Category: SOLOS - Euphonium
Composer: Joseph Horovitz
Composer’s Note
The 3-movement structure reflects my essentially classical outlook concerning concertos. Traditionally, this design favours the listener, as it were, first in the head, then in the heart, and finally in the toes. My Concerto for Euphonium with brass band fits comfortably into this scheme.
Throughout the work the solo has been given several companions with whom he indulges in duet-playing, mostly lightly accompanied by small sections of the band in harmonic support. The first Solo B flat cornet, and the Soprano E flat are mainly used for this, but even the second Euphonium (in the slow movement) and timpani and trombones (in the finale) are often given important thematic elements.
Technically, in the first movement, the soloist has to combine clear strong phrases with gentle melismatic meandering, as well as negotiating many acute-angled leaps which justify themselves by the enharmonic changes beneath.
In the slow movement secure breath control is called for to sustain even flow in the main long melody. This movement also contains the only cadenza element in the work — two pastoral-flavoured passages, which I dedicate to the mysteriously beautiful Border-country.
The finale opens with a driving, motoric introduction on the trombone-trio with virtuoso timpani punctuation. It is followed by a cheeky rondo theme for the soloist. Repeated quotations of this are elaborated with increasingly intricate variations, as if urged on by the ever more harmonically adventurous quotes from the band, until an unaccompanied whole-tone version of the theme brings the work to a fast close.
After completing the work, I discovered that the final resolutions of each movement followed the key pattern C—D—E flat. It seems that the initial idea of a concerto in C minor was guided by the kindly hand of the Goddess of Tonality — long may she prosper!
Joseph Horovitz, 1991
This new edition contains important changes to the tempo indications in the first publication of 1972
Instrumentation
E flat Soprano Cornet
4 Solo B flat Comets
1 1st B flat Cornet
2 2nd B flat Comets
2 3rd B flat Comets
Flugel Horn
Solo E flat Tenor Horn
1st & 2nd E flat Tenor Horns
1st & 2nd B flat Baritones
B flat Euphonium
1st & 2nd B flat Trombones
Bass Trombone
Solo B flat Euphonium
1st & 2nd E flat Basses
1st & 2nd B flat Basses
Percussion:
Cymbals, Snare Drum, Triangle, Glockenspiel, Suspended Cymbals, Bass Drum, Wood Block
Timpani (Minimum 2, preferably 4)
Duration: 16 minutes
Euphonium Concerto by Joseph Horovitz, is available on the CD 'Platinum Celebration' by Foden's Band, conducted by Michael Fowles.
To purchase the CD or see a track listing
please click here.
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