Fantasies and Realities CD

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Emeritus Recordings

Fantasies and Realities contains solo and chamber music of composer, Sy Brandon, professor emeritus of music from Millersville University, Millersville, PA. He has received numerous commissions and honors including 1st place in WITF-FM's 25th Anniversary Composition Contest, the El Dorado Sacred Music Composition Contest, Franklin and Marshall College’s Wind Ensemble Composition Contest, and the New England String Ensemble Composition Contest. His music has been recorded by the Czech National Symphony Orchestra, thePhilharmonia Bulgarica, the Kiev Philharmonic and has been performed both throughout the United States and abroad including performances by the United States Army, Navy, and Air Force Bands and on NPR’s Performance Today. A complete bio, discography, and catalog is available at http://cooppress.hostrack.net

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American Fantasy (2002) is loosely built on America the Beautiful. Declaration begins with two short cadenzas for for tuba followed by a jazz waltz and represents pride in being an American. Introspection is a lyrical movement representing contemplation on what it means to be an American. Community is in the style of a hoe-down and represents the sharing of common values. Dr. Kenyon Wilson was a Fulbright Scholar at the Baku Music Academy in Azerbaijan, during Fall 2002 where he premiered “American Fantasy”. He now serves on the faculties of the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga and Anderson College in South Carolina and performs with several orchestras in the region, including the Chattanooga Symphony & Opera and the Augusta Symphony Orchestra. Dr. Alan Nichols teaches piano at Chattanooga State Technical Community College and performs as a soloist and accompanist. These artists received first prize in the 2004 Co-op Press Brass Recording Competition for this recording.

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Declaration excerpt 1

Declaration excerpt 2

Introspection excerpt

Community excerpt

Chaconne and Variations (1991) was adapted for woodwind quintet by the composer from a 1969 composition for wind instruments and piano. The chaconne is stated in the beginning and the end through blocked chords with changing harmony. It evolves into a lyrical line that is the basis for increasing counterpoint in the opening slow section. The allegro section is a loose set of variations on the chaconne theme. The Golden Gate Wind Quintet was established in 2002 in the San Francisco Bay Area for the purpose of presenting quality performances of established literature and adding new literature through commissions and competitions. The members are Jeff Pelletier, flute, Ivan Aladjoff,oboe, Leslie Tagorda, clarinet, Everett Doner, horn, and Scott Posey, bassoon. These artists received second prize in the 2003 Co-op Press Woodwind Recording Competition for this recording.

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Three Moods (2004) begins with Agog, which has a state of keen anticipation. The middlemovement, Pensive, reflects deep thoughtfulness. The last movement, Capricious, is impulsive and unpredictable, and borrows material from the other movements. The Hartford Brass Quintet is composed of professional musicians from Central Connecticut. The members are Leslie Rottner, principal trumpet with the Manchester Symphony and the Connecticut Valley Chamber Orchestra, Peter Olson, a fee-lance trumpet player in the Central Connecticut area, Roger Caruk, who plays horn with the New Britain Symphony and the Connecticut Virtuosi, Fred Bagnall, trombonist with the Hartford Jazz Orchestra and the Manchester Trombone Quartet, and Daniel Green, who performs on tuba with the Hamden Wind Symphony and the Hartford Pops Band.

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Pensive excerpt

Capricious excerpt

Tapestries (1994) has three contrasting sections that explore different textures as well as tempi. Sara Albert, Tzu-Yang Chou, John McClave, Henry
Henniger, and Justin Clark are free-lance musicians in the metropolitan New York area. These artists received second prize in the 2004 Co-op Press Brass Recording Competition for this recording.

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In the Land of Wonder-Wander (1999) is inspired by Maxfield Parrish’s illustration of Eugene Field’s poem, “The Dinkey Bird”. It begins slowly, transporting the listener to this mystical land where many sweet treats are growing to satisfy the soul. A fast middle section, representing children playing, is followed by a section representing the Dinkey Bird with a staccato motif and flowing arpeggios. The piece ends with the magical land fading into the sea. Laura Koepele-Tenges, flute, Megan Lauterbach, cello, Christie Vohs, clarinet, and John Elmquist, piano are free-lance musicians in the Chicago area. This recording was made under the auspices of Accessable Contemporary Music, a non-profit organization dedicated to performing and recording new music.

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Canzon (2001) is inspired by the music of Giovanni Gabrieli. The moderato sections that contain the canzon rhythm are contrasted by faster sections with five beats per measure. This recording received third prize in the 2004 Co-op Press Brass Recording Competition and features the Hartford Brass Quintet, who is heard earlier on Three Moods.

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In Praise of Music (2003) for narrator and woodwind quintet is inspired by sayings and quotes of an 1895 musician’s yearbook. This live recording is from the premiere by the Golden Gate Wind Quintet, who is heard earlier on Chaconne and Variations, with the addition of Sy Brandon, narrator.

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Thompson excerpt

Anonymous Excerpt

Shakespeare excerpt

Emperor Ferdinand III excerpt

Schiller excerpt

Doughty excerpt