Zephyrus (David)

James M. David

Subtitle: For Chamber Winds and Percussion

General Info

Year: 2019
Duration: c. 4:15
Difficulty: V (see Ratings for explanation)
Publisher: Murphy Music Press
Cost: Score and Parts (print) - $70.00

Instrumentation (Flexible)

Full Score
Flute I-II
Oboe (or Soprano Saxophone or B-flat Soprano Clarinet)
Bassoon (or Bass Clarinet or Baritone Saxophone)
B-flat Soprano Clarinet I-II
E-flat Alto Saxophone
B-flat Trumpet I-II
Horn in F
Trombone
Euphonium (or Tenor Saxophone)
Tuba (or Contrabass Clarinet or String Bass)
Percussion, including:

Bongos
Cabasa (or Shaker)
Kick Drum
Splash Cymbal
Suspended Cymbal
Tambourine
Triangle
Wood Block (small)

Errata

None discovered thus far.

Program Notes

Zephyrus is the god of the western wind in Greek mythology. Every spring in Colorado, the weather becomes notoriously unpredictable and ever-changing, from the gloriously clear and warm days to sudden downpours of hail or even the occasional Memorial Day blizzard!

This short piece for winds and percussion attempts to capture the fickle mood of the winds off the Rockies in springtime through quick spiraling motives in the upper winds and off-beat dances in the brass and percussion. The piece was commissioned by Dr. Rebecca Phillips (professor of conducting, Colorado State University) and was premiered in July 2019 in Prague, Czech Republic.

- Program Note by composer

Zephyrus by James M. David was commissioned in 2019 for the American Spring Festival in Prague. This short work is characterized by David as a scherzo for winds and percussion.

In Greek Mythology, Zephyrus is the god of the western wind. Zephyrus tries to emulate wind and its unpredictable nature. The piece attempts to capture the idea of the wind as it rolls off the mountains, characterized by the 16th-note melodies in the woodwinds. The trombone and horn capture the main motif of Zephyrus amidst all the cacophonous sound in the woodwinds. The middle section switches in character to a bossa nova-like section featuring the trumpets, clarinets, and alto sax. The piece ends by bringing all the ideas presented in the piece and brings them together for one final climax of the piece.

- Program Note by Michael Carrasquillo for the Indiana University of Pennsylvania Wind Ensemble concert program, 14 November 2020

Media

Audio: Reference recording. Ensemble and conductor unknown

State Ratings

None discovered thus far.

Performances

To submit a performance please join The Wind Repertory Project

Central Washington University (Ellensburg) Symphonic Winds (T. André Feagin, conductor) - 8 March 2021
Indiana University of Pennsylvania Wind Ensemble (Michael Carrasquillo, conductor) - 14 November 2020
Ball State University (Muncie, Ind.) Wind Symphony (Adam Friedrich, conductor) - 2 October 2020
Colorado State University (Fort Collins) Wind Symphony Chamber Winds (Sheridan Monroe Loyd, conductor) – April 2020

Works for Winds by This Composer

Adaptable Music

Lookfar (Adaptable Band) (2020)
March Tumbao (Flex instrumentation) (2020)
Menlo Park, 1879 (Flex instrumentation) (2020)
Zephyrus (Flex instrumentation) (2019)

All Wind Works

All Dark Is Now No More (2014)
Auto '66 (2011)
Big Four on the River (2014)
Bright Window (2005)
Codex Gigas. See: Symphony No. 1
Dymaxion (2021)
Flying Jewels (2021)
From the Shaken Tower: Symphony for Percussion and Winds (2014)
Ghosts of the Old Year (2016)
Heartland Verses (2019)
I Saw the Figure 5 in Gold (2017)
Lookfar (Adaptable Band) (2020)
March Tumbao (Flex instrumentation) (2020)
Menlo Park, 1879 (Flex instrumentation) (2020)
Message from Arecibo (2023)
Octarine Spark (2009)
Pavillons en L'Air (2009)
Sinfonietta No 1 (2004)
Sinfonietta No 3: "Strange and Mysterious Waters" (2010)
Swing Landscape (2018)
Symphony No. 1 (2020)
Troublesome Fire (2022)
Two-Lane Blacktop (2013)
Urban Light (2021)
With Soul Serene (2019)
Zephyrus (Flex instrumentation) (2019)

Resources

Creative Repertoire Initiative
James David, personal correspondence, February 2021
James M. David website Accessed 21 June 2020
Perusal score