Taking Sides (2008)
1. Dysfunction
2. Reflection
3. Consensus
(movements performed without pause)
solo trombone, woodwind octet, percussion, piano, contrabass; ca. 12:00
Commissioned by the Detroit Chamber Winds and Strings/Oberlin Conservatory/University of Michigan Consortium
In memory of Lydia Silvani Foley
Premiere
April 13, 2008
Ava Ordman, trombone
Detroit Chamber Winds and Strings, conducted by H. Robert Reynolds
Birminghan Unitarian Church, Detroit, MI
Complete recording (MP3)
Oct. 20, 2008
David Jackson, solo trombone
Michael Haithcock, conductor
University of Michigan Symphony Band
Stamps Auditorium
University of Michigan
Ann Arbor, MI
View the Full Score
Detroit Free Press Review
This work uses the format of a political debate as its foundation. In the frenzied, cartoonish first movement, the solo trombonist plays the role of moderator, trying to ask a musical question. The woodwind octet, divided into two complementary quartets, plays dueling variations of the question, ignoring, and eventually mocking, the trombonist. In the jazz-influenced second movement, the ensemble reflects on a lyrical theme from the first movement, leading to the reconciliation of the third movement. The trombone soloist brings the ensemble to consensus through variations of the original musical question, which morph through various jazz and popular music styles. The ensemble begins to imitate the trombonist. Ultimately, the complementary quartets discover the irony of a conflict in which both sides have more in common than they initially realize.
Performance history
2008
October 21
Solo trombone, TBA
Texas Tech University Symphony Band
Sarah McKoin, conductor
Hemmie Recital Hall; Texas Tech University; Lubbock, TX
October 17
Andrew Peoples, solo trombone
Cincinnati Conservatory of Music Chamber Players
Rodney Winther, conductor
Werner Recital Hall; University of Cincinnati College-Conservatory of Music; Cincinnati, OH
October 10
David Jackson, solo trombone
University of Michigan Symphony Band
Michael Haithcock, conductor
Stamps Auditorium; University of Michigan; Ann Arbor, MI
April 20
Ava Ordman, solo trombone
Detroit Chamber Winds and Strings
H. Robert Reynolds, conductor
Southfield, MI
April 13 (premiere)
Ava Ordman, solo trombone
Detroit Chamber Winds and Strings
H. Robert Reynolds, conductor
Southfield, MI
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