Amis - Islero
Islero was commissioned by The Boston Classical Orchestra to celebrate the orchestra’s 25th anniversary. The work was to be a fanfare that opened the ensemble’s season and only utilized the group’s woodwinds, brass and timpani.
The initial sketches for this commission took on a light, neo-classical tone to reflect the history of the ensemble’s programming and to capitalize on the experience of its traditionally small wind section. However, upon learning of other works that were on the program -- which included works by Arriaga, Villa-Lobos, Rodrigo and a Vivaldi lute concerto performed by Sharon Isbin -- I abandoned the sketches and was inspired toward a different aesthetic. This new, decidedly more aggressive, work juxtaposes an ostinato against an improvisatory sounding fanfare theme introduced by the trumpet. The title Islero, chosen after the composition was completed, draws the association of the analogous disposition of a so-named infamous Miura bull. Islero was premiered on October 15, 2004 at Boston’s historic Faneuil Hall.
Scott - third little symphony
[program notes coming soon]
Born in the Bronx and raised in Manhattan’s Harlem section, the music of Kevin Scott has been performed by numerous American orchestras, and was the recipient of the 1992 Detroit Symphony/Unisys African American Composers’ Forum award. Scott’s interest in composition was kindled while he was attending Christopher Columbus High School, educating himself in composition that ensued in readings of his first compositions by the school’s orchestra and band.
Upon graduation in 1974, Scott began formal lessons in composition with John Corigliano and Ulysses Kay at Herbert H. Lehman College in the Bronx, and continued his studies at the Mannes College of Music with Christine Berl and David Tcimpidis, in addition to conducting with Yakov Kreizberg. In 1984, Scott’s Fanfare G.A.F.: An American Overture was premiered by the Queens Philharmonic, which led to a series of commissions from the Brooklyn Philharmonic and Queens Symphony through the New York State Council on the Arts. In 1989, Scott was appointed resident composer for the RAPP Arts Center in Manhattan, writing scores for various theatrical productions including Thomas A. Ditsch’s Ben-Hur and new adaptations of Chekov’s The Sea Gulland Uncle Vanya (click here to continue reading).
Dvořák - Serenade for Winds, Op. 44
The Serenade for Winds has become one of Dvořák's most popular works thanks to his mastery of wind instrument writing. It is a charming and elegant work that has become a staple of the wind chamber music repertoire. The work is full of youthful invention, illustrates the breadth of Dvořák’s compositional style and captures his genuine playfulness and excitement. As Brahms said of the piece in 1879, “It would be difficult to discover a finer, more refreshing impression of really abundant and charming creative talent.”
