Product Overview
The Concerto for Euphonium and Orchestra was originally commissioned as a concerto for Euphonium and Brass Band by Euphonium artist, Niles Dening from West Seneca, New York. The original commission and this ensuing orchestral version are intended as a jazz-styled piece but in a traditional three-movement concerto format, each movement a somewhat stand-alone jazzstyled song, with intro, head, solo section, ensemble sections and outro.
The first movement, “Swing” is based on a traditional big band swing style. The second movement, “Ballade” is just that, in a very brooding style. The third movement, “Modern” gives a short recap of the first movement intro, but then moves into a 12/8, somewhat Latin-influenced jazz style.
There is a main six-note motif, built of four half-step approach notes followed by a leap interval. I felt this was a very basic jazz-styled “lick” and have built all three movements off this motif.
The Euphonium player should feel free to take some liberties with the style in which they play the piece, emulating a solo jazz player.
The rhythm section of piano, bass, and drums should be positioned at the front of the orchestra, along with the soloist, but that by no means should inform the orchestra proper that they are not completely integral to the sound and shape of this piece. Much of the motif material finds its way through the orchestra as the piece is performed and the goal is for the soloist, rhythm section, and orchestra to sound as one.
Given that the Euphonium is not as often thought of as a jazz solo instrument as the saxophone, trumpet, and trombone (to name a few),
that is precisely how this piece should be approached. This piece also asks a great deal of the euphonium soloist, both in technique and range. As to general performance advice, I would ask that upon arrival, the musicians treat the final movement as the romp it is intended to be. No holding back, just let it fly!
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