SKU: P2.30094
Mark My Words, originally for tuba (but just as fun to play on clarinet), was composed by James Grant in February of 2007 as a heartfelt gift to his great friend and staunch musical ally, tubist Mark Nelson, in celebration of their first collaboration fourteen years earlier (Three Furies for solo tuba). Grant writes, When I began composing Mark My Words, I told Mark to be prepared for something fun that sounded like Charlie Brown doing a funky bossa nova (think jazz pianist/composer Vince Guaraldi's Linus and Lucy). I did not tell him that the middle section of Mark My Words would make overt references to all of the principal shapes, motives and themes from the Three Furies - my way of thanking Mark Nelson, specifically, for opening wide the door of composing for tuba and euphonium those many years ago and for so enthusiastically escorting me over that threshold. I am but one of many grateful composers whom Mark has supported over the years by commissioning, then recording their music. Mark My Words is my humble attempts at giving back to this devoted educator, consummate musician, fervent promoter of new music for tuba, and - yes - kickass player..
SKU: P2.30086
In the beginning of January, 2000 I completed a large-scale work for clarinet and orchestra. Upon its completion, I felt somewhat exhausted by the flashy and virtuoso style of writing which tends to typify the solo parts of concerti. This time... I decided to forfeit any pyrotechnical exhibitions by the soloist in favor of incorporating the instrument into the larger fabric of the orchestra. Concurrent with starting to work on this new piece, I was engaged in an altogether different project involving, among others, a Swedish deejay whose field of expertise is popular, modern dance-music.... During numerous evenings of CD listening to this genre of music, I was drawn to the way that rhythmically contrasting layers of music were constantly alternating between background and foreground. The resulting effect was of a continuously changing 'groove-pattern' even though the 'beat' of the music remained constant. I used this style of writing mainly in the fast, second section of the piece, which I felt gave it a distinct technotronic flavor. The mood of the opening movement is, however, undeniably romantic: thus the title of the piece, Romantatronic.
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