Balkanika
Four Scenes from the Balkans for Brass Quintet
by Eric Ewazen
Chamber Music - Sheet Music

Chamber Music Bass Trombone, Horn, Trombone, Trumpet 1, Trumpet 2, Tuba

SKU: PR.114415250

Four Scenes from the Balkans for Brass Quintet. Composed by Eric Ewazen. Folder; each insert sws to itself. Contemporary. Set of Score and Parts. With Standard notation. Composed 2011. 40+8+8+8+8+8 pages. Duration 18 minutes. Theodore Presser Company #114-41525. Published by Theodore Presser Company (PR.114415250).

ISBN 9781598063912. UPC: 680160604784. 9x12 inches.

Written for the Simply Brass quintet from Zagreb, Croatia, Eric Ewazen's newest quintet celebrates the composer's love of Eastern European music, dance, and food, with inspirations ranging from his father's Ukrainian dancing to a favorite restaurant in New York City. The movement titles are: I. Crkva (The Roof of St. Marks - Zagreb) referring to the church shown on the publication's cover, II. Lullaby and Lament, III. The Falls of Rastoke, and IV. Burek Dance (A Rustic Dance), named after a Balkan pastry. Duration: 16'.
PROGRAM NOTESI. Crkva (The Roof of St. Marks - Zagreb)II. Lullaby and LamentIII. The Falls of RastokeIV. Burek Dance (A Rustic Dance)for Simply Brass: Tomica Rukljić, Rudolf Homen, Hrvoje Pintarić, Alan Bošnjak, and Joe KaplowitzBALKANIKA was composed as a gift for Simply Brass, the terrific Croatian brass quintet with whom I have collaborated several times over the years, in performances in Zagreb and the United States. They premiered the work on October 1, 2011 at The Juilliard School in NYC. The work captures my impressions of the beautiful city and surrounding countryside of Zagreb. I was also influenced by the lively culture and music of this wonderful southern Slavic region of eastern Europe. As a youngster, I often heard the folk music of Eastern Europe. My father, with his Ukrainian heritage, was a trained dancer of the complex, athletic folk dances of the Ukraine, and the energetic rhythms and poignant modal tunes have influenced much of my music, and certainly BALKANIKA.I. Crkva (The Roof of St. Marks - Zagreb) was inspired by the church (crkva) and town square of St. Marks, one of the loveliest churches in Europe. In the middle of the bustling medieval old town of Zagreb, with its winding, ancient streets, one suddenly comes upon this glorious church with its burst of color, thanks to an ornate tile roof depicting the Coats of Arms of the city and the region. The music depicts the ringing bells from the bell tower, the excitement and energy of the city life of the town squares, and the ornate beauty of the neon-colored roof of the church, with melodious songs and lively playful rhythms.II. Lullaby and Lament depicts a history of this land located at the crossroads of clashing and warring countries from ancient times straight through the late 20th century. This corner of Europe with a culture so rich, and a country so beautiful, is also a land that has experienced great sadness and loss. The music here is wistful, delicate, gentle, but tinged with melancholy. The ornamented melodies recall old, but enduring folk melodies that outlive the sadness, providing comfort and solace.III. Rastoke is a gem of a small town in the middle of deep green rolling hills, beautiful blue lakes and streams, and bubbling, flowing rapids and waterfalls. The Falls of Rastoke has a lilting, cascading melody flowing from instrument to instrument depicting this gorgeous pastorale area in the exquisite countryside of Croatia.IV. Burek Dance (A Rustic Dance) is a joyful finale, with gutsy rhythms and strong, resonant chords bringing BALKANIKA to a celebratory conclusion. Balkanika also happens to be the name of one of my favorite restaurants in NYC that features foods of the Balkan peninsula. Burek is the name of a fantastic meat, vegetable, or cheese pastry that is extremely popular in the Balkans, and at Balkanika!The derivations of the title of my third multi-movement brass quintet is actually quite an appropriate name for one of my brass quintets, which include Colchester Fantasy where each movement is named after a different pub in Colchester England, and Frost Fire, named after an Ohio white wine! I’m simply continuing the tradition of gustatory and delicious inspirations for my music!– Eric EwazenJune 2012.