woodwind quintets of Sy Brandon
Diverissement - Divertissement was composed during 2005 for the Cadence Music Ensemble and rewritten in 2010 for Bret Pimentel, a virtuoso performer on multiple woodwinds. This version was created in 2023 and is a showcase for members of the quintet. A divertissement is a multi-movement composition designed to divert, entertain or to amuse. There are six contrasting movements in this composition; Intrada (flute feature), Nocturne (Horn feature), Valse (bassoon feature), Marche (clarinet feature), Romanza (oboe feature), and Galop (spotlight on members of the ensemble). The Intrada is energetic and playful with a lot of interplay between instruments. The Nocturne, being a night piece, is both lyrical and mysterious. The Waltz is in a flowing waltz tempo with occasional shifts away from three beats in the measure. The Marche is not a piece that would be used in a parade. It is a march that exists in the mind of a child who is playing with toy soldiers; therefore there is playfulness and humor that would not occur in a functional march. Lyrical lines and expressiveness are the predominating features of the Romanza. The piece comes to a rousing close with the Galop, which is a “perpetual motion” type of movement with a lot of rhythmic variety. Advanced
$15.00
Chaconne and Variations - A transcription of the composer’s 1969 composition for mixed sextet. The chaconne and variations permeate both the slow and fast sections of this piece. Modal harmony prevails while contrapuntal lines weave towards several exciting climaxes. This work is recorded by the Golden Gate Wind Quintet on the Emeritus label. Advanced
$10.00
Elegy for Woodwind Quintet - A plaintive piece writen in rememberance of flautist, Ray W. Kauffman. It has wandering chromaticism and an intense middle section built over an ostinato. Advanced Intermediate
$8.00
Emoticons III - Emoticons III is the third in a series of compositions that are designed to be aural representations of images that reflect emotions. This composition has eight short movements and is scored for wind quintet. I. Nebulous II. Puckish III. Excited IV. Horrified V. Jocular VI. Scattered VII. Regretful VIII. Confident Advanced
$15.00
In Praise of Music - This work was composed for the Golden Gate Wind Quintet. The inspiration comes from "The Musicians Yearbook of 1895". This book contains a saying about music for each day of the year. Eight sayings have been selected for both their content and the ability to create contrast between the eight movements. Advanced
$15.00
Neverland for Woodwind Quintet and Narrator - Eight short movements that describe the story of Peter Pan using poetry and music. 1. Wendy; 2. Tinkerbell; 3 Flying to Neverland; 4. The Mermaid Lagoon and the Rescue of Tiger Lily; 5. Capture of the Children by Hook; 6. Peter to the Rescue; 7. Children’s March; 8. Peter Pan. Advanced
$15.00
Scenes from Tom Sawyer for Woodwind Quintet - A tonal composition that was written for the Delicato Ensemble to use in a concert setting or for educational programs. It consists of a Prelude - Sunrise, Mid-day and Sunset over Hannibal, MO and five scenes as follows: I. Tom Showing Off for Becky, II. Tom Declares His Love for Becky, III. Tom Takes Becky’s Punishment, IV. The Glorious Whitewasher, and V. The Pirates On The Island. It can be performed with a narrator reading the provided description of each scene or the description of each scene can appear as program notes. Advanced
$15.00
Three Desert Pictures for Woodwind Quintet and Piano - This composition is in three movements: Haboob, Virga, and Monsoon. It was composed for and premiered by Frequency 49. Each movement is descriptive of these desert phenomena. Advanced
$15.00
Travelogue for Wind Quintet - This composition is in three movements. Sailing on the Mediterranean Sea is very free in form representing the carefreeness of sailing in a sunny, warm climate. Rocky Mountain Starlight is in ABABA form that reflects the wonder and beauty of a clear evening in the high elevations of the Rocky Mountains where one feels they could reach out and touch the stars. The Alhambra represents the strength of this famous fortress that has stood for hundreds of years through occupations of different powers. The movement has Spanish flavor because of the use of the Phrygian mode with its characteristic lowered second degree. Advanced
$15.00
Wonderland for Woodwind Quintet - This work in inspired by characters and scenes in Lewis Carroll’s “Alice in Wonderland” and can be performed with or without narrator. The narrator reads poetry written by Sy Brandon that describes the character and scene of each movement. The six movements are Alice, The White Rabbit, The Cheshire Cat, The Mad Hatter, The Mock Turtle, and The Queen of Hearts. Advanced
$15.00