Three Bones Concerto

From Wind Repertory Project
James Stephenson

James Stephenson


General Info

Year: 2013
Duration: c. 16:15
Difficulty: (see Ratings for explanation)
Publisher: Stephenson Music
Cost: Score and Parts - $300.00


Movements

1. Cuban - 2:45
2. Lazy - 4:25
3. Hip - 8:05


Instrumentation (one player per part)

  • Full Score
  • Solo Trombone I-II-III
  • C Piccolo
  • Flute I-II
  • Oboe I-II
  • English Horn
  • Bassoon I-II
  • B-flat Soprano Clarinet I-II
  • B-flat Bass Clarinet
  • E-flat Alto Saxophone I-II
  • B-flat Tenor Saxophone
  • E-flat Baritone Saxophone
  • B-flat Trumpet I-II-III
  • Horn in F I-II-III
  • Trombone I-II
  • Bass Trombone
  • Euphonium
  • Tuba
  • Harp
  • String Bass
  • Timpani
  • Percussion (5 players), including:
*Agogo bells
*Bass Drum
*Cajón
*Claves
*Conga
*Crash Cymbal
*Crotale
*Glockenspiel
*Hi-hat
*Marimba
*Police Whistle
*Snare Drum
*Splash Cymbal
*Suspended Cymbal
*Tambourine
*Timbales
*Tom-tom (4)
*Triangle
*Tubular Bells
*Vibraphone
*Vibraslap
*Woodblock (2)
*Xylophone


Errata

None discovered thus far.


Program Notes

Always enjoying a play on words, I took the opportunity from the "Three Bones" concept of this concerto to see what it might inspire from me musically. Consequently, I ended up with Cuban, Lazy, and Hip.

CUBAN: I initially wanted to call the first movement "Humerus", but I also wanted to be sure to give credit to the driving force behind the creation of this piece, Jon Whitaker. Jon - from what I can tell - has a certain penchant for cigars. Doing a quick search, I discovered that there is indeed a Cuban bone-fish, often referred to as a Cuban Bone. Given that Cuban now meant something having to do with 'bones AND cigars, I was on my way. Therefore, the first movement is a short, rhythmically driven display for the three solo trombones, acting mostly as a trio.

LAZY: Exactly as one might expect from the title, this movement is slow, bluesy - I imagine sitting on the porch on an extremely hot summer day, with a sweating glass of lemonade nearby. Contrary to the first movement, 'LAZY' allows each soloist a chance at some individual expression.

HIP: The most extended of the three movements (and could therefore almost stand alone), 'HIP' extrapolates from an opening chorale many variants developed throughout the movement. As the title suggests, some
use of more contemporary drum-beats and instrumental sounds are used. That being said, the overall style still firmly remains inside the 'classical world'.

- Program Note by composer


Three Bones Concerto, composed in 2013, is written for three tenor trombones and wind ensemble. Written in three contrasting movements, the composer used a “play on words” to inspire each movement and, consequentially the title of each of the movements. The piece was premiered by the University of Alabama Wind Ensemble, Dr. Kenneth B. Ozzello, conductor, with Joseph Alessi, Peter Ellefson and Jonathan Whitaker performing the solo parts.

- Program Note from The Alabama Winds concert program, 20 December 2017


Media

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State Ratings

None discovered thus far.


Performances

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Works for Winds by This Composer

Adaptable Music


All Wind Works


Resources