So(Not)a for Trumpet and Piano
Benjamin Bierman
About this work:
So(Not)a for Trumpet and Piano (2003)
So(Not)a for Trumpet and Piano explores the trumpet in several different contexts and styles. The harmony and rhythm of the piece are strongly influenced by jazz, yet the work draws its structure and compositional strategies more from the classical world.
Movement I explores the lyrical side of the trumpet, and displays its ability to move smoothly though a melodic line with large intervallic leaps. The melody is loosely derived from a twelve-tone row, while the piano accompaniment is largely based on a series of harmonically stretched and extended dominant chords. The trumpet line in Movement II is based on an improvisation of mine, and was conceived in one through-recorded take. I characterize it as Clifford Brown meets funk. Movement III displays a lyrical, yet static, trumpet melody over two harmonic motives, and features a jazz waltz as its middle section.
Year composed: 2003
Duration: 00:08:00
Ensemble type: Chamber or Jazz Ensemble, Without Voice:Keyboard plus One Instrument
Instrumentation: 1 Trumpet, 1 Piano