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Compositions

ORCHESTRAL

(click a title for detailed information)

Pinellazartian Overture (2008)

Triple Concerto for Violin, Bass and Bassoon with String Orchestra (2007)

Flibbertigibbet (2006)

Call Again Overture (2004)

Romanza (2004)

Water Works – Aqua Rising (1999)

A Journey in Orchestration (1997)

 

CHAMBER

(click a title for detailed information)

Sextet for Piano and Wind Quintet (2007)

Triple Concerto (chamber version 2007)

Sextet for Winds and Bass (2005)

Sonata for Cello and Piano (2005)

Symphony for Seven (2005)

Approaching Midnight (2003)

Octet (2002)

Winds of Passion (1998)

Across the Serengeti (1998)

Remembrance Upon a Midnight Hour (1997)

Dances with Zebras (1997)

Two American Sketches (1996)

Rhapsody for Flute and Bassoon (1995)

Dark Song of a Nomadic Tribe (1994)

Trio for Organ, Clarinet and Bassoon (1990)

 

WIND ENSEMBLE~BAND

 

(click a title for detailed information)

Meditation (2006)

 

Pinellazartian Overture (2008)

Premiere Performance

                           Scheduled for May 4, 2008

                           Ruth Eckerd Hall, Clearwater, Florida

                           The Pinellas Youth Symphony/Susan Robinson

Instrumentation

                           3*222 4331  Timp + 2, Strings    

Duration

                           4 ½ minutes

Program Notes

                           Commissioned by the Pinellas Youth Symphony in honor of their 50th Anniversary Season.  The work is

partially inspired by three works of Mozart:  Violin Concerto in G-Major, Bassoon Concerto, and the

Overture to the Marriage of Figaro; thus, the title, “Pinellazartian”.  The main motif of the work begins with

two declamatory notes of the same pitch, as do both the Violin Concerto in G-Major and the Bassoon Concerto.

Triple Concerto (2007)

Premiere Performance

                           17 April 2007

                           Palladium Theater, St. Petersburg, Florida

                           Musicians Out of the Box with guests, Aaron White and Mark Sforzini

                           See Review of Premiere Performance

Instrumentation

                           Orchestral Version: Violin, Bass and Bassoon Soloists with String Orchestra

                           Chamber Version:  Violin, Bass and Bassoon Soloists with additional Violin, Viola and Cello accompaniment 

Duration

                           24 ½ minutes  (in three movements)

Program Notes

                           Triple Concerto was commission by the Palladium Theater to be part of the 2007 Encore Series.  Encore

                           Sponsors, Dar Webb and Clint Page, commissioned six Tampa Bay area composers to each compose a work

                           inspired by one of J. S. Bach’s Six Bradenburg Concerti.   As April 17 was the fifth concert in the six concert

                           series, Sforzini was “assigned” Bach’s Brandenburg Concerto No. 5 which features three solo instruments: violin,

                           flute and harpsichord.  In Sforzini’s work, the three solo instruments often play alone in the solo episodes, with the

                           orchestral strings joining for the tutti or ritornello passages.  The work has been scored for both orchestral strings and

                           chamber strings (one on a part).  The soloists for the premiere performance were Sean O’Neil, Violin; Aaron White, Bass;

                           and Mark Sforzini, Bassoon with the remaining members of Musicians Out of the Box rendering the tutti strings.

Flibbertigibbet (2006)

Premiere Performance

                           26 October 2006

                           Ruth Eckerd Hall, Clearwater, Florida

                           The Florida Orchestra/Stefan Sanderling

Instrumentation

                           0222 2000         

                           pairs of oboes, clarinets, bassoons and horns

Duration

                           2 ½ minutes

Program Notes

                           Written at the request of Florida Orchestra Music Director Stefan Sanderling.

                           See Full Program Notes

Call Again Overture (2004)

Premiere Performance

2 October 2004

Mahaffey Theater, St. Petersburg, Florida

The Florida Orchestra/Stefan Sanderling

See reviews

Instrumentation

Full Orchestra

3*23*3* 4231 Timp + 4, Strings

Duration

4 ¼ minutes

Program Notes

Written at the request of Florida Orchestra Music Director, Stefan Sanderling to be a “surprise” opener for the 2004 – 2005 Masterworks Series

Romanza (2004)

Premiere Performance

3 December 2004

Tampa Bay Performing Arts Center

The Florida Orchestra/Susan Haig

Instrumentation

Full Orchestra

22*22 4200 timp+2, Pn, Hrp, Strings

Duration

12 ½ minutes

Program Notes

Commissioned by Jack and Judy Guggino at the Mozart, Motown and More Fundraiser

 

