Uploaded November 2022 | Updated September 2026, 2 weeks ago
The composer James himself wrote about how this piece came into existence:
"A couple of years before composing “Pillars”, I was contacted by some good friends of Bill Zehfuss, the former principal trombonist of the Charleston Symphony, who had died the just the previous summer. They truly wanted to have a piece composed in his memory, and wanted to explore possibilities as to how to make that happen. I knew Bill from my performing days many years ago, as well as having worked with him when conducting the Charleston Symphony. As a matter of fact, the last time I had seen Bill was when conducting the brass quintet as soloists in front of the orchestra. Bill was the trombonist, and I recall having some great laughs with him late into the evening after our final performance. Wilson Ochoa successfully led a campaign, along with Michael Grose and Dan Satterwhite, to crowd-fund the creation of the piece. Once that was accomplished, we were honored to have the Minnesota Orchestra and conductor Osmo Vänskä (with whom I had worked previously) sign on to presenting the premiere, with their low brass section as soloists."
COMPOSER: James M. Stephenson
CONDUCTOR: Osmo Vänskä
LOW BRASS:
R. Douglas Wright & Kari Sundstrum, tenor trombones
Andrew Chappell, bass trombone
Steven Campbell, tuba
ORCHESTRA: Minnesota Orchestra
TRACKLIST:
0:00 - I.
9:25 - II.
16:53 - III.
NOTE: This is a live performance! (WORLD PREMIERE performance, recorded in Orchestra Hall (Minneapolis) on 6-14-2018)
Please be aware that all of the music (and images) featured in this video belong to their respective owners, and I or this channel does not claim any right over them. I upload these solely for archiving purposes, and for the sharing and enjoyment of great music. Monetization is not enabled. If you are the rightful owner of copyrighted material used and would like the video removed from YouTube, please, instead of reporting/striking my channel, leave a comment below with your statement and I will take the video down effective immediately.
The composer James himself wrote about how this piece came into existence:
"A couple of years before composing “Pillars”, I was contacted by some good friends of Bill Zehfuss, the former principal trombonist of the Charleston Symphony, who had died the just the previous summer. They truly wanted to have a piece composed in his memory, and wanted to explore possibilities as to how to make that happen. I knew Bill from my performing days many years ago, as well as having worked with him when conducting the Charleston Symphony. As a matter of fact, the last time I had seen Bill was when conducting the brass quintet as soloists in front of the orchestra. Bill was the trombonist, and I recall having some great laughs with him late into the evening after our final performance. Wilson Ochoa successfully led a campaign, along with Michael Grose and Dan Satterwhite, to crowd-fund the creation of the piece. Once that was accomplished, we were honored to have the Minnesota Orchestra and conductor Osmo Vänskä (with whom I had worked previously) sign on to presenting the premiere, with their low brass section as soloists."
COMPOSER: James M. Stephenson
CONDUCTOR: Osmo Vänskä
LOW BRASS:
R. Douglas Wright & Kari Sundstrum, tenor trombones
Andrew Chappell, bass trombone
Steven Campbell, tuba
ORCHESTRA: Minnesota Orchestra
TRACKLIST:
0:00 - I.
9:25 - II.
16:53 - III.
NOTE: This is a live performance! (WORLD PREMIERE performance, recorded in Orchestra Hall (Minneapolis) on 6-14-2018)
Please be aware that all of the music (and images) featured in this video belong to their respective owners, and I or this channel does not claim any right over them. I upload these solely for archiving purposes, and for the sharing and enjoyment of great music. Monetization is not enabled. If you are the rightful owner of copyrighted material used and would like the video removed from YouTube, please, instead of reporting/striking my channel, leave a comment below with your statement and I will take the video down effective immediately.
![Randall Woolf — Shakedown (1990) [w/ score]](https://i.ytimg.com/vi/lptGev_iKj0/mqdefault.jpg "Randall Woolf — Shakedown (1990) [w/ score]
Randall Woolf studied composition privately with David Del Tredici and Joseph Maneri, and at Harvard. Recent commissions include works for the Seattle Symphony, Paul Dresher Ensemble, Dogs of Desire orchestra, and a new ballet of Where the Wild Things Are, in collaboration with Maurice Sendak and Septime Webre. His works have also been performed by Kathleen Supové, Bang on a Can/SPIT Orchestra, Kansas City Symphony, David Leisner, Twisted Tutu, Pittsburgh New Music Ensemble, and others.
This is Woolf’s very exciting and driving “Shakedown” for chamber orchestra. Robert Carl wrote in the notes of this CD, “Rock Steady” where this recording originates:
“A brilliant sense of orchestration. This applies above all to Randy’s writing for mixed ensembles, such as Shakedown (1990, written for Alea III). Here thirteen players create a sound whose fullness is truly orchestral. Colors are bright and contrasting, sharp and primary, like the best Pop Art. Attacks are edgy and intense, etching lines with the quick violence of a knife-slice. And the music can shrink and balloon in an instant, moving from full-throated tuttis to delicate two-part melody/accompaniment textures.”
COMPOSER: Randall Woolf
CONDUCTOR: Bradley Lubman
ENSEMBLE: New Millennium Ensemble + Meridian Arts Ensemble
Please be aware that all of the music (and images) featured in this video belong to their respective owners, and I or this channel does not claim any right over them. I upload these solely for archiving purposes, and for the sharing and enjoyment of great music. Monetization is not enabled. If you are the rightful owner of copyrighted material used and would like the video removed from YouTube, please, instead of reporting/striking my channel, leave a comment below with your statement and I will take the video down effective immediately.
#scorefollower #contemporaryclassical #classicalmusic")
![Randall Woolf — Adrenaline Revival (1996) [w/ score]](https://i.ytimg.com/vi/nJQ9HRBUxoE/mqdefault.jpg "Randall Woolf — Adrenaline Revival (1996) [w/ score]
This is Randall Woolfs piece for piano and Digitech TSR 24S processor, performed by his wife, pianist Kathleen Supové. Kathleen Supové has premiered the works of dozens of composers on her Exploding Piano concert series, which involves recitation, costume, theatrical elements such as lighting, and sets.
COMPOSER: Randall Woolf
PIANO: Kathleen Supové
TRACKLIST:
0:00 - Introduction
0:12 - I.
2:15 - II.
5:22 - III.
6:39 - IV.
8:52 - V.
9:46 - VI.
11:34 - VII.
12:40 - VIII.
16:25 - IX.
Please be aware that all of the music (and images) featured in this video belong to their respective owners, and I or this channel does not claim any right over them. I upload these solely for archiving purposes, and for the sharing and enjoyment of great music. Monetization is not enabled. If you are the rightful owner of copyrighted material used and would like the video removed from YouTube, please, instead of reporting/striking my channel, leave a comment below with your statement and I will take the video down effective immediately.
#scorefollower #contemporaryclassical #classicalmusic")
