Small Ensemble Cello,Euphonium,Multi-Percussion,Viola,Violin - Level 5 - Digital Download SKU: A0.533661 Composed by Carson Cooman. Contemporary,Folk,Standards. Score and parts. 34 pages. Musik Fabrik Music Publishing #3036573. Published by Musik Fabrik Music Publishing (A0.533661). I. Highland Ballad (Scotland)II. Ceremonial (Nigeria)III. Circle Dance (America)Folk Fantasies (2005) for solo euphonium, string quartet, and percussion was commissioned,inspired by, and is dedicated to euphoniumist Matthew Murchison. When we first begandiscussing the idea of a new chamber euphonium concerto, Matthew specifically requested apiece connected to folk music. In recent years, he has been interested in taking theeuphonium into folk music contexts in which it is not normally found. Thus, the idea behindthis work became that of creating a concert piece connected to folk traditions.Although this work is heavily connected to folk music, it does not quote or use any actualfolk tunes or material directly. For each of the three movements, I began by composing anoriginal folk tune within that national style. Each movement of the work is then anarrangement in my own musical style of my original folk tune. The formal and harmoniclanguage is simple, direct, and uncluttered throughout, as is appropriate for folk music.The first movement, Highland Ballad (Scotland), begins and ends with lyrical music. Themiddle sections contain settings of the basic melody -- first presented over a bagpipe-likedrone (with interjections) and then in a full harmonization.The second movement, Ceremonial (Nigeria), combines a harmonic refrain along with asimple melody in the Nigerian/Yoruban folk style. As the movement progresses, theeuphonium plays the role of a song-leader, adding increasingly impassioned countermelodiesand textures over the basic refrains.The third movement, Circle Dance (America), is jubilant -- in the vein of the folk songs ofthe Shakers. A basic rondo structure alternates the principal melody with contrastingexcursions.
