SKU: A0.1322285

This composition, in four short movements (5 minutes total), is for trombone and hi-hat - played by one player.

At the request of a friend, this composition began in 2008 as a concept for solo bassoon. Sadly, the friend passed away before performing the piece.

When I was asked recently for a solo piece for bass trombone, I finally had a reason to update the original. Besides adapting it for the instrument, I also added new material. The result is four short movements for bass trombone with hi-hat, both played by one player. The hi-hat is played mostly with the pedal, but occasionally with the fingers.

The final step in the evolution of this piece was this edition for tenor trombone.

The first movement combines chromatic patterns, diminished scales, and blues licks. The hi-hat adds kicks and color.

The second movement is a blues progression that swings, with backbeats on the hi-hat.

The third movement attempts to obscure tonality through the use of chromaticism. It should be played very freely (rubato), with the hi-hat again adding color.

Only one minute in length, the final movement treats a four-measure melody as a theme and variations reminiscent of Arthur Pryor solos of the early 20th century.

SKU: A0.990155

This piece was written in memory of my father, John Franklin Bowyer, who passed away on September 25, 2012. The work opens with a trombone statement of the melody, followed by an ensemble variation. Each of the seven members of the ensemble is the featured soloist on one the next seven variations, followed by a restatement of the ensemble variation. The piece closes with a vocal refrain accompanied by tuba, clarinet, and an improvised jazz trombone obbligato. The audience is encouraged to join the performers in singing.

Just a closer walk with Thee,
Grant it, Jesus, is my plea,
Daily walking close to Thee,
Let it be, dear Lord…

SKU: A0.990143

For trumpet choir - 12 parts.

Composed for the Arkansas State University Trumpet Ensemble for their trip to Italy in summer 2013. This short piece is mostly in 7/4 time, with a couple of interludes in 3/4 time. The title translates roughly as Dance Like a Fool, with awkward rhythmic figures that make it easy to realize the title. The audience is encouraged to participate by clapping along with the players during the 7/4 sections in a rhythm that is essentially a 2+3 Afro-Caribbean clave minus the eighth beat.

SKU: A0.990153

Five Preludes is a set of short pieces for solo piano, exploring various sounds and ideas. Each prelude is one to two minutes in length.

Prelude 1: Play-lude

The main idea of this prelude uses parallel fourths in the left hand with short, dissonant statements in the right hand. The contrasting second idea has a tonal bass line progression below a chromatic figure. The 3/8 time signature gives the piece a quasi-swing feel.

Prelude 2: Pray-lude

This prelude alternates between F major and Gb major, with slow reflective melodic statements over sustained roots. The statements gradually become shorter and shorter until the recapitulation.

Prelude 3: Pre-lewd

This whimsical prelude uses a five-note synthetic scale throughout (1, m3, P4, m6, M7), but the scale modulates in a pattern that suggests a standard 16-measure blues progression. There is a repeating figure in the bass using the same modulating scale.

Prelude 4: Prelude Solitude

This slow prelude in 7/4 time has an ostinato bass line that never varies. The six notes of the bass line (Eb, E, F, Ab, A, Bb) form a synthetic scale from which the entire piece is derived.

Prelude 5: Pre-ludicrous

This prelude uses the same six-note synthetic scale throughout (C, Eb, E, G, Ab, B). Harmonic motion is established through a repeated bass line, with chords built from every other note of the scale.