Description
From the composer:
Flying Circus was commissioned by the Pacific Brass Ensemble and was premiered in January 2002. It is a three movement work (fast-slow-fast).
Movement 1, Barnstorming, like its title, is energetic and extroverted. A fanfare intro is followed by soli statements in each of the brass families.
Movement 2, Castles in the Sky, is a slow ballad with many contrapuntal solo lines leading into a 12/8 waltz. The middle section features a tuba quartet. This movement was completed shortly after September 11, 2001 and is dedicated to the memory of the victims and heroes of that day.
The finale, Wing Ding, is a fast, odd-meter romp that features jazz solos for trombone and trumpet. The title, Flying Circus, comes from my other passion–flying.
- James Self
Hard copy score. All parts are provided in pdf format on disc.
Parts include: trumpet 1-4 in Bb (flugelhorn for Mvt. 2), horn 1-4 in F, trombone 1-3, bass trombone (euphonium for Mvt. 3), tuba 1-2, percussion 1-3
