Snowscapes
by Hope Salmonson
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"Snowscapes" illustrates three common scenes of a wintry environment: "Flurries" blowing through the wind, heralding an oncoming storm; "Footsteps" left behind by unknown travellers, telling a story in their journey; and "Festus," a raucous celebration of life and love amid such conditions. In this double concerto, the players evoke the many conflicting feelings such a season can bring—though the sun goes down sooner, the moon on the snow will still light the way.
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Composer-tubist Hope Salmonson is queering her music through a cross-genre artistic voice and an emphasis on establishing musical community. Her approach embodies musical joy, placing equal emphasis on elegant composition and camaraderie onstage. She weaves accessible musical language and contemporary approaches to musicking, seeking meaningful collaborative experiences. Through her interactive compositions, Hope seeks to ensure that every voice in the room is valued, on and off the stage.
An import from unceded Mi'kmaq territory (Halifax), Hope is spreading her wings on Musqueam, Squamish and Tsleil-Waututh lands (Vancouver). Dipping her toes in the Pacific, she has never forgotten her Atlantic home and continues to strengthen connections across the land. To Hope, people always come first, and her compositions serve and honour her communities. She is actively engaged in efforts to decentralize and shift the institution of classical music through amplifying underrepresented voices and needs in the industry.
To find out more, visit her website!
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Find the premiere recording of the work here!
Three Avian Meditations
by Tyler Mazone
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Three Avian Meditations was conceived as a commission for my good friend and colleague, Christopher Keach, a trumpet player with an affluent love for birds. The three movements are based off of the bird call of one of his favorite birds that I transcribed from field recordings. Each movement begins with a statement of the exact bird call by the first trumpet, or flugelhorn in the 2nd movement’s case, and the music that follows every time is a fantasy or meditation on that bird call. The Song Sparrow and Mourning Dove have very distinct melodic calls that one would commonly hear in a calmer setting, such as in a garden or in the woods. Black Capped-Chickadee is a direct contrast to the first two movements in which I expanded the bird’s famous “hey, sweetie” call into a driving groove that takes up the entire movement with finesse and flare!
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Tyler Mazone is a deaf and neurodivergent composer from New York State and is currently living in Michigan. He is working towards a Master's in Composition at Michigan State University and is a graduate of The Crane School of Music. Tyler writes mainly chamber, solo, and large ensemble music. His music has been played by ensembles such as The Crane Wind Ensemble, Michigan State University Bands, The _____ Experiment, and the US Air Force Band. His goal is to continue the work of accessibility and to reach a broader range of audiences and performers by improving upon the framework of inclusive practices in music. Tyler also enjoys performing solo and large ensemble music on the bass clarinet. Outside of music, Tyler enjoys various topics and activities such as science- astronomy in particular- video games, reading, hiking, and watching YouTube.
To find out more, visit his website!
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Premiere recording coming soon!
It Takes Two to Tango
by Skye Hamilton-Carranza
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It Takes Two to Tango is an exciting, dramatic piece for two trumpets and piano. The work has rubato cadenzas, and interweaving melodies for the trumpets to perform as one, as if dancing. It Takes Two to Tango was written in 2023 and was commissioned by Christopher Keach and Margaret Hopkins.
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Skye Hamilton-Carranza is a multi-instrumentalist, composer, and producer from Freeport, NY. Skye graduated from The Crane School of Music in 2019, where he studied with Dr. Anna Hendrickson (oboe, English horn), Dr. Carol Cope-Lowe (bassoon), and Drs. Tim Sullivan, Jerod Sommerfeldt, Gregory Wanamaker, and Phil Salathé (composition). A prolific composer, Skye has released several pieces of contemporary jazz and electro-acoustic music (including six albums from 2019-2022, four of which are self-produced) and has written classical and contemporary works for various musicians and chamber groups, including Dr. Julianne Kirk Doyle, ThreeForm, and the Crane Wind Ensemble.
Skye has recorded with artists such as Tyler, MD and Juani Williams, and has performed with several different groups, including the Orchestra of Northern New York, Northern Symphonic Winds, the 5pm Porch Concerts Band, the Jazz Loft Big Band, and the jazz quartet Quartology (of which he is a co-bandleader).
Outside of music, Skye enjoys travelling, swimming, and venturing in the outdoors. He currently resides in Freeport, NY.
To find out more, visit his website!
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Find the premiere recording of the work here!
Consortium Works
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Sonata for Heroes by Marcus Grant
Sonata No. 1 for Trumpet and Piano - nicknamed "Sonata for Heroes" - is a three-movement trumpet sonata designed to set the stage for your very own hero arc. Featuring the crisp and sprightly sounds of the C Trumpet and the soft and contemplative colors of the Flugelhorn, "Sonata for Heroes" sets the stage for a world that awaits its modern-day hero's triumphant appearance. The only element missing in this story is you - the hero. Are you ready to show the world what you're made of?
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reFRAME by Katahj Copley
reFRAME is an exploration of finding one's identity, inviting you to join me on a transformative journey through three distinct movements. Through musical textures, melodies, and rhythms, reFRAME delves into the depths of self-discovery and personal growth.
In the opening movement, reFRACTED, the music is frantic and filled with intense moments, reflecting the swirling emotions and urgency that come with the search for identity and trying to express yourself in places that won’t allow you to. The fragmented phrases and intricate rhythms symbolize the complexity of this search, immersing you in the captivating atmosphere from the very beginning.
The second movement, reFLECTIONS, a more contemplative and thoughtful atmosphere emerges. Here, I invite you to join me in delving deep into introspection and self-reflection. I wanted to sonically create this feeling: through moments of tranquility and tension, you will experience the internal struggles and breakthroughs that shape the journey of finding one's identity. The movement ends with the introduction of another motif that is fully realized in the third movement.
ReAFFIRMED is a merging of the rhythmic energy of the first movement and the harmonic motifs of the second. This movement symbolizes the harmonious integration of different experiences and emotions, creating a renewed sense of self. The reprise of the piece concludes in a thoughtful and gentle manner, emphasizing the affirmation of one’s identity and the profound contentment that accompanies self-discovery.
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The Last Trumpet by Evan Williams
Between 2013 and 2018, several witnesses around the world reported hearing the sound of discordant “trumpets” blaring in the sky. There are video recordings of this from rural villages in Europe to major cities in North America. As of this date, there is no widely accepted explanation for the phenomenon.
Many were quick to draw the obvious connection to Christian apocalyptic writings. Several instances of the end of the world heralded by the sound of the trumpet are found in the Bible and religious text and music. Most notably in Paul’s first letter to the Corinthians:
Behold, I tell you a mystery: We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed— in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet. For the trumpet will sound, and the dead will be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed.
This text itself is found in a number of musical works, including Handel’s Messiah and Brahms’ German Requiem.
The Last Trumpet for solo trumpet and interactive electronics will be a 6-8 minute work inspired by this phenomenon and musical references to apocalyptic trumpet calls from the aforementioned works, along with Verdi’s Requiem and Britten’s War Requiem.
I’m proud to announce that this consortium will be headed up by accomplished trumpeters Adam Gaines, Isaac Mayhew, and Sam Wells.