Water Works – Aqua Rising (1999)

Premiere Performance

30 March 2000

Mahaffey Theater, St. Petersburg, Florida

The Florida Orchestra/Thomas Wilkins

Instrumentation

Full Orchestra

3*3*3*3* 4331 timp+3, Pn, Hrp, Strings

Duration

23 minutes

Program Notes

Commissioned by Hillsborough Arts Council and City of Tampa Water Department

            

A Journey in Orchestration (1997)

Premiere Performance

21 October 1997

Tampa Bay Performing Arts Center

The Florida Orchestra/Thomas Wilkins

Instrumentation

Full Orchestra and Narrator

3*3*22 4331 timp+3 Strings

Duration

12 – 16 minutes,  depending on repeats and narration

Program Notes

This is an audience interactive piece that is highly successful on youth, educational, family and pops concerts. Participants from the audience can make decisions about the orchestration of the piece while it is being performed.  The work was commissioned by the Florida Orchestra for its 1997-1998 Youth Concerts, and was inspired by the concept of Thomas Wilkins to have a piece where children could compose music on the spot. A Journey in Orchestration was performed 25 times during the 1997-1998 Florida Orchestra Season.  It has also been performed numerous times by the Alabama Symphony Orchestra (Subscription Pops Concerts and Youth Concerts), the Brevard Symphony and the Pinellas Youth Symphony.  The Omaha Symphony recently performed the work on February 20, 21 and 22, 2008 on their educational concerts.

Sextet for Piano and Wind Quintet (2007)

        Adagio

          Andante Mosso

          Allegro; Ländler moderato; Allegro

 

Premiere Performance

                           29 January 2008

                           Music Center at St. Petersburg College

                           Palladium Encore Series

                           Pascal Rogè, Piano; Catherine Landmeyer, Flute; Lane Lederer, Oboe;

                           Brian Moorhead, Clarinet; Mark Sforzini, Bassoon; James Wilson, Horn

Instrumentation

                           Piano, Flute, Oboe, Clarinet, Bassoon and Horn

Duration

                           21 ½ minutes

Program Notes

                           Commissioned by Nancy J. Preis and Marilyn Preis Hoyt in honor of their

                           mother, Gladys M. Preis, 1909 – 2007. 

Sextet for Winds and Bass (2005)

Lively                  (hear audio)

Scherzo             (hear audio)

Meditation          (hear audio)

Finale                 (hear audio)

 

Premiere Performance

1 February 2006

The Studio @ 620

The St. Petersburg Chamber Music Festival

Quantum Winds and Dee Moses

See reviews

Instrumentation

Flute, Oboe, Clarinet, Bassoon, Horn and Bass

Duration

19 ½ minutes

Program Notes

In Honor of Brian Moorhead for His Life-long Dedication to Musical Excellence, Commissioned by His Wife, Marian, for Their Thirtieth Wedding Anniversary

20 September, 2005

 

Sonata for Cello and Piano (2005)

Promenade         (hear audio of exposition)

Nostalgie             (hear audio of movement)

Cirque                 (hear audio of movement)

 

Premiere Performance

21 February 2006

Palladium Theater, Encore Series

Judith Alstadter, piano

Isabelle Besancon-Sanderling, cello

Instrumentation

Cello and Piano

Duration

16 minutes

Program Notes

Written for Judith Alstadter and Isabelle Besancon-Sanderling

Commissioned by FloriMezzo with the support of

Gayle Bertelstein

Peter and Susan Betzer

Charles Mosmann

Clint Page

Carol Turtle

& Dorothy Webb

Symphony for Seven (2005)

Allegro marziale                     (hear audio of exposition)

Mazurka                                    (hear audio)

Adagio lamentoso                 (hear audio)

Finale

 

Premiere Performance

19 April 2005

Palladium Theater, St. Petersburg, Florida

Florida Orchestra Chamber Players and Friends

See reviews

Instrumentation

Oboe, Clarinet, Bassoon, Piano, Violin, Viola and Cello

Duration

35 minutes

Program Notes

Commissioned by the Palladium Theater’s Encore Series with the generous support of:

Raymond & Kathy Arsenault

Gayle Bertlestein

Peter & Susan Betzer

Gail Drumright

Diane Dubendorff

Jack & Mussie Eidelman

Norianne Hyde

Paul & Debbie Langrock

John & Teddy Leyon

Elizabeth Mann

Pat McGivern

Carolyn McGonigel

Clint Page

Dorothy Webb

& Anonymous Donors (2)

