New Music Commission - Bruce Broughton

[MDPMicahDominicParsons]

Hello everyone,

 

I am really excited to reveal a new commission for Euphonium and Piano from the pen of Bruce Broughton entitled, ‘11 March 1917’.

Bruce Broughton is a prominent composer of television, film and video game music having composed music for films such as ‘Silverado’ and ‘Tombstone’ with the result that during his extensive career, Bruce Broughton has been awarded ten Emmy Awards for his work within the film industry.

At the start of the project, I asked Bruce to create a work for Euphonium that not only reflected the events of just one day in 1917, but also put the Euphonium as a solo instrument in the spotlight.

I have often wondered how the Euphonium would translate within a film or video game score and this was a topic that Bruce and I discussed extensively, taking initial inspiration from how the cello was used in the soundtrack to the award winning film, '1917'. 

 
In describing the new commission, Bruce states that the piece, "Begins with the desolation, the bleakness, the wet and cold misery. The euphonium by itself definitely speaks of loneliness or at least solitariness.  The emotionally neutral piano chords up high remind me of the lack of any sort of warmth.  The piece eventually gains energy and becomes almost ecstatically heroic at bar thirty six. This actually surprised me when I wrote it and I had to think about it. There are a lot of aspects to fighting a war, but this element just showed itself in the writing of the piece.".

This project would not have been possible without the advice, guidance and encouragement of Steven Mead and the imagination and artistry of Bruce Broughton. I would like to take this opportunity to thank them for their support of this special project.

 
The whole process of bringing this new commission to life has been such an exciting, dynamic and creative process and I cannot wait to share more information about this exciting new commission in the near future.

 

Best Wishes,

 

Micah Dominic Parsons