Brass
A Call To Honor2022brass ensemble and percussion
Durationca. 3:30 minutes
Instrumentation:
A Call To Honor was originally written for and premiered by, "The President's Own" United States Marine Band. This version was arranged for an english style brass band and is also available for a standard orchestral brass section.For downloadable PDFs contact the composer.
Aria2021brass ensemble
Durationca. 4:30 minutes
Instrumentation:
Aria was originally the second movement of my piece for low brass quintet, Campane. This version is arranged for an orchestral brass section: 3 Trumpets, 4 orns, 2 Trombones, Bass Trombone, Tuba20202020brass ensemble and percussion
Durationca. 2 minutes
Instrumentation:
2020 was premiered on Facebook by members of the Kennedy Center Opera House Orchestra, the National Symphony and the President's Own Marine Band, in video produced by Geoffrey Pilkington.
2020 is available in 2 versions. One for a standard orchestral brass section and a second for large concert band type brass section.
Orchestral brass section version: 6 horns, 4 trumpets, 3 trombones, Bass trombone, Tuba, Timpani Percussion: snare drum, bass drum, suspended cymbal, piatti Concert band brass section version: 5 horns, 6 trumpets, 2 trombones, Bass trombone, 2 Euphoniums, 2 Tuba, Timpani Percussion: snare drum, bass drum, suspended cymbal, piattiFor downloadable PDFs contact the composer.
For downloadable PDFs contact the composer.
Mariana2019tuba and piano
“This piece is hauntingly beautiful and hopeful.”
- International Tuba Euphonium Association Journal
“...a marvelous new work for tuba and piano..”
- David Zerkel, Professor of Tuba and Euphonium, University of Michigan
Movements
1. Vast
2. Open
3. Spaces
Durationca. 18 minutes
Instrumentationtuba and piano
PremiereMay 28, 2019. Steven Campbell, tuba and Casey Rafn, piano at the International Tuba and Euphonium Convention at Iowa City, Iowa.
NotesMariana is named for my 21-year-old niece. During the writing of the piece, Mariana was involved in a serious car accident near Cal Poly, San Luis Obispo, where she is studying graphic design. Mariana sustained serious, though not permanent, injuries but two others died in the accident. The near loss of this elegant and talented young woman was heart wrenching. It reminded me how every life is full of possibility, limited only by our own imagination.
The initial inspiration for Mariana came from the power and grandeur of the rugged Pacific coastline in Bodega Bay, California. Among the robust marine life in that area are the whales that hug the coastline as they migrate. When I imagined them swimming in the deep, cold water I could hear the tuba calling out.
Those images unexpectedly fit with Mariana. The deepest place on the planet is the Mariana Trench near Guam in the Pacific Ocean. So, this piece is about the vast, open spaces in our oceans, the vast open life ahead of Mariana and ultimately how precious life is.
Is This Home2017bass trombone soloist and trombone choir
Duration7:52
InstrumentationBass Trombone soloist and Trombone Choir (6 Tenor Trombones, 2 Bass Trombones)
Midi mockup by Jonathan Keith
For downloadable PDFs contact the composer.
Groove2017bass clarinet and bass trombone or bass trombone and tuba
Durationca. 4:20
Instrumentationbass trombone and tuba
(original version: bass clarinet and bass trombone)
Groove was premiered by Andrew Chappell and Steven Campbell, both of the Minnesota Orchestra, on January 28, 2019 at the University of Minnesota.
Midi mockup by Jonathan Keith
For downloadable PDFs contact the composer.
Remembered20163 horns, 2 wagner tuben, tuba
Durationca. 4 minutes
Instrumentation3 horns, 2 wagner tuben, tuba
NotesRemembered is a tribute to my friend and colleague, Brian O'Connor. Brian was one of the most successful Los Angeles studio horn players of the last 30 years. The memory of Brian’s noble, dark sound was around me as I composed this piece. Remembered was first performed at a memorial concert for him held in Los Angeles, June 11, 2016.
The idea to use two Wagner Tubas came up while discussing the piece with my friend, Michael Gast, Principal Horn of the Minnesota Orchestra – who was also a friend of Brian’s.
Brian played Wagner Tuba on film scores composed by Jerry Goldsmith, Elliot Goldenthal and many others. The instrument’s full, dark sound seemed to work for this piece.
The discussions with Mr. Gast resulted in the present recording with members of the Minnesota Orchestra.
Recording
May 25, 2016, Orchestra Hall, Minneapolis
Manny Laureano, Conductor
Michael Gast, Herb Winslow, Brian Jensen: horns
Ellen Dinwiddie Smith, Michael Petruconis: wagner tuben
Steven Campbell: tuba
Michael Osborne, recording engineer
Players at Brian O'Connor's memorial
June 11, 2016, Los Angeles
Steven Juliani, Conductor
Steven Becknell, Brad Warnaar, Justin Hageman: horns
Joe Meyer, Marty Rhees: wagner tuben
Doug Tornquist: tuba
Video from the recording session
Video from memorial service
For downloadable PDFs contact the composer.
Beacon2016solo trumpet
Durationca. 1:00 min.
Instrumentationsolo trumpet
NotesIn Beacon, the Trumpet is a benevolent guide into an unknown and fearful place - a place like the unconscious.
Midi mockup by Max Lombardo