Approaching Midnight (2003)

Premiere Performance

January 2004

Palladium Theater, Encore Series

Amy Schwartz Moretti, violin

Mark Sforzini, bassoon

Instrumentation

Bassoon and Violin

Duration

8 minutes

Program Notes

Octet (2002)

             Andante Cantabile    (hear audio)

             Scherzetto: Moderato (hear audio)

             Finale: Allegro Appassionata   (hear audio)

             See reviews

 

Premiere Performance

23 January 2003

Palladium Theater, Encore Series

Florida Orchestra Chamber Players

Demarre McGill, flute; Brian Moorhead, clarinet; Mark Sforzini, bassoon; James Wilson, horn;

Amy Schwartz Moretti, violin; Ben Markwell, viola; James Connors, cello; Dee Moses, bass

\Instrumentation

Flute, Clarinet, Bassoon, Horn, Violin, Viola, Cello and Bass

Duration

22 minutes

Program Notes

Commissioned by Ray and Nancy Murray

                           Performed in 2003 also at the Tampa Theatre, and for the Inaugural Performance for the Murray Studio Theater at

                           Ruth Eckerd Hall in Clearwater, Florida.  Octet was subsequently performed on the Florida Orchestra Masterworks Series in April 2004 and at the

Crested Butte Music Festival in Crested Butte, Colorado.  Performances have also taken place at the University of South Florida and at the Palladium Theater by FloriMezzo.  Program Notes are available from Richard Rodda.

Winds of Passion (1998)

Premiere Performance

22 November 1998

Philharmonic Center for the Arts, Naples, Florida

musicians from The Naples Philharmonic Orchestra

Instrumentation

                           Flute, Oboe, Clarinet, and Bassoon

Duration

13 ½ minutes

Program Notes

Commissioned by the Naples Philharmonic

 

Across the Serengeti (1998)

Premiere Performance

April 1998

Holley Hall, Sarasota, Florida

Florida Wind Quintet

Instrumentation

Flute, Oboe, Clarinet, Bassoon and Horn

Duration

6 minutes

Program Notes

Based on the work Dances with Zebras

 

Remembrance Upon a Midnight Hour (1997)

Premiere Performance

                           1997

Elizabeth Morrow, cello

                           See reviews

Instrumentation

Solo Cello

Duration

                           7 minutes

Program Notes

Commissioned by Elizabeth Morrow.  Recording available on Centaur Records.

 

Dances with Zebras (1997)

Premiere Performance

20 March 1998

Musicale and Federated Clubs Building, Tampa, Florida

Bay Area Saxophone Quartet

Instrumentation

Saxophone Quartet (SATB)

Duration

6 minutes

Program Notes

Commissioned by J.B. Starkey for the Bay Area Sax Quartet

 

Two American Sketches (1996)

Premiere Performance

1996

Karen Dannessa, clarinet; Henry Grabb, English Horn

                           See reviews

Instrumentation

Clarinet and English horn

Duration

11 ¾ minutes

Program Notes

Commissioned by Karen Dannessa and Henry Grabb.  Recorded on Farracone Records.

                           Two Movements:  Song of the Prairie and Atlantic City Rock

Click here to purchase recording.

 

Rhapsody for Flute and Bassoon (1995)

Premiere Performance

                           June 1995 at the 25th Anniversary International Double Reed Society Convention

                           Catherine Wendtland-Landmeyer, flute; Mark Sforzini, bassoon

                           See review

Instrumentation

Flute and Bassoon

Duration

                           12 minutes

Program Notes

 

Dark Song of a Nomadic Tribe (1994)

1994

Flute, Oboe, Clarinet, Horn and Bassoon

14 minutes

 

Trio for Organ, Clarinet and Bassoon (1990)

1990

Organ, Clarinet and Bassoon

11 minutes

 

Meditation for Wind Ensemble or Band (2006)

 

Premiere Performance (hear audio)

 

                           17 June 2006

                           Palladium Theater, St. Petersburg, Florida

                           FloriMezzo Wind Ensemble/Mark Sforzini

Instrumentation

                           Flute 1, 2, Piccolo, Oboe, English Horn, Bassoon 1, 2, Clarinet 1, 2, 3, Bass Clarinet, Alto Sax 1, 2, Tenor Sax, Baritone Sax

                           Horn 1, 2, 3, 4 Trumpet 1,2, 3, Trombone 1, 2, Bass Trombone, Tuba

                           Timpani and Percussion

Duration

                           5 minutes

Program Notes

 

                           Based on the Meditation movement from Sextet for Winds and Bass (2005)