Alex Bevan's lyrical meditations on North American rivers are inspiring statements about nature and our relationship to it. Alex is a master songsmith and a consummate performer and Watersongs makes a terrific feature on a pops concert or a "crossover" program. (I premiered the set on a concert that began with "river music" of Telemann and Smetana!)
Instrumentation:2+1 2+1 2+1 2.4231 hp kbd tym+2 strgs
To engage Alex Bevan for performances of Watersongs, contact him directly at alex@ncweb.com.
Note: Costs for use of Alex Bevan's performance materials is kept low: $20 for purchase of reproducible choral and accompanist scores; $350 for rental of orchestral scores and parts.
A medley of well-known piping tunes arranged for bagpipes and orchestra. Songs featured are "Scotland the Brave," "Highland Laddie," "Skye Boat Song," "Mull of Kintyre," "Blue Bells of Scotland," "Highland Cathedral," "1000 Pipers." An excellent opener, as the pipes begin off-stage while the orchestra plays a soft accompaniment and then explodes into "Scotland the Brave."
Sound Sample:
A medley for pipes and orchestra with tunes on a "farewell" theme: Orchestra joins in on "Auld Lang Syne" and segues to "Scotland the Brave" and a closing coda. With "Marches and Airs", a great bookend for a piping segment of a Celtic program.
A suite of Irish dance tunes for Irish traditional instrument(s) and orchestra. Tunes include: "Cooley's Reel," "Donnybrook Fair," "Irish Washerwoman", "The Maid Behind the Bar," "Devil's Dream," "Rakes of Mallow," and others.
Sound sample:
3 min. Instrumentation: 2*222.2220 tym+2 strgs
Rousing, rambunctious, rootin'-tootin' rondo in Copland Rodeo style.
4 min. Instrumentation: 2+1 222.4231 kbd tym+2 strgs;
Also available: 1*010.0111 kbd set string quintet
In classic ragtime style, with an elegant trio (Richard Strauss meets Scott Joplin)
2.30 min. Instrumentation: 2*222.2220 tym+2 strgs
The kinetic energy and some of the sounds of a locomotive in a delightful musical excursion.
4 min. Instrumentation: 2+1 2 2+1 2.4331 kbd tym+4 strgs
Robust fanfare (reminiscent of John Williams' movie music) suitable for any festive, celebratory event.
Vane Scott's The Many Faces of Old Glory
Vane Scott's dramatic and engaging narrative history of the flag of the United States is an ideal feature for a Memorial Day, Fourth of July or Veterans' Day observance. The story begins with a brief history of the British flag and continues with the description and display of the flags accompanied American forces during the American Revolution. The narrative is filled with vivid descriptions of battles, personalities, debates and other significant events in American history and the evolution of the design of the Stars and Stripes.
The score features traditional patriotic melodies including "My Country 'Tis of Thee," "Chester", "The Surrender of Burgoyne," "The Marine's Hymn" and "Anchors Aweigh" and concludes with the general singing of the "National Anthem."
55 minutes. Instrumentation: 3* 2* 2+1 2/3231 hp kbd tym+4 strgs;
Also scored for wind ensemble: 3* 2* 2+1 ATB sax 2/323 euph tuba (hp) kbd tym+3
Movements are:
Concerto for Drumpet® with Dr. Craig Woodson
A unique interactive educational experience in which the audience is the soloist, performing on the "drumpet®".
The concerto is a kind of primal Young Person's Guide to the Orchestra. As that work demonstrates the various choirs and instruments of the orchestra, the Concerto for Drumpet® is constructed around the different methods of making musical sounds by striking, plucking, scraping and blowing.
6 min. Instrumentation: 2+1 2 2 2/4331 hp tym+3 strgs
30 min. Instrumentation: 2+1 222/2210 hp kbd tym+2 strgs
Composed on commission from Christine Meneer and the Children's Ballet Theatre of Akron, Ohio. Features the English folk song Early one morning.
Eroica and Anthem from Vane Scott's "The Many Faces of Old Glory"
An overture on "The Star Spangled Banner" that culminates in a general singing of the national anthem. Traverses moods from exuberantly festive to solemn and the final setting of the tune features enough red glaring rockets and bomb bursts to rival the fireworks to follow!
8 min. Instrumentation: 2+1 2 2+1 2.3231 hp kbd tym+2 strgs