Chamber & FLEX Works

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3×3 FANFARES

for Spatialized Flexible Instrumentation

Composed for the inaugural concert of the University of Texas at San Antonio New Music Ensemble, this 1 page score is a hybrid of graphic, aleatoric, and minimalist notational techniques. Intended to be conductor-less and performed spatially, it is celebratory music that sounds like multiple fanfares happening simultaneously from different locations. Can be performed by any combination of treble and bass clef instruments and different types of bells. All players read from the 1 page score. Grade 5.

Duration: 4′ Score/Parts $25.00

(recording not available)

A BLUE STREAK

for Nine Winds and Jazz Drummer

Commissioned by a consortium of 20 colleges, this is high energy music that exists between notation and improvisation, tonality and atonality, jazz and classical. Based on the expression “to talk a blue streak” as in a continuous stream of words. This one movement work builds to a 12-tone fugue and a break down of communication. Features optional electronic trumpet and trombone by using a trumpet and trombone silent mute plugged into two guitar amps. Requires a high energy bebop-style jazz drummer. Instrumentation is Fl, Ob, Cl, Bsn, ASax, Tpt, Hrn, Tbn, Tba, Drums. Grade 5-6.

Duration 7′ Parts for Sale $125. Score for Sale $25.

Watch & Listen at: https://youtu.be/RjuUJimZsDY

SAXOPHONE QUARTET NO. 1

Commissioned and premiered by the Resounding Winds Saxophone Quartet. The first movement presents a fugue at the second, the second movement an adagio chorale that moves in and out-of-time, and the third movement is a passacaglia with 10 variations that culminates in a tutti finale. Completed in 1995.

Duration: 20′ Parts on Rental $300. Score for Sale $25.
(recording not available)

SCINTILLA Trio

for Flute, Clarinet, Alto Sax

Scintilla is the Latin word for spark. I interpreted a spark as metallic, electric, and twitchy. After the opening spark-like sound, short motives and gestures mutate and dance to become new motives and gestures as the music gains speed and intensity to the end. Commissioned by the faculty woodwind trios at Texas A&M University-Commerce, West Texas A&M University, and the Trio Frontera from the University of Texas Rio Grande Valley. The music was completed in February 2018 and premiered at the 2018 North American Saxophone Alliance Conference and the World Saxophone Congress in Zagreb, Croatia by the Texas A&M University-Commerce woodwind trio.

Duration 5′  Score & Parts for Sale $50. Extra Score for Sale $10.

Watch & Listen at: https://youtu.be/F-xkKn9-HeQ

STRING QUARTET NO. 1

Commissioned by the American Composers Forum and the Artaria String Quartet, St. Paul, Minnesota. Three movement based in lyricism, color and rhythmic energy. The first movement is a modified sonata form, the second a harmonically colored adagio, and the finale is a driving fusion of bebop and bluegrass fiddle styles. Also available for string orchestra. Completed in 2003.

Duration: 15′ Score & Parts for Sale $100. Extra Score 20.

I. Andante Cantabile
Listen at: https://soundcloud.com/james-syler/string-quartet-no-1-i-movement
II. Adagio
Listen at: https://soundcloud.com/james-syler/string-quartet-no-1-ii-movement
III. Blue-bop

(Quartet recording not available)

String orchestra version: https://soundcloud.com/james-syler/american-dances-iii-blubop

FLEXIBLE INSTRUMENTATION WORKS

BLUE-BOP

for 5-Part Flexible Instrumentation

BLUE-BOP is from the last movement of my String Quartet No. 1 and mixes Bluegrass fiddle styles with the speed and licks of Bebop – a kind of Bill Monroe meets Charlie Parker. Two uniquely American styles fused together into a fun, challenging, hybrid work. This work can be performed together with MAM-BLU under the title “Two American Dances”.

This Flexible Instrumentation version that can be performed by any combination of instruments from 4 to 40 players. Each purchase includes a PDF Score in C and all PDF parts in various keys. The folder containing the score & parts will be emailed directly to you.

