SKU: SU.94010762

Dedicated to Titus Underwood, Principal Oboe, Nashville Symphony OrchestraOboe Duration: 5' Composed: 2020 Published by: Subito Music Publishing PROGRAM NOTE: The year 2020 has definitely been a very challenging year with many upheavals. During this time of the COVID-19 health crisis, wearing masks, and high racial tensions, I decided to compose four short solo woodwind works for flute, oboe, clarinet, and bassoon, which represent the core woodwind section in an orchestra. I was inspired to compose these short pieces after I first heard Igor Stravinsky's three short pieces for clarinet, which totals a little more than four minutes in duration. I thought that it would be nice to highlight and honor my African-American male colleagues in the orchestral music world. I wanted to celebrate the fact that they are the principal player in the section of their respective orchestras. The short pieces are as follows: Principal Brother No. 1 for flute solo for Demarre McGill, Principal Flute of the Seattle Symphony Orchestra, Principal Brother No. 2 for oboe solo for Titus Underwood, Principal Oboe of the Nashville Symphony Orchestra, Principal Brother No. 3 for clarinet solo for Anthony McGill, Principal Clarinet of the New York Philharmonic, and Principal Brother No. 4 for bassoon solo for Bryan Young, Principal Bassoon of the Baltimore Chamber Orchestra. These works all begin with notes that are representative of their name; D for Demarre, B for Titus (ti in solfège starting on C), A for Anthony, and Bb for Bryan. There is also a rhythmic figure in the opening measures of each piece, which represent the utterance of their names. All four of these works are rhapsodic in nature with elements of improvisation. - James Lee III.

SKU: GI.G-M552

English.

Enable your students to pursue their own musical interests with this culturally diverse collection of solo pieces. This collection is designed to provide technical and musical challenges to young students ready to move out to the center of the stage and perform solo. Exemplary models by top-tier symphony musicians on the included CD can motivate students to practice with enthusiasm and intensity and to reach for the highest levels of musical performance. Accompaniments performed by first-call studio musicians provide authentic contexts for real-world music experiences. A self-directed component to any course of music instruction is almost certain to maintain interest, increase practice time, and improve performance skills vital to the instrumental ensemble. Coordinates with Do It! Play in Band, but enhances any beginning band course.