Jose Gurria Cardenas - Oso V9.00 - Score and Parts

Approximate time: 7:45 minutes/ q=100 (eight note 200) bpm

Woodwinds: Flute, Alto Saxophone/Flute, Tenor Saxophones/Flutes (2), Bass Clarinet #1, Bass Clarinets #2/ Baritone Saxophone

Brass: Horn in F, Trumpets in Bb (2), Trombone, Tuba

Rhythm Section: Piano, Electric Guitar, Drum set, Double bass

Strings: Violins (2), Viola, Violoncellos (2)

Note: parts available for Bassoon & Contrabassoon in substitution of Bass Clarinet #2/Baritone Saxophone#2, and other combinations upon request.

Printing: Score-Tabloid (11x 17), Parts-Letter (8.5 x 11)

Compositional Summary:

Concerted passages and a lot of movement from woodwinds, brass and strings. Rhythm section plays a secondary part as it supports , by way of stabs and kicks at the end of sections.  Multi-meter phrases that interact with improvisations. Tenor Saxophone #2, Violin #2 and Drums are the main soloists.

Thoughts on the compositional process:

Oso features some ripping interventions from Daniel Weidlein on soprano sax, Rory Mazzella on bass clarinet, and more prominently Christine Tavolacci on flute, who carries the tune on her own for a large portion of the piece with brutally exposed moments. In particular, I am very fond of these duets and trios we played with big brothers Justo Almario, and Eric KM Clark, that happened right in the middle of it all, while the orchestra plays stabs and pads behind us. We were definitely channeling some Third Stream’s Gunther Schuller vibes with a tad of the AACM sound, for this one.

Future Perks: In time to come we will have available little video snippets of Jose Gurria (composer), Marc Lowenstein (conductor), as well as some of the featured soloists on each tune of the album. In this way, there will be a broader and more in-depth comprehension of the interpretative aspects of every piece of music. Stay tuned!!!