Program Notes with Score Video

In the early 1980’s, I wrote one concert of original chamber music per year for four years.  SHORT SET for Flute and Piano was written for Chamber Concert No. 3 which took place on March 16, 1983.  The concert featured flute, viola, and piano.  The other works on the program were Sonata (1982) for viola and piano, and Trio (1983) for flute, viola, and piano.

In the summer of 1982, I toured as a bassist with the jazz revue Jazz Is.  On tour there were many occasions where a small jazz combo would go play a promotional gig of one sort or another.  I wrote several tunes for that group and, later, incorporated several of the tunes into other compositions.  SHORT SET is a collection of three of these tunes.  I was also intrigued by the idea of writing works which mimicked the tune-improv-tune form that is standard for any jazz band, but without using the standard harmonic variation technique for the improv section.  These three pieces are the result.  

The titles relate directly to the tour.  Our show started with two weeks in North Carolina, where it rained every day in the afternoon (“Summer Rain”).  “Calling Home” and “Gettin’ Fat” are facts of life on the road.

Video Score

Marjorie Yates-Lockwood, flute and Glenn Stallcop, piano