| Listen | Score | Title | Scoring | Dur. | Year |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
 |
Air | oboe, clarinet, bassoon. | 3′ | 1975 | |
| Order This» | A simple, moderato, tuneful ABA form for reed trio. | ||||
|
Around the Year | woodwind quintet | 11′ | 1965/2002 | |
| Order This» | Four short, charming, atmospheric, tonal seasonal miniatures, mood/character sketches, commissioned by Aaron and Amelia Neustadt. Winner of the Miles Playhouse Debut Award, 2008 | Notes» | |||
|
Audio clip: Adobe Flash Player (version 9 or above) is required to play this audio clip. Download the latest version here. You also need to have JavaScript enabled in your browser. |
I. Winter Mood | 2′ | |||
| Snow on the mountains. Slow, sonorous, euphonious. | |||||
|
Audio clip: Adobe Flash Player (version 9 or above) is required to play this audio clip. Download the latest version here. You also need to have JavaScript enabled in your browser. |
II. Autumn Walk | 2’30 | |||
| Brisk leaf-blown day in a park. Moderate/lively/moderate; nice oboe and horn solos. | |||||
|
Audio clip: Adobe Flash Player (version 9 or above) is required to play this audio clip. Download the latest version here. You also need to have JavaScript enabled in your browser. |
III. Summer Dream | 3′ | |||
| Hot Southern night. Slow, aching beauty, echoes of Gershwin, Stephen Foster. Languorous flute solos. | |||||
|
Audio clip: Adobe Flash Player (version 9 or above) is required to play this audio clip. Download the latest version here. You also need to have JavaScript enabled in your browser. |
IV. Spring Games | 3′ | |||
| Children on a grassy hillside. Exuberant fling, playful melody play, brave “Pirate” horn solo, flip end. | |||||
|
Sacred Winds | Flute Orch:12 (13) including piccolos, C flutes, alto flute, bass flute, contra-alto flute in F, contra-bass flute, subcontra-bass flute, 2 percussion | 27′ | 2007 | |
| Order This» | Gently experimental (some extended techniques) but tonal music evoking wind dimensions of the natural world. Melodies express the yearning of a lost soul seeking to regain connection with the powers of Nature. (Alternate bottom parts for bass clarinet, string bass). Optional ankle bells. Written for Los Angeles Flute Orchestra — in the sound samples they are conducted by the composer. | Notes» | |||
|
Audio clip: Adobe Flash Player (version 9 or above) is required to play this audio clip. Download the latest version here. You also need to have JavaScript enabled in your browser. |
I. Rain Dance | 6’10 | |||
| Brittle, dignified, ritualistic evocation of a ceremonial dance to relieve drought; builds up, raises ground breezes, final shouts bring gentle rain. Spooky low flute solos. | |||||
|
Audio clip: Adobe Flash Player (version 9 or above) is required to play this audio clip. Download the latest version here. You also need to have JavaScript enabled in your browser. |
II. Fog Song | 10’30 | |||
| Slow cluster moods with blue melodies. Evocation of dense, then wispy, then billowing fog, surf, foghorns. Wild “choral” middle, evaporating end. Solos for many. | |||||
|
Audio clip: Adobe Flash Player (version 9 or above) is required to play this audio clip. Download the latest version here. You also need to have JavaScript enabled in your browser. |
III. Sand Banshee | 10’15 | |||
| Tone-painting all stages of a sandstorm, building from tiny, thready breeze to full-on wild screamer over the Voice of the Banshee. Relaxes to sweet calm–with a last surprise. Piccolos featured. | |||||
|
3 Outside | Clarinet Choir (Eb clarinet, 7 Bb clarinets, alto clarinet, 2 bass clarinets, contra-alto clarinet) | 17′ | 2008 | |
| Order This» | Three very different movements, each projecting a distinct energy–mechanical, natural, human–in a different outdoor setting, Written for Los Angeles Clarinet Choir, Margaret Thornhill, director. | Pre-concert talk by the composer |
Audio clip: Adobe Flash Player (version 9 or above) is required to play this audio clip. Download the latest version here. You also need to have JavaScript enabled in your browser. |
Notes» | |
|
Audio clip: Adobe Flash Player (version 9 or above) is required to play this audio clip. Download the latest version here. You also need to have JavaScript enabled in your browser. |
I. Magic Fountain | 4’20 | |||
| Music for the eyes, all about color and movement. Playful showpiece evoking the variant patterns and splashy exuberance of a programmed multi-jet “dancing waters” fountain display with colored lights. Gradually develops direction to a culmination. Brief vocal splash effects at end. | |||||
|
Audio clip: Adobe Flash Player (version 9 or above) is required to play this audio clip. Download the latest version here. You also need to have JavaScript enabled in your browser. |
II. Moon Song | 6′ | |||
| Slow music for the heart, all about melody. The aching mystery of full-moon light on high-mountain pines. Light breeze, then full wind over a chorus of plaintive sadness, winding back to the still moon, ending on a lonely question. Soulful lead clarinet solo. | |||||
|
Audio clip: Adobe Flash Player (version 9 or above) is required to play this audio clip. Download the latest version here. You also need to have JavaScript enabled in your browser. |
III. Hill Dance | 7′ | |||
| Music for the body, all about rhythm. Lively Bulgarian-style 5/8 folk dance up in hill country. Showy solos for Eb, Bb, bass clar. Slower middle with Jewish-flavor circle-dance tunes, almost drunk. Wild loud fast ecstatic ending. Hoy! | |||||
Contemporary repertoire for Chamber Winds – a collection of 20th and 21st century chamber music by composer David Avshalomov, including sound files and scores.