One of my earliest works, this duo was written over many months using pencil, paper, and the remarkable Casio Music Calculator. I begn it just after midnight, having come home from my swing-shift Summer job. It is dedicated to my long time friend, oboist Diane Stillman. At the time she was my dorm neighbor, and fielded innumerable questions from a novice musician.
It's structured as a suite of five short episodes, approximating a rondo. I've made only a few changes from the original, mostly to a couple of additional chances for the player to breathe. After all this time, it's still one of my melodic favorites.
1983, revised 2007. (A score is also available pno/clarinet.)
"Lovely. Nice mix of traditional and modern tonalities and rhythms." --Kristy
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1245_Duet_v3.mp3 |
| 1245 Duet Pno Oboe v3.pdf |
This was originally a trio (for horn, violin, guitar) I wrote very early in my career. It was written to encourage a young horn player named Suzanne. I came across it (~20 yrs later) and decided to give it an update, adding a flute part and some additional arranging while trying to maintain the original intent. It evolved to this piece.
"The guitar works unbelievably well in this arrangement. I was not convinced when I read your notes, but when I actually listened... the guitar solo framed by the rest of the piece sounds incredible!"
--Feenix
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A_Past_and_Future_Wish.mp3 |
| A_Past_and_Future_Wish_qtet_Score.pdf |
A lively and lighthearted trio with the cello providing a clave-like rhythm against the flutes.
"This trio of well-phrased voices is utterly charming. The melody uplifts the listener, while at the same time, the accompaniment keeps the listener anchored. Bravo!" --Jeanette
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A Twist of Lime [trio] v1_3.mp3 |
| A Twist of Lime v1_2 Score.pdf |
Energetic piece for piano quartet.* Edgy, driving, a little whimsical... autobahn intersection.
duration 3:01 (230 bpm) key of Am
*Also arranged for quintet ensemble of piano, violin, cello, clarinet, flute (moved to Bm)
One of your very best works! -- C. Lewis
Premiered by the San Francisco Chamber Players, 2013
Energetic piece re-arranged for guitar trio. duration ~2:50 (228 bpm) key of Am
Energetic piece arranged for mixed piano quintet.* Edgy, driving, a little whimsical... intersection.
key of Bm duration 2:50 (230 bpm)
*piano violin, cello, clarinet, flute
"One of your very best works!" -- C. Lewis
It is languid, with a contemplative, impressionistic feeling.
Part of a collection of four single-movement pieces for piano quartet called "Street Scenes." duration 3:40, key of A
Lovely chords, and the melody warms with repeated listens. --John
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Sidewalk_Cafe_v108.mp3 |
| Sidewalk_Cafe_v108_FULL.pdf |
| Sidewalk_Cafe_v108_PNO.pdf |
| Sidewalk_Cafe_v108_VC.pdf |
| Sidewalk_Cafe_v108_VLA.pdf |
| Sidewalk_Cafe_v108_VLN.pdf |
It is calm... moves at a strolling pace. Part of a collection of four single-movement pieces for piano quartet called Street Scenes.
duration 2:53, key of D
Hear a performance by the San Francisco Chamber Players, 2013
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At_the_Fountain_v107.mp3 |
| At_the_Fountain_v107_FULL.pdf |
| At_the_Fountain_v107_PNO.pdf |
| At_the_Fountain_v107_VC.pdf |
| At_the_Fountain_v107_VLA.pdf |
| At_the_Fountain_v107_VLN.pdf |
A single-movement piece for piano quartet. Image of the activity and improv typical of portals to the subway on city streets. Part of a series of "street scenes."
duration 2:50 (120 bpm)
"A very cool 'mise en scne'... Great ending!" -- John M.
