Cameron Cummins

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Fanfare for Five Trombones is a flowing yet heroic fanfare! Its harmonies blend together the great superhero films' bold sound with expressive chords to create an exceedingly unique piece. Following a simple ternary form, the work's A section is strikingly forward while the B section is softer, eventually building to a key change that brings a twist to the repeat of the original A section. This short fanfare serves as a perfect opener for a concert! 

Fanfare for Five Trombones was commissioned by the International Trombone Festival, under direction of James Justin Kent, the trombonist for the Swedish Radio Symphony Orchestra. The work was written to celebrate the inaugural year of the festival, and the premiere took place at the faculty concert in Danville, PA.

Fanfare for Five Trombones

Trombone Quintet

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Voice

Reminiscent Lines is a thought-provoking song cycle where the boundary between human and artificial intelligence creativity is deliberately blurred. The cycle navigates the depths of emotion and reflection, with lyrics in one song crafted by a human and in the other by Gemini, Google's sophisticated language AI model. This composition sets the stage for a unique experiment, where I invite listeners to engage in a discerning exploration. Without knowing the origin of each set of lyrics, try to immerse yourself in the music and contemplate whether you can distinguish between human- authored and AI-generated text. Consider the impact this uncertainty has on the overall experience does it diminish or augment the emotional resonance of the music? Reminiscent Lines thus becomes an intriguing sonic journey, challenging perceptions and prompting introspection on the convergence of human and machine expression in the realm of musical creativity.

Reminiscent Lines

Soprano/Tenor Solo Collection

The Phosphorus Sun explores the chemical reaction of: one phosphorus molecule (P4) + five oxygen molecules (5O2)  one phosphorus oxide molecule (P4O10). A byproduct of this reaction is an intense, white light, which is commonly called the "phosphorus sun." Burning phosphorus to create this light is used in flares, among other applications. Even the name "phosphorus" is taken from Greek mythology,  meaning "light-bearer," referring to the planet Venus. The work is divided into three movements: P4 - Phosphorus, 5O2 - Oxygen, and P4O10 - The "Sun," all of which refer to the chemical equation. 

Check out this video of the reaction taking place: https://youtu.be/_7Om-pHYaDU?si=bSFld1LvATbWftX_

To learn more about white phosphorus, see this CDC article: https://www.cdc.gov/niosh/ershdb/emergencyresponsecard_29750025.html

The Phosphorus Sun

Saxophone Quartet-SATB Quartet

This version of the classic Black Nile cooks! It fuses an upbeat swing chart with a Latin feel to create a truly unique piece, working excellently as an opener or closer for any concert. This version is with a reduced instrumentation, perfect for a "little big band."

Black Nile

Jazz Ensemble

Fallout is a piece that explores the idea of a post-apocalyptic world. It starts out with radio chatter, spreading the news of the impending disaster. Then, a rush of adrenaline hits and panic spreads. After the panic dies down, a quieter theme evokes the stillness of anticipation (punctuated by the col legno and jete timbres of the violin). This is immediately contrasted with inner thoughts of despair for what's to come. The piece then builds back into a fear-driven rush. It closes with more radio chatter, this time a more elongated and desperate version. This virtuosic piece works perfectly on a recital and is sure to get a great audience reaction!

Fallout

Violin Solo Unaccompanied

To Soar Above the Clouds is an exciting fanfare for symphonic band. Inspired by my frequent flights and the exhilarating feeling of breaking through the cloud layer, the piece captures the essence of a plane ride among the clouds. The composition takes the audience on a musical journey, conveying the anticipation, turbulence, and tranquility experienced during flight, culminating in a triumphant climax that mirrors the exhilaration of breaking through the clouds and reaching new heights. The piece was created for the University of Central Florida Concert Band's Inclusive Knights Concert in Spring of 2024, and many special thanks go to Mr. Dave Schreier, conductor, and Dr. Christine Lapka for making the composition possible.

To Soar Above the Clouds

Concert Band Score & Parts

Plato's theory of anamnesis proposes that learning is not the acquisition of new knowledge, but rather the recollection of wisdom known to us before birth. I find there's something extremely evocativealmost hauntingly soin the idea that we slowly uncover knowledge imprinted within us beyond our control or memory. Like the act of stargazing, where the vastness of the cosmos elicits a very personal response, anamnesis represents a rediscovery of something distant yet familiar, a kind of inward stargazing. The stars' and moon's light thus become metaphors for this buried wisdom, guiding us to remember parts of ourselves that feel both eternal and deeply personal. 

