Thursday, November 1, 2012

Premiered: "Serenity" for solo horn or horn duo

I thank Dr. Steven Gross and Julie Callahan Gross for premiering my composition, Serenity, on August 9, 2012 at the opening concert of the South African French Horn Society's Fifth National Horn Workshop in Kimberly, South Africa.

At about four minutes in length, Serenity is well-suited for recitals, wedding preludes, and church services. The nature of the music is indicated by its title.

Serenity was commissioned by Dr. Steven Gross, Professor of Horn at the University of California, Santa Barbara. He and Julie are old friends of mine, and as I considered the commission in light of other works for solo instruments, I decided to write a piece for solo horn that could stand alone, but also be performed with an optional second part. Steve performs at horn gatherings around the world, and he and Julie often travel together. I felt this optional second part would allow greater performing possibilities, while still providing a quality new work for the solo horn literature.

Click here for the version for Unaccompanied Horn.

Click here for the version for Two Horns.

Please visit the Premiere Press website to find many more of my compositions and also Watercolor Menagerie, my CD of  original music for brass quintet.