Description
Flying Circus is a three-movement work (fast-slow-fast):
1. Barnstorming: Like it’s title, this movement is energetic and extroverted. A fanfare intro is followed by soli statements in each of the brass families.
2. Castles in the Sky: This is a slow ballad with many contrapuntal solo lines leading into a 12/8 waltz. The middle section features a euphonium/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.
3. Wingding: The finale is a fast, odd-meter romp that features jazz solos for trombone and cornet. The title, Flying Circus, comes from my other passion—flying.
Flying Circus has been recorded by James Gourlay and the River City Brass
Jim Self is a Los Angeles free-lance musician, a veteran of thousands of motion pictures, television shows and records, and tuba soloist on many prominent movies. He is Principal Tubist with the Pasadena and Pacific Symphonies, the Hollywood Bowl Orchestra and the Los Angeles Opera and Opera Pacific orchestras. His compositions and arrangements include works for solo tuba, brass quintet, and other brass and woodwind chamber music.
More about Jim and his recordings can be found here:
Basset Hound Music – http://www.bassethoundmusic.com
