Mountain Idyll
Les trois tétons

for trumpet (and/or flugelhorn) and piano (2016)

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Duration: 7.5 minutes

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Program Note:

Mountain Idyll: Les trois tétons was inspired by my time in the Grand Teton mountains of northwest Wyoming in 2016. At that time, trumpeter Lance Witty asked me to compose a simple vocalise for him. I set to work with that intention, but the area inspired a larger work. The beauty and majesty of the Rocky Mountains in that corner of the country caused me to hear lyrical melodies; the Snake River evoked gentle, flowing music. But the landscape also conjured darker, turbulent music. Steep rock faces, sudden thunderstorms, swift mountain waterfalls, the solitude, even the jolt of worry when reminded to carry bear spray: all these emotions worked their way into this music.

Performance Note:

Mountain Idyll may be played on trumpet throughout or optionally on flugelhorn in the outer sections with trumpet in the middle section. See indications in the score and part for details.

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Premiere:

Lance Witty, trumpet; Colette Valentine, piano

Jessen Auditorium at the University of Texas at Austin

March 26, 2017

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Premiere Recording:

Eric Siereveld, trumpet & flugelhorn; Justin Harvard, piano
Vignettes: Music for Trumpet & Brass, Albany Records, TROY 1904

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