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Score (PDF) 2.2 MB	Audio (MP3) 8.5 MB
	Mitsuru Saito, Jamie Lipton, Michael Idzior, and Jeremy McBride, euphoniums; Mark Scott, conductor

 

Program Notes

Since arriving at our university, I have been blessed to know and play music with many talented student musicians. When the time comes to create new music for these people, I always begin by asking what they need, what they would like to hear in a new piece – and let this information guide me before I write even one note. Imagine my surprise when I learned how few original pieces exist for euphonium quartet! After hearing some great solo recitals and asking many questions, I felt ready to write.

As I began sketching ideas, I remembered watching a lecture given by Leonard Bernstein at Harvard called “The Delights and Dangers of Ambiguity,” in which Bernstein discussed ways that composers had made music sound “ambiguous.” Bernstein cited Debussy’s Prelude to the Afternoon of a Faun and Wagner’s Prelude to Tristan and Isolde, two pieces which have very special places in my heart. Reflecting on these pieces and Bernstein’s notions, I became interested in using half-steps and minor thirds to create musical ambiguities of my own. Adapting my title from Bernstein and some harmonic motions from Ravel, I have endeavored to create a series of musical ambiguities which sound at once both delightful and dangerous.

 

Performances

Mitsuru Saito, Jamie Lipton, Michael Idzior, Jeremy McBride, euphoniums; Mark Scott, conductor; February 9, 2006

Mitsuru Saito, Jamie Lipton, Michael Idzior, Jeremy McBride, euphoniums; Mark Scott, conductor; February 13, 2006

Kunitachi College Euphonium Choir, Toru Miura, conductor; May 5, 2007