SKU: HL.50579125
SKU: SU.94010763
Dedicated to Anthony McGill, Principal Clarinet, New York PhilharmonicClarinet Duration: 5'30 Composed: 2020 Published by: Subito Music Publishing PROGRAM NOTE: The year 2020 has definitely been a very challenging year with many upheavals. During this time of the COVID-19 health crisis, wearing masks, and high racial tensions, I decided to compose four short solo woodwind works for flute, oboe, clarinet, and bassoon, which represent the core woodwind section in an orchestra. I was inspired to compose these short pieces after I first heard Igor Stravinsky's three short pieces for clarinet, which totals a little more than four minutes in duration. I thought that it would be nice to highlight and honor my African-American male colleagues in the orchestral music world. I wanted to celebrate the fact that they are the principal player in the section of their respective orchestras. The short pieces are as follows: Principal Brother No. 1 for flute solo for Demarre McGill, Principal Flute of the Seattle Symphony Orchestra, Principal Brother No. 2 for oboe solo for Titus Underwood, Principal Oboe of the Nashville Symphony Orchestra, Principal Brother No. 3 for clarinet solo for Anthony McGill, Principal Clarinet of the New York Philharmonic, and Principal Brother No. 4 for bassoon solo for Bryan Young, Principal Bassoon of the Baltimore Chamber Orchestra. These works all begin with notes that are representative of their name; D for Demarre, B for Titus (ti in solfège starting on C), A for Anthony, and Bb for Bryan. There is also a rhythmic figure in the opening measures of each piece, which represent the utterance of their names. All four of these works are rhapsodic in nature with elements of improvisation. - James Lee III.
SKU: ST.Y347
ISBN 9790220225475.
This four-movement suite was first published in 1918 by Joseph Williams (now part of Stainer & Bell) as In Pixieland for Solo Violin or Flute and Piano. In 1921 string parts were added and then in 1930 optional parts for flute, oboe, clarinet in A or B flat and bassoon became available, making the work ideally suited for school or amateur orchestra. In 1999 the Sir George Dyson Trust decided that the original title was slightly out of tune with the times and it was changed to Woodland Suite. In 2007, the piece was recorded by the BBC Symphony Orchestra conducted by Richard Hickox and issued on the Chandos label (CHAN 10439) alongside a number of Dyson's choral works. The recording has created new interest in this early suite, which is again available for sale in all versions.
