Zephyrus

SKU: PR.114405750

ISBN 9781491132210. UPC: 680160009350.

Composed in 1981, IN PRAISE OF ZEPHYRUS was written for oboist Philip West. Richard Wernick later provided this brief program note: “Zephyrus was the god of the west wind. Philip West, of blessed memory, for whom I wrote the piece, was a wind player, an oboist and English horn player of distinction, and a very dear friend. The three movements are in no way programmatic, but reflect to me at least the mercurial and colorful aspects of Phil’s vivid persona.”.

SKU: PR.16400212S

UPC: 680160037605.

Works of chamber music including flute and strings are not nearly as numerous as those for clarinet, or even the oboe. Probably the reason for this is the less assertive, more pure tone the flute possesses - it can't compete for volume or range with the clarinet, except in its top octave, and the oboe's tone is more penetrating and easily discerned from within a string texture. Consequently, composers who have written for flute and strings have done so in lightweight divertimento works: compare, for instance, the delicate flute quartets of Mozart with his monumental quintet for clarinet and strings.   When Karl and Joan Karber approached me with the ideas of writing a work for flute and string trio, I originally thought it would be best to write a humorous, rather offhand piece - but a look at their repertoire (mostly comprised of smaller works of the Rococo period) convinced me that it was the last thing they needed. In spite of the challenge (or maybe because of it?), I determined to write a large work, and a serious work. Zephyrus (named for the God of the West Wind, in deference to the flute) is a three-movement work, with each movement cast in a very different form, but all three being built of the same twelve-note series. There is also a rhythmic motive and a pair of themes that appear in all three movements.   The first movement plays with the idea of contrast and persuasion. The flute, at the outset, is the hell-for-leather protagonist, charging and swooping around the strings - who seem oddly unconcerned by his passion. Indeed, they have a more somber song to sing - and as the movement unfolds, the flute becomes less and less active, while the strings become increasingly enlivened. By the midpoint, when all four instruments are finally in the same meter and the same tempo, the flute's energy has finally infected the other three players, and this energy does not let up until the movement's abrupt final cadence.   The second movement begins with a tag from the first - as if the energy left over was too great to simply stop. At length, though, a very poignant flute melody appears over an almost bluesy harmony in the strings. After this has been fully exposed, a slight increase in motion, marked gently rocking in triplets, features a theme-fragment from Leonard Bernstein's Symphony No. 2 (Kaddish). Bernstein died as I was writing this work, and it seemed quite natural to encourage what was already implicit in the music, and create an Elegy for L.B. The music rises and peaks, then in the recapitulation of the opening the Kaddish theme reappears, as the ensemble suggests a gentle song of sleep.   The final movement is a Rondo-Variations form, with the slight alteration of adding the main theme of the second movement in what would be the trio of the form. The ritornello theme is a kind of ethnic dance music, almost an allusion to the Klezmer ensembles of Eastern Europe. The successive episodes between the ritornelli are loosely organized variations on the basic theme, but always beginning with a metric modulation, a rhythmic changing of gears. The movement reaches and apex of speed and furious pulsing, then abruptly pirouttes, and finishes.   Zephyrus was written between April and November of 1990 in Austin, Aspen, and Honolulu, and is dedicated to Karl Kraber and The Chamber Soloists of Austin. --Dan Welcher.

SKU: CF.CAS138

ISBN 9781491160534. UPC: 680160919123.

Named for the West Wind, this Grade 3 original work makes use of quarter and eighth note triplets to depict a sense of swirling motion. A forward- moving theme is passed between sections in the orchestra accompanied by a steady, march-like staccato pulse. The opening B minor theme rises and falls, giving way to a faster, rhythmic section in D major. Ascending and descending scale passages are exchanged between voices with a light, springy spiccato. The music swells with crescendos and decrescendos portraying the sweeping ebb and flow of the wind. The primary minor theme returns with a dramatic unison statement in the violins, shifting modally as it builds to a momentous finale. An excellent piece for working on extended finger patterns, bowing styles, and dynamic changes.
Named for the West Wind, this Grade 3 original work makes use of quarter and eighth note triplets to depict a sense of swirling motion. A forward- moving theme is passed between sections in the orchestra accompanied by a steady, march-like staccato pulse. The opening B minor theme rises andfalls, giving way to a faster, rhythmic section in D major. Ascending and descending scale passages are exchanged between voices with a light, springy spiccato. The music swells with crescendos and decrescendos portraying the sweeping ebb and flow of the wind. The primary minor theme returns with a dramatic unison statement in the violins, shifting modally as it builds to a momentous finale. An excellent piece for working on extended finger patterns, bowing styles, and dynamic changes.

About Carl Fischer Concert String Orchestra Series

This series of pieces (Grade 3 and higher) is designed for advancing ensembles. The pieces in this series are characterized by:

• Expanded use of rhythms, ranges and keys but technical demands are still carefully considered
• More comprehensive bowing techniques
• Viola T.C. included
• Careful selection of keys and degree of difficulty for advancing musicians

SKU: HL.49018860

SKU: HL.133622

Author: Zebrowski.

SKU: HL.133504

UPC: 884088983383.