SYMPHONY #4- FUNK

Funk was born into me. I danced to and performed it as a kid and subsequently wanted to put it into symphonic form. Part of a trilogy which includes SYMPHONY #2-REGGAE and SYMPHONY #3-HEAVY METAL, SYMPHONY #4-FUNK was begun on May 21, 1990 and completed November 20, 1991. It had its world premiere at the Janacek Theater in Brno, The Czech Republic on February 23, 1995. The concert sold out in one week, seven months in advance. So successful was this event, the orchestra went into the studio to do the recording, which was released on New Millennium Records (NMR61596). The work was also requested to be part of the Twentieth Century Music Festival and performed in Dvorak Hall at the Rudolfinum in Prague, on October 21, 1995. The recording would subsequently become part of the music playlist on President Bill Clinton’s Air Force One! FUNK (fungk) n. Slang. 1. A Funky music. b. The earthy, pulsating quality of this music. 2. A humorous put-on. [Back-formation from Funky] FUNKY (fung’ke) adj. –ier, -iest. Slang. 1. Having an earthy, pulsating quality with an uninhibited mix of Jazz, Rock, Rhythm and Blues, Calypso and Country music, and often with Soul-music overtones: funky music. 2. a. Characterized by self-expression, originality and modishness; trendy and unconventional: funky clothes. b. Outlandishly vulgar or way-out in a humorous or tongue-in-cheek manner; campy. ORCHESTRATION Piccolo 2 Flutes 2 Oboes English Horn 2 Bb Clarinets Bass Clarinet 2 Bassoons Contra Bassoon 4 Horns in F 3 Bb Trumpets 2 Tenor Trombones Bass Trombone Tuba (six percussionists) 4 Timpani (30”, 28”, 25” 23”) Glockenspiel Marimba Vibraphone Tom toms (high, medium & low) Snare Bass Suspended Cymbal Crash Cymbal Tam tam Tamborine Triangle 14-16-22 1st Violins 12-14-18 2nd Violins 10-12-14 Violas 8-10-12 Celli 6-8-10 Double Basses Duration: (46:15)