the bright sunshine, perfect blue sky, and warm mountain air of the sierran
autumn; ... he has added Angus, Thongs and Perfect Snogging, Franklyn and Is
There.
Desolation Wilderness A Concerto for Trumpet and Orchestra by Joby Talbot Craig Morris – Soloist
"...when you hear what a player like Craig Morris can do, the idea of a trumpet concerto becomes a very exciting prospect." ‐Marin Alsop ‐ Alsop discussing Joby Talbot's Desolation Wilderness in an interview for the Sacramento Bee 08/11/2009
Reviews of Craig Morris performing Desolation Wilderness: Saturday evening's concert at the Civic featured Craig Morris […] in the U.S. premiere of Joby Talbot's "Desolation Wilderness for Trumpet and Orchestra." The title, after a location in the Sierra Nevada, could mislead. Far from sounding desolate, the concerto's bright trumpet flights and minimalistic orchestral ripples depicted joyful images. Morris's brilliant tone, crisp articulation and finely nuanced sensitivity, gave Talbot's music a vivid presence. – Santa Cruz Sentinel
This was also a grand exercise for [soloist] Craig Morris, who carried off all the staccatos, forays to the high register, and mellow slow‐movement themes a la “Quiet City.” – Arts San Francisco (artssf.com)
Composer’s Note about Desolation Wilderness:
In early November 2005 my family & some friends visited the high Sierra Nevada in Northern California. As on former trips to the area I was struck by the strange & disarming contrast between the bright sunshine, perfect blue sky, and warm mountain air of the sierran autumn; and the occasional icy chill ‐– sudden drops of temperature when the sun vanished behind the mountains, momentary glimpses through the trees of distant snow clouds over the highest peaks. Nowhere was this dichotomy more apparent than in the vast area of forests, lakes & mountains known as Desolation Wilderness. Here the twisted shapes of the aspens are testament to the destructive power of winter. Sure enough, that night the first snows fell, & the high mountain passes we’d just crossed were closed till spring.
Other Reviews of Desolation Wilderness: Joby Talbot's orchestral commission is by no means as frightening as it sounds. It is a lavish, panoramic piece of Americana inspired by a drive through the untamed expanses of the north Californian landscape, whose musical moods mirror the quicksilver changes of the desert climate. Talbot is in demand as a composer of film scores. So it is no surprise that Desolation Wilderness resembles the soundtrack to an imaginary road movie. […] Talbot conceives the soloist's role as a behind‐the‐wheel commentary on the blasted aspens and freezing lakes of the high mountain pass. – The Guardian [page 1 of 2]
______________________________________________________________________________________
Contact
info:
Craig
Morris,
230
Sarto
Ave.,
Coral
Gables,
FL
33134,
ph:
786‐252‐2375,
email:
[email protected]
Desolation Wilderness [cont’d]
A Concerto for Trumpet and Orchestra by Joby Talbot
“Craig Morris's performance of Desolation Wilderness at the 2009 Cabrillo Festival was a truly memorable experience. To hear my music come alive in the hands of such virtuosic interpreters as Craig & Marin Alsop was simply thrilling. Craig played the concerto with a perfect balance between vigorous dexterity and show‐stopping lyricism, and the response of the Festival audience was ecstatic. I couldn't have been happier!” – Joby Talbot ‐ Talbot reflecting on the U.S. Premier of his concerto for trumpet and orchestra, Desolation Wilderness
Bio for Joby Talbot:
Joby Talbot studied composition privately with Brian Elias and then with Robert Saxton and Simon Bainbridge at the Guildhall School of Music and Drama. His music is widely performed on international platforms including the Royal Opera House, Carnegie Hall, The South Bank Centre, The Palais Garnier, The Lincoln Center and the Royal Albert Hall. His work with performers such as Alison Balsom, Maya Beiser, the King’s Singers, Tenebrae and Ute Lemper has produced some inspiring repertoire. Joby has his own performing ensemble which showcases his chamber music, often involving collaborations with visual artists. 2004 was a landmark year for Joby. His first Proms commission Sneaker Wave premiered at the Royal Albert Hall and the album Once Around the Sun was released on Sony/BMG. 2005 saw the premiere of Path of Miracles, a major new choral work for Nigel Short’s Tenebrae, as well as the scores for two major films.Internationally acclaimed trumpet player Alison Balsom premiered the concerto Desolation Wilderness in 2006 and in 2008 Joby composed Eau, a tour de force for orchestra and solo concertante group, further revealing his highly developed craft as a formidable orchestral writer. Joby’s music appeals to Europe’s top choreographers. Chroma for the Royal Ballet and Wayne McGregor included music from Aluminium, the album of music by the White Stripes that he produced and arranged. It received the South Bank Show Award for Dance and an Olivier Award for Best New Dance Production. Subsequently, Paris Opera Ballet commissioned an electronic score from Talbot for Wayne McGregor‘s Genus. McGregor followed this by taking 4 of Talbot’s existing works for Random Dance’s Entity which has presented over 85 performances worldwide. Morphoses, Christopher Wheeldon’s company has performed Fools Paradise in successive seasons. A versatile composer of enviable talent Talbot is also highly acclaimed for his music for film. For the concert hall he has scored Hitchcock’s silent classic, The Lodger and Evgeny Bauer’s The Dying Swan. Both films are presented live with accompanying instrumental ensemble. His work for cinema includes the scores for The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy and Son of Rambow with director Garth Jennings and more recently he has added Angus, Thongs and Perfect Snogging, Franklyn and Is There Anybody There? to his list of credits. Joby is writing an evening length piece for Christopher Wheeldon and the Royal Ballet and is developing an important collaboration for the stage at Sadler’s Wells in London for 2012.
Fact Sheet:
• Publisher: Chester Music Ltd • Year Composed: 2006 • Duration: 23 Minutes • Orchestration: 2(1&2=pic)1+ca.2(2=bcl)2(2=cbn)/2220/3perc/hp/str ______________________________________________________________________________________
Contact
info:
Craig
Morris,
230
Sarto
Ave.,
Coral
Gables,
FL
33134,
ph:
786‐252‐2375,
email:
[email protected]
