Symphonies for Brass Quintet & Chamber Orchestra
Lawrence Moss
About this work:
The "Symphonies" in the title is a tribute to Stravinsky's "Symphonies for Winds", one of my favorite works. Perhaps I hoped that some of its beauty would rub off on its namesake. It is recorded by the American Camerata for New Music, John Stephens, conductor, on AmCam ACR 10305. "The Annapolis Brass Quintet and the American Camerata have given us a real winner in Lawrence Moss' 'Symphonies'. Moss writes that the spectres of Stravinsky and Debussy loom large behind this work (the title is from Stravinsky), and indeed the washes of sound and the effective use of instrumental forces reflect the sensibilities of the other composers. This is not, however, derivative music; the sound is modern and bristling, and the music is infused with an interest and excitement that is Moss' own. Good performances.. " Wm. M. Chase in The New Records, May, 1980
"Lawrence Moss (b. 1927) named his 'Symphonies' after Stravinsky's 'Symphonies of Wind Instruments. The specter of Stravinsky, through very vague hints of themes or pungent timbres in various places, does indeed hang over this piece. Impressionism is the other influence that will be noticed. Moss' antiphonal treatment of the brass quintet and the instrumental choirs of the orchestra is distinctive, and the net result is a work of considerable interest. A bit less than nine minutes long, 'Symphonies' was composed in 1976-77. B.P. in Fanfare, June 1980.
"Lawrence Moss (b. 1927) is a composer of much variety and musical color. He is now represnted on a good cross-section of record companies, from CRI to Opus One. The presnt work is as smooth and attractive as Krenek's is abrupt and curmudgeonly. The combination of brass and orchestra here is surprisingly blended into attractive pastels and enjoyable juxtapositions of sonorities, resulting in a piece that one wishes were longer than it is." Moore in American Record Guide, July/August, 1980
"'Symphonies' by Lawrence Moss is a kind of delicious concerto grosso for brass quintet and orchestra. The musical gestures and textures are quite fluid, colorful and imaginative. This performance projects the intriguing qualities of this work with a continual sense of freshness as if casting a spell." John Davison, Contemporary Record Society News, Spring 1984.
"Most notable, perhaps, was Moss' 'Symphonies for Brass Quintet and Chamber Orchestra', in which the Metropolitan Brass Quintet was featured. This is a brief three-movement pieces that shows its comoposer's imaginative ear for unusual sound combinations in a moderately modern idiom. In the first section there were seductive washes of trills and glissandi, in the second a certain amount of aleatoric-sounding instrumental chatter set off by broader statements, and in the finale a bright, almost playful mood.
Moss varied his sonic options in several ways. He posted three additional brass players in an isolated spot behind the other players, and he indulged himself in a piano and some percussion to lend bite to the sound. His piece was enjoyable to listen to, with quirky ideas skillfully carried out." Robert Finn, Cleveland Plain Dealer, Oct. 23, 1984
Year composed: 1977
Duration: 00:08:47
Ensemble type: Voice, Solo or With Chamber or Jazz Ensemble:Two or more Solo Voices with Large Chamber/Jazz Ensemble (10 +)
Instrumentation: 2 Flute, 1 Oboe, 1 Clarinet, 1 Bassoon, 1 Horn in F,1 Horn in F soloist(s), 1 Trumpet,2 Trumpet soloist(s), 1 Trombone,2 Trombone soloist(s), 3 Percussion (General), 8 Violin, 3 Viola, 2 Cello, 1 Double bass
Instrumentation notes: The brass trio (trumpet. horn, trombone) is offstage and moves on for the 3rd movement. The other brass (2 trumpets, horn, 2 trombones) are the solo brass quintet (on stage throughout)