/ Piano Et Chant / Chanson En Séparée
SKU: CL.RWS-2213-01
A love letter to the composer’s home state, Jersey Jaunt is a quirky romp that takes the listener on an eclectic, sonic tour of the Garden State. Highlighted with bold fanfares, unique harmonic moments, and soaring melodies that symbolize the diversity of New Jersey, this piece will surprise you almost as much as the inspiration itself. Come discover the diversity, spirit, pride, beauty and passion that can be found at every turn in the State of New Jersey.
SKU: CL.RWS-2213-00
SKU: SU.19010190
Commissioned by the New Jersey Music Teachers Association 2006 Published by: Heart Earth Music.
SKU: PR.11440986S
UPC: 680160014651.
Here I have adapted a standard musical form to a contemporary medium. The concertino is a small concerto: a one-movement work that draws upon the basic principles of the concerto form - two bodies of sound which at times compete, contrast, or act together. The piece explores the musical possibilities of Roto-toms. The sound of these drums is a cross between a tom-tom and a timpani, and their pitch is changed by rotating the drum. During the course of the work, the various effects used include pitch and fingernail glissandi; playing on the rims; and playing on the heads with fingers, brushes, timpani sticks, wood mallets or rattan. Harmonics on the octave and the fourth above the fundamental pitch are produced by the drums when weights (in this case, small pitched cymbales called crotales) are placed in the center of the drum heads. In return the drum itself acts a resonator for the crotales, which also have a fundamental pitch when played on the face and a partial a fifth above when played on the center dome. The opening section of the concertino introduces a motive, played by the soloist, while the ensemble sustains a bowed chord on the vibraphone. Following this cadenza-like introduction, the piece gradually moves into a bright 6/8 tempo that is characterized by constant sixteenth notes in all parts. After a brief period of interaction, the ensemble continues its sixteenth notes patterns and the soloist plays and improvised solo. Next, an interlude is presented by the ensemble which leads to a dramatic recapitulation by the soloist of the motivic material. A thematically-derived coda concludes the work. Encounters VI, commissioned by Remo Belli, is dedicated to Jennifer Kraft, the composer's daughter. The premiere performance took place in 1976 at the MENC National Convention in Atlantic City, New Jersey, and was performed by the Temple University Percussion Ensemble conducted by Glenn Steele. --William Kraft.
SKU: PR.11641145L
The Concerto for Piccolo and Orchestra Op.50 was commissioned by Jan Gippo, principal Piccolo of the St. Louis Symphony, who gave the premiere of the work on August 18th, 1996, in New York City with the New Jersey Symphony Orchestra conducted by Glenn Cortese. The occasion was the annual convention of the National Flute Association, who sponsored the commission.Jan Gippo had enthusiastically pursued the idea of commissioning a Piccolo concerto from me ever since he played orchestral Piccolo in the premiere of my Concerto for Flute with James Galway and the St. Louis Symphony. Won over by his enthusiasm, I agreed to write this work for an instrument which has had virtually no concerto repertoire since the baroque era. In doing so I was eager to stress the lyrical and expressive qualities of an instrument which is too often stereotyped as being useful for only brilliant and ornamental flourishes.The work falls into three movements which are united by thematic and motivic materials, significant among which is a twelve note row which forms the basis of the second movement’s variations. The final movement, which puts the seriousness of the first tow movements aside for an unbridled romp, makes use of three explicit musical quotations at strategic structural moments, one of which is an implicit homage to Shostakovich, who quoted from the same work in his own second Violin Concerto.Orchestration of the Concerto was completed at the Loew’s Hotel in Monte Carlo, where I was situated for the rehearsal period of my opera The Picture of Dorian Gray.The Concerto for Piccolo and Orchestra has been recorded for release on the BMG label by James Galway with the London Mozart Players conducted by the composer.
