Folk Fantasies - Sheet Music for solo euphonium, percussion + string quartet Carson P. Cooman

This item is the score and complete parts.

I. Highland Ballad (Scotland)
II. Ceremonial (Nigeria)
III. Circle Dance (America)

Folk Fantasies (2005) for solo euphonium, string quartet, and percussion was commissioned,
inspired by, and is dedicated to euphoniumist Matthew Murchison. When we first began
discussing the idea of a new chamber euphonium concerto, Matthew specifically requested a
piece connected to folk music. In recent years, he has been interested in taking the
euphonium into folk music contexts in which it is not normally found. Thus, the idea behind
this work became that of creating a concert piece connected to folk traditions.

Although this work is heavily connected to folk music, it does not quote or use any actual
folk tunes or material directly. For each of the three movements, I began by composing an
"original folk tune" within that national style. Each movement of the work is then an
"arrangement" in my own musical style of my original "folk tune." The formal and harmonic
language is simple, direct, and uncluttered throughout, as is appropriate for folk music.
The first movement, Highland Ballad (Scotland), begins and ends with lyrical music. The
middle sections contain settings of the basic melody -- first presented over a bagpipe-like
drone (with interjections) and then in a full harmonization.

The second movement, Ceremonial (Nigeria), combines a harmonic refrain along with a
simple melody in the Nigerian/Yoruban folk style. As the movement progresses, the
euphonium plays the role of a song-leader, adding increasingly impassioned countermelodies
and textures over the basic refrains.

The third movement, Circle Dance (America), is jubilant -- in the vein of the folk songs of
the Shakers. A basic rondo structure alternates the principal melody with contrasting
excursions.

Instrumentation
Solo Euphonium
(sounds an octave lower than written in score)
Percussion (1 player):
marimba, snare drum, 2 congas
Violin I
Violin II
Viola
Cello