Music for ORCHESTRA

Russell Peck’sCOMPOSER

PEACE OVERTURE 11’programmatic tone poem for orchestra

A programmatic tone poem about the struggle for peace. Perform-ed by orchestras on four continents: Africa, Asia, Europe, and many performances throughout North America.

“a wealth of invention, exemplary use of orchestral color” — Washington Post

3(3rd db. picc.)/2+E.h./2+b.cl./2+cbn. • 4/3/3/1timp. • 4 perc. • piano • strings(options for reduced instrumentation)

1988

SIGNS OF LIFE II 15’30”for string orchestra (Allegro 3’30” • Arioso 6’ • Scherzo 6’)

“Filled with all manner of string techniques applied in imaginativeways, the piece is so engaging as to make one wish to hear it again, and soon.” — Los Angeles Times

full symphony strings or reduced to minimum of 3,3,2,2,1

1983/1986

ULTRA-AMERICANA 13’30”two pieces for orchestra

Out of the Blue 8’45”Openly nostalgic with many elements of traditional blues and Americana... a moderately paced intermesso.

Flying on Instruments 4’45”Allegro vivace throughout ...draws upon jazzy, Latin, and gospel- music flavors with massed strings and other sections featured as group soloists.

3(3rd db. picc.)/2+E.h./2+E-flat/2+cbn. • 4/3/3/1timp. • 3 perc. • strings(options for reduced instrumentation)

1997

GABRIEL 6’concert overture for orchestra

Lyric, dramatic, and apocalyptic... This music traces in a cinematic form the moods of these three roles for the angel Gabriel. The score often calls upon the trumpet to be the airborne voice of love, strug-gle, and ending. And inevitably, this piece concludes, as everything does, with Gabriel’s trumpet ending the world on a high note.

3(3rd db. picc.)/2+E.h./2+E-flat/2+cbn. • 4/3/3/1timp. • 3 perc. • strings

1997

MOZART ESCAPES THE MUSEUM 22’30”concerto for orchestra(Based on movements of keyboard sonatas by W.A. Mozart)

Each of the four movements highlights a section of the orchestra.Allegro maestoso (Brass 4’30”), Andante cantabile (Strings 7’), Alle-gretto scherzando (Woodwinds 5’), Allegro vivace (Percussion 6’).

2+picc./2/2/2+cbn. • 4/3/3/1timp. • 3 perc. • strings

1997

DON’T TREAD ON ME 3’30”for string orchestra

“Peck’s pulsing rhythms audibly and visibly struck a chord... and gave yesterday’s show a flashy finish.”— Richmond Symphony/Richmond Times-Dispatch

full or reduced symphony strings

1995

FREEDOM FANFARE 3’for orchestra

“A stunning all-American blend of Broadway, chimes, brass band and the National Anthem, showcasing every part of the orchestra in three minutes time.” — The Evansville Courier

2+picc./2/2+b.cl./2 • 4/3/3/1timp. • 2 perc. • strings(bass clar. optional; cues in other parts)

1995

REVOLUTIONARY ACTION 4’for orchestra

A short, high-energy rock-music piece based on the first section of “Jack and Jill at Bunker Hill.”

3(3rd db. picc.)/2+E.h./2+b.cl./2+cbn. • 4/3/3/1timp. • 2 perc. (incl. drumset) • harp • strings(options for reduced instrumentation)

1995

THUS SPAKE THE CLARINET 8’30”for clarinet and orchestra

A fun and engaging escapade for the clarinet, “Thus Spake” is a display of enticing rhythms, nostalgic sounds of Western-Ameri-cana, energy and humor.

2(2nd db. picc.)/2/1/2 • 4/3/3/1timp. • 2 perc. • strings • solo B-flat clarinet

2007

Orchestra

THE GLORY AND THE GRANDEUR 12’concerto for percussion trio and orchestra

“a stunning tour-de-force” “rivets attention from the start”— Miami Herald — Indianapolis Star

Over 300 performances by over 100 orchestras across the United States, and in Belgium, Canada, China and Poland.

3(3rd db. picc.)/2/2+b.cl./2+cbn. • 4/3/3/1timp. • 1 perc. • harp • strings • solo percussion trio

1988

HARMONIC RHYTHM 22’concerto for timpani and orchestra

Sparked by interest among timpani players based on Peck’s well-known percussion writing, this concerto was commissioned by a consortium of 39 orchestras.

