Uploaded December 2022 | Updated September 2026, 1 week ago
James wrote about his Symphony No. 1 for wind ensemble:
"In the early part of 2006, I received an unexpected call from an old high school friend: David Alpar. Though we both were trumpeters in high school, we had each moved on to other passions: conducting for him, and composing for me. He told me he was now conducting the Wright-Patterson Air Force Band and had heard my short orchestral work, American Fanfare. He was interested whether I could re-score it for concert band, which I did. After many successful performances of that work, he “warned” me that when the time came, there would be something significant in the future. As fortune had it, Dave moved on shortly thereafter to a new post with the Air Force Band of Liberty at Hanscom AFB, and almost immediately held true to his promise. Another unexpected call came, and after a bit of discussion, we decided that the commission would be for a “major work.” It didn’t take long for me to decide that it was time for Symphony No. 1. The timing couldn’t have been better for me. Having come to composition somewhat late, I still knew that I wanted to have some major works under my belt by that mystical age: 40. It seemed to me that most composers, if they wanted to achieve lasting “significance”, needed to have at least two of the following three works on their resume: violin or piano concerto, a symphony, or an opera. I had just been commissioned for a violin concerto, so the choice was obvious; the opera would have to wait!"
COMPOSER: James M. Stephenson
CONDUCTOR: Maj. David A. Alpar
BAND: United States Air Force Band of Liberty
TRACKLIST:
0:00 - I.
8:04 - II.
14:51 - III.
16:58 - IV.
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.
James wrote about his Symphony No. 1 for wind ensemble:
"In the early part of 2006, I received an unexpected call from an old high school friend: David Alpar. Though we both were trumpeters in high school, we had each moved on to other passions: conducting for him, and composing for me. He told me he was now conducting the Wright-Patterson Air Force Band and had heard my short orchestral work, American Fanfare. He was interested whether I could re-score it for concert band, which I did. After many successful performances of that work, he “warned” me that when the time came, there would be something significant in the future. As fortune had it, Dave moved on shortly thereafter to a new post with the Air Force Band of Liberty at Hanscom AFB, and almost immediately held true to his promise. Another unexpected call came, and after a bit of discussion, we decided that the commission would be for a “major work.” It didn’t take long for me to decide that it was time for Symphony No. 1. The timing couldn’t have been better for me. Having come to composition somewhat late, I still knew that I wanted to have some major works under my belt by that mystical age: 40. It seemed to me that most composers, if they wanted to achieve lasting “significance”, needed to have at least two of the following three works on their resume: violin or piano concerto, a symphony, or an opera. I had just been commissioned for a violin concerto, so the choice was obvious; the opera would have to wait!"
COMPOSER: James M. Stephenson
CONDUCTOR: Maj. David A. Alpar
BAND: United States Air Force Band of Liberty
TRACKLIST:
0:00 - I.
8:04 - II.
14:51 - III.
16:58 - IV.
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.
![Maurice Ravel — Gaspard de la nuit (1908) (Szuyu Su, piano) [w/ score]](https://i.ytimg.com/vi/Le9unM1ansU/mqdefault.jpg "Maurice Ravel — Gaspard de la nuit (1908) (Szuyu Su, piano) [w/ score]
One of Maurice Ravel’s most famous and virtuosic masterpieces, “Gaspard de la nuit” (Treasurer of the Night), and its subtitle “Trois poèmes pour piano daprès Aloysius Bertrand” (Three Poems for Piano By Aloysius Bertrand), takes from Aloysius Bertrand’s collection of poems of the same name. The three poems Ravel chose from this collection depict dark and foreboding imagery, such as the evil seduction of a water spirit, the grotesque world surrounding a hanging corpse, and the terror induced by a menacing gremlin. With exceedingly complex use of rhythm and intricate phrases, ingenious harmonies and colors, and profound structure, Gaspard de la nuit has been famously called one of the most difficult pieces in the entire piano repertoire. In particular, the third movement “Scarbo” is a ferocious technical achievement. Ravel quotes about this piece, “I wanted to make a caricature of romanticism. Perhaps it got the better of me.”
My personal favorite recording of this piece that I’ve heard, this recording was brilliantly performed by Taiwanese pianist Szuyu Su at her Spring 2021 Graduation Recital with the Curtis Institute of Music, which premiered on 4/23/2021. (Original full recital video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Nuu2tZWm6U4)
COMPOSER: Maurice Ravel
PIANO: Szuyu Su
TRACKLIST:
0:00 - Introduction
0:07 - I. Ondine
6:34 - II. Le Gibet
13:13 - III. Scarbo
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")
