Curnow, James - Rhapsody for Euphonium

Difficulty:  II-III

Length:  5:00

Written in four sections of slow-fast-slow-fast, the Curnow Rhapsody remains a core component of the repertoire at the Grade III level.  It features an excellent balance of melodic playing and technical passages.  An opening cadenza leads to a melodic statement characteristic of Curnow’s tonal writing.  The lines are easy to shape and lend themselves to musical phrasing education.  The Allegro con spirito boasts an energetic accompaniment figure before the euphonium enters on a stately them.  Some sixteenth note sequences provide transition material to the next section that has similar motives with some syncopated feel.  There is a brief restatement of the lyrical theme before a transition section that contains a number of chromatic sequences and sixteenth note chromatic scales returns the player back to the high energy tempo.  The ending five bars feature a strong maestoso section.  The Rhapsody represents an excellent work that high school students can use as a solo vehicle with an easier accompaniment figure. 

Parts:  BC and TC

Competitions:  2008 ITEC Young Artist Euphonium Competition, 2013 Falcone Student Divison