“a visceral tour de force ranging from its first soft rumble of thun-der to an all-out “Allegro Scherzando” that cries out to be choreo-graphed... beautiful arching lines and unexpected lyricism.” — Naples Daily News

3(3rd db. picc.)/2+E.h./2+b.cl./2+cbn. • 4/3/3/12 perc. • piano • strings • solo timpani

2000

VOICE OF THE WOOD 21’concerto for cello quartet and orchestra

“classic Peck, tonal and accessible, and driven by syncopation... especially winning was the rich collective voice of the four soloists... the audience responded with an extended ovation” — Charlotte Observer

3(3rd db. picc.)/2+E.h./2+b.cl./2+cbn. • 4/3/3/1timp. • 3 perc. • piano • harpviolin I & II • violas • bassessolo cello quartet

1999

THE UPWARD STREAM 20’concerto for tenor saxophone and orchestra

“ebullient . . . so effective and original as to defy categorization...”— Chicago Tribune

“unquestionable proof of the aptness of the saxophone for serious concerts... a happy synthesis” — Krefeld Zeitung (Germany)

3(3rd db. picc.)/2/2/2 • 4/3/3/1timp. • 2 perc. • strings • solo tenor saxophone

1985

ConcertosTHE THRILL OF THE ORCHESTRA 13’demonstration piece for narrator and orchestra

Living up to its title, “The Thrill of the Orchestra” colorfully illustrates the instruments and how they are played. Suitable for all audiences.

Over 1,500 performances by over 400 orchestras. In addition to English, “The Thrill” has been performed in German, French, Span-ish, Cantonese, Korean, Hebrew, Portuguese, and Japanese.

3(3rd db. picc.)/2+E.h./2+b.cl./2+cbn. • 4/3/3/1timp. • 3 perc. • strings • narrator(options for reduced instrumentation; available for chamber orchestra)

1985

PLAYING WITH STYLE 10’demonstration piece for orchestra with narration

With wit and fun, this popular “concerto for conductor” uses en-gaging music and narration to illustrate the conductor’s role and the basics of crescendo, diminuendo, accelerando, ritardando, legato and staccato.

Over 400 performances in the United States, Canada, Colombia, Hong Kong, Korea, and Mexico.

2/2/2/2 • 4/2/3/1timp. • 2 perc. • strings • narrator (or conductor narration)(also available for chamber orchestra)

1991

JACK AND JILL AT BUNKER HILL 9’“revolutionary” story piece for narrator and orchestra

Immensely entertaining, “Jack and Jill” combines an action-packed story of American history and idealism with music irresistible to young people.

“the Milwaukee Symphony soared... snippets of blues... brass pas-sages reminiscent of Motown... all integrated within a more classi-cally derived framework” — Milwaukee Journal

3(3rd db. picc.)/2+E.h./2+b.cl./2+cbn. • 4/3/3/1timp. • 2 perc. (incl. drumset) • harp • strings • narrator(options for reduced instrumentation; available for chamber orchestra)

1997/1976

WHERE’S RED ROBIN? 17’nature story piece for narrator and orchestra options for reduced duration

Joy, sadness, humor, mystery, dramatic danger, and a happy ending of springtime return, with storybook-style poetic narration.

“amusing, wonderfully well-orchestrated... received with wild enthusiasm” — Indianapolis News

3(3rd db. picc.)/3/2+E-flat/2+cbn. • 4/3/3/1timp. • 2 perc. • piano • harp • strings • narrator (options for reduced instrumentation)

1995/1973

Educational & Family Pieces

Russell Peck1945-2009

Russell Peck’s orchestral compositions have received thousands of performances by hundreds of orchestras in the United States, Canada,

Europe, Asia, Latin America, and Africa. These include the major American orchestras of Boston, Pittsburgh, Atlanta, Milwaukee, etc., Britain’s London Symphony and Royal Philharmonic, and orchestral performances at Lincoln

Center and Kennedy Center, and in Berlin, Warsaw, Barcelona, Kiev, Montreal, Hong Kong, Singapore, Cairo, Caracas, and other world cities.

His music is notable for colorful and idiomatic orchestration and an exceptionally accessible personal style combining the classical idiom with

a recognizable influence of popular American musical language.

Peck is a well-known contributor in the symphony field to both the classical and education/family repertoire.

PECKTACKULAR MUSICPublishing the music of Russell Peck

(336) 288-7034www.russellpeck.com • peckmusic@russellpeck.com

3605 Brandywine Drive • Greensboro, NC 27410 USA