Grade: 5
Duration: 4 minutes
PDF Score & Parts for Sale $75.  PDF Extra Score 10.
Watch & Listen: https://youtu.be/MlxrQh9pkVw

MAM-BLU

for 5-Part Flexible Instrumentation

MAM-BLU is a fusion of Mambo and the Blues. The montunos and syncopations of Latin-American music are combined with the form and harmonic structure of the North American 12-bar Blues. The result is a hybrid music symbolic of the collision of both worlds. This version for flexible instrumentation was originally the first movement of my American Dances for string orchestra (2006). This work can be performed together with BLUE-BOP under the title “Two American Dances”.

This Flexible Instrumentation version that can be performed by any combination of instruments from 4 to 40 players. Each purchase includes a PDF Score in C and all PDF parts in various keys. The folder containing the score & parts will be emailed directly to you.

Grade: 4
Duration: 4 minutes
PDF Score & Parts for Sale $75. PDF Extra Score $10.
Watch & Listen: https://youtu.be/b-nc1b_lfpY

HARD TIMES COME AGAIN NO MORE

for 4-Part Flexible Instrumentation

Stephen Foster (1826-1864) was America’s first great songwriter. Hard Times Come Again No More stands out as unique and personal compared to his other songs. Written in 1854, the song was composed during a period of personal loss for Foster – the death of his parents, separation from his wife, and a failing career. It’s lyrics have been a comfort in hard times for all people and its melody has endured. Since the 1990’s, the song has experienced a revival by diverse performers such as gospel singer Mavis Staples to rock icon Bruce Springsteen.

Today, Stephen Foster’s reputation in American music holds a difficult space due to his contributions to minstrelsy (an American entertainment featuring white performers in blackface and derogatory of African-Americans). There are varying opinions on Foster and his songs. As  a student of American music, I’m of the opinion that it’s best to separate the art from the artist. Many great contributions have been made to the arts by people who held reprehensible beliefs or associations (e.g. composer Richard Wagner’s antisemitism). There’s nothing racist in the lyrics of this song. I propose we celebrate it as a great song of comfort that has survived and transcended its original context into a song for all people.

This Flexible Instrumentation version that can be performed by any combination of instruments from 4 to 40 players. Each purchase includes a PDF Score in C and all PDF parts in various keys. The folder containing the score & parts will be emailed directly to you.

Grade: 2/3
Duration: 3.5 minutes
PDF Score & Parts for Sale $50.  PDF Extra Score 5.
Watch & Listen: https://youtu.be/W_wJ7sZ21sU

THE ROAD NOT TAKEN

for 4-Part Flexible Instrumentation

A warm and lyrical adaption of a choral of mine on the Robert Frost poem The Road Not Taken. It features cantabile lines, close harmonies, and a singing sound world. Suitable for developing espressivo playing at a modest technical level. This Flexible Instrumentation version that can be performed by any combination of instruments from 4 to 40 players. Each purchase includes a PDF Score in C and all PDF parts in various keys. The folder containing the score & parts will be emailed directly to you.

Grade: 3/4
Duration: 4 minutes
PDF Score & Parts for Sale $75. PDF Extra Score 7.
Watch & Listen: https://youtu.be/P8cp-r7-5S8

SCINTILLA

for 3-Part Treble Clef Flexible Instrumentation

This adaption of my wind trio SCINTILLA premiered in 2018 at the North American Saxophone Association conference and the World Saxophone Congress in Croatia. It is fast, twitchy, metallic music suitable to open or close a program. Good for developing a more linear concept of independence. This Flexible Instrumentation version that can be performed by any combination of instruments from 4 to 40 players. Each purchase includes a PDF Score in C and all PDF parts in various keys. The folder containing the score & parts will be emailed directly to you.

Grade: 5
Duration: 5 minutes
PDF Score & Parts for Sale $75. PDF Extra Score 10.
Watch & Listen: https://youtu.be/EvkQ9cKedro