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at_the_subway_stairs_v110.mp3 |
| at_the_subway_stairs_v110_FULL.pdf |
At the ensemble's request, I re-arranged this quartet for the trio of flute, guitar & cello. Part of a series of "street scenes." (At a Busy Intersection was also similarly arranged recently.)
duration 3:00 (~121 bpm)
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at_the_subway_stairs_v117-trio.mp3 |
| at_the_subway_stairs_v117_FL.pdf |
| at_the_subway_stairs_v117_FULL.pdf |
| at_the_subway_stairs_v117_GTR.pdf |
| at_the_subway_stairs_v117_VC.pdf |
A single-movement piece arranged for
harp, cello, flute (118),and
harp, viola, flute (119)
duration 2:50 (~120 bpm)
"A very cool 'mise en scne'... Great ending!" -- John M.
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at_the_subway_stairs_v119_harp_trio.mp3 |
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at_the_subway_stairs_v119_harp_vla_fl.mp3 |
| at_the_subway_stairs_v119_harp_trio.pdf |
| at_the_subway_stairs_v119_harp_vla_fl.pdf |
A light-hearted trio for two flutes and cello inspired on the evening of the Autumn equinox... thus the "day" and "night" equal-time motifs in the two flutes, with the cello as the ocean and the wind in the trees... (A companion piece to A Twist of Lime.
"This sounds larger than three instruments; you have a lot of musical ideas in this piece--but it's not cluttered. I like the now and then chromaticisms [and] how you approach a cadence and your use novel ways of creating release." --John M.
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Autumn Equinox Caprice.mp3 |
| Autumn_Equinox_Caprice_Score.pdf |
A trio for bass flute, cello and guitar. An aggressive, percussive acoustic guitar track with lots of body tapping and string tapping brackets a delicate center section where the bass flute carries the melody.
Gm, 3:20
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Army_Boots_TRIO_No_2_v108.mp3 |
| Army_boots_trio_B_FL.pdf |
| Army_boots_trio_GTR.pdf |
| Army_boots_trio_VC.pdf |
| bass_fl, guitar DUO-TRIO No_2_v104.pdf |
A lighthearted piece for clarinet and strings.
12/8 meter with a 4/4 middle section. (4 min)
"Nice! ... I love it" --Calum M.
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Clarinet_Quintet_v103.mp3 |
A concertino* in the baroque style featuring the oboe, plus a string quartet & harpsichord. It is in the traditional three movements. Movements 1 & 2 are in F and Cm respectively. Movement 3 begins in E and modulates several times to end up in Bb. I was trying to get the sound and feel of the era, while adding my personal stamp to it.
*A concertino is a baroque-era concerto, which is shorter and uses fewer instruments than the later concerto.
This is a rare combination of instruments; the english horn and alto flute are both low registered instruments in their family, with distinctly different characters and overlapping ranges. In this piece, the voices intertwine. ~72 bp, due: 6 min
This piece has proven to be adaptable to other arrangements. There are versions for:
alto flute, cello, guitar
viola, cello, guitar
alto flute, english horn, harp
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Dusk-gtr,afl,ehorn_v111.mp3 |
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Dusk-guitar,vla,vc_v106.mp3 |
A trio arranged for alto flute, cello and classical guitar.
The first movement introduces and develops the chipper tune; 2nd movement is darker and crustier, but with a gentle 'chorale-like' interlude. The 3rd movement is a repeat of the first, with additional variations and modulations.
key:
I. D G Bb G F G
II. Em (G) Em
III. E F#
duration: 5:54
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Plucky_v118_guit_[trio].mp3 |
| Feelin'_Plucky_v118g_A_FL.pdf |
| Feelin'_Plucky_v118g_FULL.pdf |
| Feelin'_Plucky_v118g_GTR.pdf |
| Feelin'_Plucky_v118g_VC.pdf |
A trio for viola, cello and harp. A bright melody featuring pizzicato on the viola and cello together and separately. The sound is further extending with the gentle, more sustained sound of the harp--although its notes are frequently damped during the piece to keep notes short like the strings.
First movement introduces and develops the tune; 2nd movement is darker and crustier, but with a gentle 'chorale-like' interlude. The 3rd movement is a repeat of the first, with additional variations and modulations.
key: I. A,B,A,C II. Am,C,Am III. A,Am,A,B
duration: 5:42
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Feelin'_Plucky_v117.mp3 |
| Feelin'_Plucky_v117_FULL.pdf |
| Feelin'_Plucky_v117_VLA.pdf |
| Plucky v117 guit_FULL.pdf |
| Plucky v117 guit_GTR.pdf |
Originally, a piece for solo piano in three short episodes using a variety of meters, esp. 5/4 5/8, 6/8.
