Places We Are From for Soprano Saxophone, Bassoon, and Piano

JB 177

Places We Are From | Jenni Brandon Soprano Saxophone, Bassoon, Piano

Places We Are From For Soprano Saxophone, Bassoon, and Piano

Music by Jenni Brandon

Program Note Places We Are From explores the idea of identity and where we come from both geographically, physically, and spiritually. This unique exploration is reflected in the make-up of the 3 different instrumentation performance options for this work: oboe/bassoon/piano, oboe/alto saxophone/piano, soprano saxophone/bassoon/piano. Using these combinations to tell stories of joy, hope, frustration, and perseverance, each instrument has its own individual solo within the work, making each version unique. Allowing the individual voice of the instruments to shine, this creates the possibility of discovering who we are and finding happiness in the journey.

This work is in one movement with titled sections to help tell the story: I. As One II. Journey III. Searching IV. With Possibility V. Joy & Hope VI. Home Places We Are From is available in three versions: 1. Oboe, Bassoon, Piano 2. Oboe, Alto Saxophone, Piano 3. Soprano Saxophone, Bassoon, Piano Duration approximately 14 minutes

Jenni Brandon is a composer and conductor, creating music in collaboration with other musicians and artists. She has written over 60 works, telling stories through memorable musical lines influenced by nature and poetry. Commissioned to write music from solo to orchestral works, her music appears on over 21 albums. Her music has been awarded the Sorel Medallion, American Prize, Paderewski Cycle, Women Composers Festival of Hartford International Competition, and Bassoon Chamber Music Composition Competition among others. Her works are published and distributed

by Boosey & Hawkes, Santa Barbara Music, Graphite, TrevCo, Imagine, J.W. Pepper, June Emerson, and her own publishing company Jenni Brandon Music. As a conductor she has led community and professional ensembles. In 2019 she conducted her one-act opera 3 PADEREWSKIS in the Terrace Theater at the Kennedy Center. She also presents workshops on collaboration and the business of music, striving to create a supportive environment where collaboration leads to an exploration of ideas. Visit jennibrandon.com to learn more.

www.jennibrandon.com

Places We Are From was commissioned by lead commissioners Post-Haste Reed Duo (Sean Fredenburg, Saxophone & Javier Rodriguez, Bassoon) and the Proud Duo (Teodora Pejašinović Proud - Oboe and Joseph Proud - Saxophone). I am grateful to them as well as the members of the commissioning consortium who helped make this piece possible.

Lead Commissioners Proud Duo: Teodora Pejašinović Proud – Oboe, Joseph Proud – Saxophone Post-Haste Reed Duo: Sean Fredenburg, Saxophone & Javier Rodriguez, Bassoon Commissioning Consortium Members  Eric Troiano, Theresa Delaplain, Tomoko Kashiwagi  Andrew W. Parker and Midori Samson, Oklahoma State University Double Reeds  Carol Cope Lowe  Nathan Koch, The University of Nebraska-Lincoln  Three Reeds Duo - Paul & Leah Forsyth  Dr. Darrel Hale and the UNT Bassoon Studio  Dr. Jillian Camwell & Dr. Dave Camwell, Troy University  Baylor Woodwind Faculty: Dr. Michael Jacobson–Saxophone, Dr. Ann Shoemaker –Bassoon, Dr. Euridice Alvarez–Oboe  Douglas Owens, The University of Tennessee at Martin  Dr. Catherine Rand, The University of Southern Mississippi

This work is also the recipient of the 2021 International Double Reed Society’s “50 for 50” commissioning grant and the Oboe, Bassoon, Piano version was premiered

by Teodora Pejašinović Proud – Oboe, Javier Rodriguez – Bassoon, and Kevin Chance - Piano during the 2021 International Double Reed Society 2nd Annual Virtual Symposium.