Product Overview
For 16 part Bassoon Ensemble
By Daniel Baldwin
Composer's Notes:
Over the years I have had the opportunity to annually attend the International Double Reed Society convention where I have had many of my compositions performed. These performances gave me the idea of putting on a large bassoon ensemble recital at an IDRS convention and writing a piece for this performance. I was pleased to have my proposal accepted and to present such a performance at the 40th IDRS convention at Arizona State University.
Echo of the Spheres is based on a poem by Lord Byron. My goal was to compose something completely new; a piece specifically designed to be a festival piece for bassoon day events. These bassoon days are an annual occurence at colleges and universities across the United States. The composition is divided into four choirs of quartets: Choir1, 2, and 4 are for college and high school age players. Quartet 3 is designed to be played by beginning and middle school age players. The piece is in overture form and designed to be similar to a high school band piece, which should be familiar to younger performers and easy to put together. There are appropriate challenges throughout the piece, but it maintains a high degree of accessibility. It is my hope that Echo of the Spheres will become a regular annual closing number for bassoon festivals. I had the honor to conduct the premiere of Echo of the Spheres on June 2nd, 2011 at the 40th Annual IDRS Convention at Arizona State University.
