Three Jazz Settings -- III. Trance Dance

SKU: PR.14440265S

UPC: 680160027910.

The Second and Third Quartets were conceived at the same time; indeed, their composition intermingled, over half of No. 3 being sketched before No. 2 was completed. Accordingly, they share similar material but, like the intertwining blood of cousins, their natures differ: No. 2 being somewhat acerbic and declamatory, No. 3 more lyric and gentler. An annunicatory 'leaping motive' (derived from a motto generated by my name) opens Quartet No. 2 and inhabits the course of the piece as a cyclical binding-force. A five-note motive, usually very deliberate, also keeps recurring like an insistent caller. All three movements are based on tonal centers (I on B and E, II on D, III on C) and the harmonic 'grammar' spoken tends to recall the jazz world of my youth. To hopefully achieve a certain classical ambience was one of the goals of this piece, and all three movements have traditional forms. The first movement is a modified Sonata-Allegro design, with a severely-truncated recapitulation balanced by a lengthy, and decaying Coda. The second movement is a set of strophic variants and an epilogue interspersed with both solo ritornelli and first-movement material (the motto and the five-note motive) in the nature of a fantasia-like 'call-and-response.' It is dedicated to the memory of the American mezzo-soprano Jan DeGaetani. The third movement is a modified Rondo (ABACBA) which evolves out of the opening motto. All three movements make much use of canonic stretti, similar gestures, and repetition. For example, the climax of movement III's Rondo throws the first movement back at us again, as if the players were reluctant to let it go, so that the entire piece could perhaps be viewed as a single large, extended, Sonata movement, with introduction and Coda.
The Second and Third Quartets were conceived at the same time; indeed, their composition intermingled, over half of No. 3 being sketched before No. 2 was completed.  Accordingly, they share similar material but, like the intertwining blood of cousins, their natures differ: No. 2 being somewhat acerbic and declamatory, No. 3 more lyric and gentler.An annunicatory ‘leaping motive’ (derived from a motto generated by my name) opens Quartet No. 2 and inhabits the course of the piece as a cyclical binding-force.  A five-note motive, usually very deliberate, also keeps recurring like an insistent caller.  All three movements are based on tonal centers (I on B and E, II on D, III on C) and the harmonic ‘grammar’ spoken tends to recall the jazz world of my youth.To hopefully achieve a certain classical ambience was one of the goals of this piece, and all three movements have traditional forms.  The first movement is a modified Sonata-Allegro design, with a severely-truncated recapitulation balanced by a lengthy, and decaying Coda.  The second movement is a set of strophic variants and an epilogue interspersed with both solo ritornelli and first-movement material (the motto and the five-note motive) in the nature of a fantasia-like ‘call-and-response.’  It is dedicated to the memory of the American mezzo-soprano Jan DeGaetani.  The third movement is a modified Rondo (ABACBA) which evolves out of the opening motto.All three movements make much use of canonic stretti, similar gestures, and repetition.  For example, the climax of movement III’s Rondo throws the first movement back at us again, as if the players were reluctant to let it go, so that the entire piece could perhaps be viewed as a single large, extended, Sonata movement, with introduction and Coda.

SKU: ET.TU132C

ISBN 9790207020826.

3 Dances is a Suite in three movements for 2 solo tubas and big band (2 alto saxophones, tenor saxophone, bariton saxophone, 4 trumpets, horn in F, 3 trombones, bass trombone, xylophone, vibraphone, marimba, piano, bass guitar, drum set) written in 3 movements.
It is a typical example of the versatile composing talent of Roland Szentpali. His approach to jazz is well structured, with subtle fast or slow groovy sequences of the different instrumental and rhythm sections, stimulating (and how !) the two solo tubas interacting with each other.
I. Blow On Fire starts with a free cadenza that is an introduction merging into fast elements which appear all along this movement. The two tubas start to play once the melodic elements burn, and from then develop their own dynamic shifts.
II. Oriental Flavors is another kind of groove (as the movement title suggests), beginning with a short opening of the trombone section falling into secco rhythm that beats in contrasts with the stimulating lyrical intervention by the two tubists.
III. Cinder Dance has a specific introduction that leads the musicians and the audience on the path of various trances over several uneven time signatures. At a certain point, the 2 tubas fly through cadencial sequences just over the rhythm section, before ending on a long collective and steamy final progression.

World premiere and recording premiere: May 13-14, 2017 in the L. Austin Weeks Center for Recording and Performance at the Frost School of Music, University of Miami - Coral Gables, Florida, USA with the award winning Frost Concert Jazz Band conducted by John Daversa, and soloists Aaron Tindall and Roland Szentpali on tuba.