Instrumentation: solo euphonium with CD accompaniment
Copyright: 1990
Duration: 13:15
Range: D to d-flat-2
Difficulty: IV-V
Publisher: Nicolai Music
Price: $20 (includes accompaniment CD and printed music with acc. cues)
PLUS ADDITIONAL SAVINGS: BUY ANY 2 PIECES WITH CD ACCOMPANIMENT & RECEIVE A 3RD PIECE WITH CD ACC. FREE!
a great opportunity to add to your music library!
Recorded by: Neal Corwell (Distant Images CD, Nicolai Music) & Robin Taylor (Metaeuphosis CD, HRS label)
Other Info: Commissioned by Brian Bowman and premiered by him at the 1990 International Tuba Euphonium Conference in Sapporo, Japan.
TO PURCHASE
Odyssey represents a synthesis of classical formal design with accessible musical materials. Three continuous movements echo the overall structure of a solo sonata. After the introduction, a lyrical theme is presented and then followed by a series of variations. The ever-increasing rhythmic pace of the first “movement” is brought to an abrupt halt with the loud synthesizer-created flourishes that signal the start of the slow middle section. The central section is also based on the same lyrical theme which opened the work, but the meter has been changed and the melodies (and harmonies) are now based on the whole-tone scale. A digitally created "old drum" enters during the last half of this section, adding drive and momentum to the approach toward the final chord. A brief transition then leads the listener into the finale, a hard-driving presto. The virtuosity of the soloist is now tested as new material is rapidly spun out in Baroque style from fragments of the original lyrical theme. The presto represents the final step in the theme's journey (odyssey) from its simple beginnings to the fiery conclusion some thirteen minutes later.
Please note that the accompaniment CD provides several alternate versions of the accompaniment, each with a different tempo for the final Presto movement. This movement is the most challenging section of the composition, so the composer has provided alternate tempos to accommodate different soloists. With the exception of the Presto tempo variances, the accompaniment tracks provided on the CD are all identical.
click here for ODYSSEY web sample as pdf
