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Dear All,

The second piece in the "Barbara York Commissioning Project" is now available. The newest piece is the Euphonium Sonata and I think it is a wonderful addition to the repertoire!! Fun, challenging, exciting, emotional, etc. The Sonata is sub-titled "Child's Play and the program notes are below (far below). .pdf samples and ordering information can be found on the Cimarron Music Press website:

http://www.cimarronmusic.com

We have posted a .pdf file, but as you might have guessed do not have a sound file to post. Maybe soon!! The catalog number is CM1346 or just search "York".

For anyone who participated in the initial commissioning project, the music will be shipped on Tuesday January 22, 2008 and should arrive by the end of the week. More information on the project can be found here:

http://www.cimarronmusic.com/BarbaraYork/

We once again thank all of you for your participation in the the initial project. Because of the overwhelming initial support, we have decided to do this once again with Tuba Quartet music. More details will follow, but the project will consist of pieces by James Woodward, Elizabeth Raum, Lewis Buckley and Barbara York. Each piece will be app. 10 minutes long and at least 3 will be premiered at ITEC in June by the Willson Tuba Quartet.

Also look for an Anthony Plog Tuba Quartet co-commissioned by Sotto Voce http://www.tubaquartet.com/ and Cimarron Music Press in the fall of 2008!

Sonata for Euphonium and Piano Program notes:

This piece was written for the very youngest of musicians – one so young that he has not yet chosen his own instrument. Steffan Michel Thurman was born in 2007, the product of a great love between two fine and gifted musicians, a French Canadian mother and an African American father.

In the first movement you will hear a blending of this heritage of musical styles and cultures. It is finally time for his birth, and everyone is rushing around, trying to get to the hospital. His mother is shouting, “Now! Now! It’s time to go now!â€

Will the piece be available for purchase at the army conference?

CrappyEuph wrote:Will the piece be available for purchase at the army conference?

Yes. We will have a bunch of copies on hand and you save the shipping cost so if you are going to be there, I would wait.

thanks for letting us know! i just purchased my copy of it. can't wait to play it through

I haven't played the new Euphonium Sonata (part of the big commissioning Consortium---this is #2 of 4 pieces), but I've seen the .pdf and heard a midi version.

I have to say, I'm a huge fan of Barbara York. This has little resemblance to the Tuba Sonata from late last year, but the quality is every bit as high.

One word of caution: you will need a 4 valve instrument for this Sonata. There is a low D (I think!)--something not seen nearly enough in euphonium literature, IMO.
My thoughts:
First movement: Lots of fun! Lots of scalewise passages, it moves quickly, has a fairly wide range, and will challenge without being overly technically overwritten.

The second movement is beautiful. The piano really needs to be legato, *LOTS of pedal *, and let the euphonium sing. That's about as beautiful a melody as you'll hear for a euphonium, and there are lots of great ones as you well know.

3rd movement will tax the piano rhythmically. It almost has a "Take 5" feel. Again, lots of beautiful lines for the solo part, with enough tricky stuff to let you show off your stuff.

The interesting thing about Barbara's music is the interdependence of the solo and the accompaniment. She's very Hindemith-ian in this way, both parts require lots of music AND lots of technique, but they stay out of the way of each other, and let each shine individually. The result is some great low brass music!!!

Thanks, Bryan, for getting this incredible music out to us. And, even more thanks to Barbara for writing it!

(OK...full disclosure...I consider Barbara a friend as well, but if I didn't believe in this music, if I didn't think it was a great piece and wonderful addition to the repertoire, I wouldn't be writing this.)

I don't usually do this, but after fiddling around with Finale I think I have made a sound sample that is decent enough to post on the site. If nothing else, it would give anyone who listens a good idea how the piece actually sounds. Eupher61's description is dead-on!

Any feedback is welcome, good or bad!

I hope you enjoy the file. I hope to have a "real" performance in the near future.

Wishing all well,