River of Light
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General Info
Year: 2021
Duration: c. 12:40
Difficulty: (see Ratings for explanation)
Publisher: Unknown
Cost: Score and Parts - Unknown
Instrumentation
Solo Trumpet
Chamber ensemble
Electric Bass
Piano
Harp
Violin
Cello
Double Bass
(Other instrumentation desired)
Errata
None discovered thus far.
Program Notes
The River of Light was the result of Dr. Mark Scatterday’s request for a new piece for a small mixed ensemble of my choice. The original parameters were COVID dictated based on social distancing and other challenges of which we are all acutely aware. It was decided that I would not be able to attend the premier and perform -- again, because of COVID.
I asked Mark if he had any preferences for the new piece and he suggested a “crossover” work. Although that’s a very broad concept, I ran with it. Having a lot of experience playing and composing in multiple styles and genres, I decided to use a contemporary “fusion” approach for the jazz/rock portion of the piece including improvised solos. The music bookending the work is contrapuntal writing over a colorful pedal texture, creating two contrasting components.
The orchestration requires most of the players to leave their classical comfort zone and join the “dark side”, playing jazz fusion lines.
Was my writing influenced by knowing Mark and the Eastman Wind Ensemble [EWE] were going to play the new work? Absolutely! I make every effort to write correctly and wisely for each and every instrument and to a level that will work as well as possible in a particular setting. In this case that means I wrote whatever I wanted. So the music is tough, but I think it’s fun for the ensemble.
The title, River of Light, refers to a recent time when someone I love went through cancer treatment (they are doing fine now). A kind and wonderful family member suggested that this person imagine floating on a river of light during radiation treatments. It helped. I loved the image and used it here.
- Program Note by composer
Media
(Needed - please join the WRP if you can help.)
State Ratings
None discovered thus far.
Performances
To submit a performance please join The Wind Repertory Project
- Eastman Wind Ensemble (Rochester, N.Y. (Mark Scatterday, conductor) - 13 September 2021 *Premiere Performance*
Works for Winds by This Composer
- American Jazz Suite (1992)
- Cityscape (2011)
- Concert Etude
- Duo Concertino
- High Class Brass
- Jazzscapes
- Montana Sketches (2000)
- My Italian Heart (2014)
- Quasar (2021)
- The Rising Sun (1989)
- River of Light (2021)
- Three Magical Places
- Three World Winds (2016)
Resources
- "Allen Vizzutti Returns to Eastman on a “River of Light”". Eastman School of Music. Web. Accessed 11 September 2021
- Allen Vizzutti website Accessed 11 September 2021