Revisited, extended a little and arranged for piano and cello.
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Five_Four_Five_Eight_Etude_v108.mp3 |
| Five_Four_Five_Eight_Etude_v108.pdf |
Inspired by Allegro from La Catedral a work of paraguayan composer and guitarist Agustín Barrios
Bm --> Cm 2.8min
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for_agustin_gtr,gtr,vc_v109.mp3 |
A short, light and lively trio arranged for guitar, flute, and cello (or bassoon).
2 min, key of D --> G
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fresh_mint_fl,gtr,bsn_trio_v106.mp3 |
|
Fresh_mint_trio_v106a.mp3 |
| fresh_mint_fl,gtr,bsn_trio_v106.pdf |
A miniature study, based on the melody from the 2nd movement of Daniel Pinkham's Christmas Cantata. Languid.
key: G
duration: about 3 minutes.
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Hillside_trio_v102.mp3 |
| Hillside_trio_v102_FULL.pdf |
Inner solstice was written for the winter time. Score is marked "dark, introspective." Its uncommon scoring uses two cellos, double bass and bass clarinet. (Image is of a lunar eclipse on winter solstice in the sky over Turkey 2010.)
key: Gm
"Enchanting and beautiful..." --Eagle
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Inner_Solstice_v202.mp3 |
| Inner_Solstice_v202.pdf |
An impromptu for two flutes and harp. Uncomplicated. ~1.5min, Starts in Dm, ends in G, Moderato.
Image by love1008:deviantART
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je_ne_sais_quoi_trio_V103.mp3 |
| je_ne_sais_quoi_trio_V105.pdf |
| je_ne_sais_quoi_trio_V105_HARP.pdf |
One night early in a Winter, I needed to do something--the right thing, a sad thing... and I did... and then I wrote the opening of this piece. Shortly thereafter, I developed it to its completion. It is structured A B C A'.
The beginning makes "the statement."
The middle recognizes "moving on."
The finale "remembers."
There are arrangements for woodwind quintet (flute, english horn, clarinet, horn, bassoon) and for horn ensemble.
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Lament_[Wind_Quintet].mp3 |
A quintet for harp and strings It is languid, with a contemplative, impressionistic feeling.
duration 3 min, tempo: 66, key of F
Lovely composition... cool counterpoint -Chris
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Snow_Falling_harp,str_qtet_v105.mp3 |
A suite of several episodes* highlighting experiences from the redwood forest and creek of Loma Mar near La Honda California.
dur: 8m in
*1. Listening Creekside, 2. Firebowl Echos, 3. Redwood Cathedral, 4. Tadpoles, 5. On the Big Rock Talking, 6. Rope Swing from the Riverbank.
A Piano Trio with seven movements, seven moods. (minor revision in 2015)
I. Spotlight II. Dappled III. Strobed IV. Twilight V. Blacklight VI. Neon VII. Firelight
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Neon_Trio_v125.mp3 |
| Neon_Trio_v125_FULL.pdf |
| Neon_Trio_v125_PNO.pdf |
| Neon_Trio_v125_VC.pdf |
| Neon_Trio_v125_VLN.pdf |
...A woodwind quintet (flute, oboe, clarinet, horn, bassoon). It has a light mood, and is a single movement containing three episodes.
Beautiful composition, I like the sound colors and the plentitude of unexpected changes. --Andreas
Photo by zen Sutherland, used with permission.
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New_Beneath_the_Snow_[quintet].mp3 |
Duo for Cello and Piano.
Fun, fast, short.
Starts in Dm, ends in F.
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piano_scramble_v105.mp3 |
Sextet for winds is a little study for winds that became a overlapping whimsical medley of four tunes.
