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FANTASY VARIATIONS on a Theme by Niccolo Paganini
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THIS IS A SUITE OF VARIATIONS ON FAMILIAR THEMES TAKEN FROM PAGANINI'S 'CAPRICE #24 IN A MINOR' PRODUCED TO SHOWCASE NUMEROUS WIND INSTRUMENTS. WRITTEN BY JAMES BARNES (UNIV. OF KANSAS). PERFORMED BY THE TMEA ALL STATE CONCERT BAND IN MY SENIOR YEAR.
highschool bands jazz bands college bands all region bands community bands concert bands honor bands interlochen arts academy marching bands national music camp tmea all state bands university bands
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Contemporary band compositions, classical music arrangements, marches, jazz, symphonies, overtures. A collection from bands that I have played in throughout hi
Hello and welcome! "Symphonic Band Performances" is a compilation of recordings from several high school and college bands that I played in including the TMEA (Texas) All State Band, the TMEA Region X All Region Band, the Interlochen Arts Academy National Music Camp, the Cal Poly Tech Band, San Luis Obispo, the USAF Golden West Band, and recordings from my h.s. band, Beaumont H.S. and a few band recordings that were passed down to me. Also included are various All State groups and college and university bands. I participated and played in the large majority of these recordings. There are no professional recordings here and every recording is Public Domain. Most are available for free download. Each song has been converted from the original analog or digital source and edited with Audacity or Dak software. In the majority of these recordings, I play the tenor sax or alto sax, b flat or e flat clarinet, or directing. I was drum major for 2 years in high school, I have a BA from Cal Poly, San Luis Obispo, where I studied music ed, composition and theory. I had about 500 more recordings I was planning to digitize and upload, but this past Nov. 20th, my home was completely destroyed by fire, and all the contents, including all my music and instruments. So, this is it. Please feel free to post a comment here or on my member page. If you like, please become a fan by clicking "I'm a fan" below.
Song Info
Genre
Classical • Contemporary
Charts
Peak #35
Peak in subgenre #10
Author
James Charles Barnes - music
Rights
public domain
Uploaded
January 08, 2010
Track Files
MP3
MP3 15.8 MB • 159 kbps • 13:51
Story behind the song
James Barnes, professor of orchestration and composition at the University of Kansas, produced this suite of variations on a familiar theme of Paganini to showcase numerous wind instruments. The tempos and moods range from delicate to imposing as the theme is tossed among instruments or pairs of instruments, from woodwinds to brass (including Barnes' instrument, the tuba) and a striking variation for percussion. James Charles Barnes (born September 9, 1949 in Hobart, Oklahoma, U.S.) is an American composer. Barnes studied composition and music theory at the University of Kansas, earning a Bachelor of Music in 1974, and Master of Music in 1975. He studied conducting privately with Zuohuang Chen. Since 1977 he has been a professor of theory and composition at the University of Kansas, where he teaches orchestration and composition. Barnes is also a tubist and has performed with numerous professional organizations in the United States. His numerous compositions are frequently played in America, Europe, Japan, Taiwan and Australia. The Japanese concert band Tokyo Kosei Wind Orchestra has produced 3 CDs to date with works of James Barnes. notes from everything2.com: Fantasy Variations (on a theme by Niccolo Paganini), the theme being the 24 caprici op.1 violono the solo, composed by James Barnes, is a piece for concert band. The difficulty level is grade 5+ to grade 6, so this is a hard piece. Our symphonic band is playing this for a concert in March, and probably for district and/or state contests. This is quite possibly the best piece that I have ever performed. It is both difficult and fun to play, a combination rarely found in an average piece. It opens with the theme, highlighted by an oboe solo. After that, 20 variations on this theme are played through, thus the name. Variation I: Basically the theme played, developed to include the entire ensemble, with melody played by the flutes and clarinets. Variation II: A slower melody, played by the oboes and clarinets. Variation III: The "Trombone Special." The first comic relief section. The 2nd and 3rd trombones (that's me) play two notes, followed by the 1st trombones playing a high, whiny, glissando, all muted. Four measures in, the contra-alto clarinet plays a very low melody. My personal favorite. Variation IV: The flutes play a very fast dance-like melody. Variation V: The next four variations are slow melodies played by various instruments. This one is oboes. Variation VI: Bassoon. Variation VII: Clarinets. Variation VIII: Saxophones. Variation IX: Speeds up again, melody carried by bass clarinet. Variation X: Similar to IX, played by clarinets. Variation XI: Very fast, Russian sounding melody played by trumpets. Variation XII: Slower, foreboding melody played by trombones. Variation XIII: Another good one, trombones and saxophones play a duet that sounds like boss music. Variation XIV: A continuation of XIII. Hardly warrants its own section. Variation XV: Comic relief #2. Tuba and baritone quartet. Have you ever heard tubas playing (trying to) sixteenth notes? Variation XVI: This is my least favorite. Bland, boring, little distinct melody. Variation XVII: Percussion solos. Very fast, very good sounding. Another favorite. Variation XVIII: Similar to XVII, with flutes and oboes playing melody. Variation XIX: Sets up the final variation, almost everyone plays the booming melody. Variation XX: Same as Variation I, ending similar to the beginning.
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