement utilizes a familiar theme in celebration of joy for the impending trip.

The second movement, ‘Exploration in the Phrygian Woods’, uses the Phrygian mode to give the feeling of wonder and suspense of what our two musicians may find. The flute starts with the lead, but the tuba, not to be outdone, quickly takes the melody to have his turn to ‘explore’ the movement. The two join forces to end this movement.

The final movement, ‘Lost and Found’ begins very dark and slow giving the audience the sense of helplessness. But, the sun shines through and our two musicians find their way out of the woods with a light and playful melody. The movement comes to an end as all are well and at peace once more.

Please enjoy, ‘A Walk in the Woods’ for Flute and Tuba. Learn More

Tuba and Marimba; Dedicated to my good friend Mark Nelson

Angels’ Carillons is Nelson’s second commission for a tuba work from this talented composer from Argentina. Dr. Nelson premiered Tango Images for tuba and piano two years ago at a Pima recital and now has the honor and privilege of premiering this new work for tuba and marimba. It is a single movement work featuring some unusual effects such as imitating the wind by blowing air through the tuba and affecting the pitch up and down through changing the mouth aperture. The marimba has several virtuosic passages with four mallet playing while the tuba is featured primarily as a melodic instrument. Hints of tango rhythms and extensive syncopation make the unusual combination of tuba and marimba exotic and exciting.

with Piano and 2 Percussion

From composer Ethan Wickman:

“Angles of Repose draws the inspiration for its title from Wallace Stegner’s novel about an itinerant mining engineer and his family as they struggle to prosper in the American West. In Stegner’s work, the title refers simultaneously to the angle at which granular materials achieve stability on a slope and the forces of fortune and consequence that ultimately shape the lives of its protagonists. I have become increasingly interested in the way that physical forces create analogues for social, emotional, interpersonal and even musical ones. While this piece does not pictorially narrate the physical phenomenon, it aspires to translate the interplay of these forces into musical ones.”

This work is in three contrasting movements: I. Angle of Displacement, II. Forlorn Angles and III. Angle of Acceleration.

Clarinet and Narrator

From the composer:

Animal Antics (2002) is a three-movement work for clarinet and narrator. The poems are taken from two of Shel Silverstein’s books, A Light in the Attic and Where the Sidewalk Ends. These poems are about various animals and are humorous in nature. The narrator may be any voice type and can fashion the words in any dialect they so choose, the sillier the better.

This work was written and premiered during the composer’s residency with the Escape 2 Create program in Seaside, FL, and is dedicated to Marsha Dowler, President of the Escape 2 Create Executive Board.