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Requiem_for_Three_Blind_Mice.mp3 |
| Requiem_for_the_Three_Blind_MIce.pdf |
A light, fast tune for brass quintet, or horn ensemble.
Music for guitar and bass flute in 3/4 with a "sideways" melodic line.
Also arranged for guitar and horn.
A --> D --> Db duration: 5 min
Photo credit: Robert W. Howington. Used with permission.
![Robert W. Howington](http://images.search.yahoo.com/images/view;_ylt=AwrTcYPsW_JU1_cAT1.JzbkF;_ylu=X3oDMTIzMmZ2NGE1BHNlYwNzcgRzbGsDaW1nBG9pZAM4ODk1Njg5MmQyNTc5ZjE2MjgwNzEwNDg5YTRiMGM4MgRncG9zAzM5BGl0A2Jpbmc-?.origin=&back=http%3A%2F%2Fimages.search.yahoo.com%2Fsearch%2Fimages%3Fp%3DRobert%2BW.%2BHowington%26n%3D60%26ei%3DUTF-8%26fr2%3Dsb-top-images.search.yahoo.com%26tab%3Dorganic%26ri%3D39&w=500&h=334&imgurl=farm3.staticflickr.com%2F2768%2F4362704213_f0ee0f54c6_z.jpg&rurl=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.flickr.com%2Fphotos%2Fwhitetrashtexas%2F4362704213%2F&size=165.3KB&name=4362704213_f0ee0f54c6_z.jpg&p=Robert+W.+Howington&oid=88956892d2579f16280710489a4b0c82&fr2=sb-top-images.search.yahoo.com&fr=&tt=4362704213_f0ee0f54c6_z.jpg&b=0&ni=160&no=39&ts=&tab=organic&sigr=11o1vsnmn&sigb=145dlak6s&sigi=11nn7ka55&sigt=10rrhkqkq&sign=10rrhkqkq&.crumb=lOPSAfRoMQf&fr2=sb-top-images.search.yahoo.com"){kind=link}
|
Sideways_bass_fl_guitar_v107a.mp3 |
|
Sideways_hn_guitar_v107a.mp3 |
| Sideways_bass_fl_guitar_v107a_FULL.pdf |
Music arranged for guitar and english horn in 3/4 with a slow, "sideways" melodic line.
A --> D --> Ab --> Db duration: 5 min
Photo credit: Robert W. Howington. Used with permission.
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Sideways_ehorn_guitar_v111.mp3 |
| Sideways_v111_FULL_tr.pdf |
A duo for flute and guitar. Also arranged for violin and piano.
dur= 1:45.
"The fascinating shift in meters and styles made this a riveting listen all the way through." --J.R.
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snazz_flute,guitar1.mp3 |
| Snazz_duo_fl_gtr_v104_FLUTE.pdf |
| Snazz_duo_fl_gtr_v105_Score.pdf |
A short, light trio arranged for guitar, flute, and cello.
dur: 3.5 min, key of D --> B
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Spiral_Stones_v109.mp3 |
| Spiral_Stones_v107.pdf |
A miniature piece, inspired by a work I heard recently and loved: Bassoon Sonatine by Alexandre Tansman
key: F
duration: about 2 minutes.
The range was a perfect fit, so I tweaked for Trombone as well.
Then i added a video track to make it more FB-friendly.
If not showing, go directly to youtube
|
Splash_Duet_104_BSN.mp3 |
|
Sprinking_duet_104_trmb.mp3 |
| Splash_Duet_104_FULL.pdf |
| Splash_duet_BSN.pdf |
| Sprinking_a_duet_104_BSN-TRB.pdf |
| Sprinking_a_duet_104_FULL.pdf |
A trio for two bassoons and english horn. It was specifically written for a bassoonist, but I try to give everyone a "good" part. (Arrangement also for bsn, bass cl, engl hn.)
"The double reed voicing here sounds marvelous. Compositionally stimulating -- complex, yet still approachable..." --J.R.
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When_Time_Expands,_trio_v4a.mp3 |
| Trio_2bsn,EHrn_v1_4a_FULL.pdf |
