ULTRA AMERICANA

two pieces for orchestra (can be played separately or as a two-movement suite)

“brimming with life . . .”
Greensboro News and Record

“a wonderful and fun piece!”
JoAnn Falletta

“He was like a contemporary Ravel, treating popular music with a classical hand garbed in extremely precise, colorful and sparkling orchestration.” Paul Polivnick, Conductor

OUT OF THE BLUE 8’45”

Openly nostalgic with many style elements of traditional blues and Americana, this piece recalls a lazy afternoon on the prairie. Out of the Blue is a moderately paced intermezzo. The beginning has a wistful quality which opens up to a heartfelt recollection of simpler times.  Out of the Blue captures a certain spirit of The American Dream and ends with a something that feels like a wide-open sky.

Out of the Blue may be performed without
Flute III/piccolo, Oboe II, E-flat Clarinet, and Contrabassoon Cues are provided in other instruments.

Note: if the oboe section has only two players, the second player doubles, playing English horn in Out of the Blue, and Oboe II in Flying on Instruments.

FLYING ON INSTRUMENTS 4’45”

Ecstatic happiness radiates from this jazz-influenced piece.  Allegro vivace throughout, Flying on Instruments draws upon everything from Latin rhythms to gospel music.  Massed strings and other sections featured as group soloists.

total duration: 13’30”

(1997)

3(3rd db. picc.)/2+E.h./2+E-flat/2+cbn. 4/3/3/1
timp. 3 perc. strings

Instrumentation may be reduced:

Flying on Instruments may be performed without English Horn and Contrabassoon. Cues are provided in other instruments.

Note: if the oboe section has only two players, the second player doubles, playing English horn in Out of the Blue, and Oboe II in Flying on Instruments.