A Lunar Anamnesis explores this connection between cosmic grandeur and personal memory through a ternary (ABA) form, where the first and last sections unfold slowly and expressively, evoking self-reflection. In contrast, the faster central B section uses a layered texture to capture the beauty and awe of stargazing, creating a contrast that celebrates the gradual, expressive awakening of knowledge from within.

A Lunar Anamnesis

Alto Sax Solo Unaccompanied

The Matterhorn was inspired by my summer vacation to Switzerland, where I had the chance to witness the incredible grandeur of the Matterhorn. Standing before this iconic mountain, I was struck not only by its imposing presence but also by the dynamic energy it seemed to radiate. In writing this piece, I wanted to capture both the raw power and the multifaceted beauty of the mountain. The opening and closing sections of the piece are slower, evoking a sense of intimidation and reverence. The mountain looms large, almost alive, as if challenging those who dare to approach. The piece then shifts into a faster section, where the intensity builds, mirroring the furious energy of the natural forces that have shaped this landscape.

This version of The Matterhorn is written at a grade 3-3.5 level and includes varied-ability parts in almost every instrument instrument (with three additional parts for percussion) at a grade 0.5-1 so that everybody can have a voice in the ensemble. These parts can be included on an as-needed basis, making this the perfect piece for an ensemble to include those with disabilities, beginners, are those who just want to try a new instrument!

The Matterhorn (with varied-ability parts)

Flexible Instrumentation Score & Parts

Wintry is a moving piece representative of a cold, bleak, harsh winter storm. The piece was written for brass quintet before being arranged for five trombones. With dense orchestration in parts, complex counterpoint, and bold themes throughout, Wintry follows a modified rondo form. Lots of close intervals and dissonant tensions provide the piece with an edgy, piercing iciness. In the end, all of the interweaving lines come to a head. But they gently slip back into a solemn canon of the main theme to end the piece, like how a storm can end just as quietly as it started, leaving a stately yet gentle presence of snow. 

Originally written in the shutdown of December 2020, as I looked outside my window to a snow-covered landscape after a storm the previous night, I wanted to recreate the complex feeling that rang throughout the world. Generally, it was one of loneliness, but the captivating snow-blanket had a somewhat of a dignified, awe-inspiring nature.

Wintry was commissioned by the International Trombone Summit, under direction of James Justin Kent, the trombonist for the Swedish Radio Symphony Orchestra. The premiere took place at a concert during the organization's second festival in June of 2022.

Wintry

Inspired by rushing water, A River's Journey is a programmatic piece that follows a river from its beginning to end. Scored for solo cello and piano, the work opens with the creation of a small stream on a mountain top, and transitions into a lively river. After flowing through a mysterious lake, the river comes back again before flowing into the menacing, deep ocean. In the end, the same water that was once at the top of a mountain washes up on the ocean shore as a wave. This piece employs a variety of engaging themes and rich harmonies to tell the emotional story of one of nature's most wondrous and agile attributes.

A River's Journey

Cello Solo with Piano

Being presented with an opportunity of a lifetime in writing for loadbang, I knew I wanted to experiment. What ended up coming from my trial and error of sounds and extended techniques was a piece with a threefold identity: an airy, breathy sound, a smooth, glissando sound, and a hard /k/ syllable. Each one of these sounds was different enough from each other, yet combined to make an evocative piece. So I suppose these are my "curiosities!"

Curiosities

Quartet

For this piece, I was challenged by the UCF New Music Ensemble to create a piece based on the homophone "/per/." I decided to focus mainly on the word "pare," as in to cut something over and over so as to "pare it down." With this piece, I attempted to pare down the time signature throughout. Pay attention to the conductor as this piece progresses, and you'll gradually see the paring process. About two-thirds of the way through the piece is where the paring really becomes apparent. Watch as the conductor gives three beats, two beats, and eventually one beat per measure. 

As for the actual melodic and harmonic content of the piece, I gleaned some inspiration from Pear Lake (located in Sequoia National Park, California, USA). When the lake is clear, you can see a reflection of the surroundings. Throughout the piece (especially in the slower B section), listen for the statement of a theme and then a "reflection" of that theme added on top. I hope this piece creatively and accurately represents the homophone "/per/!"

/per/

The Charm is a collaboration between Ellis Hall, Cameron Cummins and Linda-Joy Shishan, composed for the UCF New Music Ensemble's 2024 concert: PLOT/
TWIST. This unique ensemble of instruments, including a Four-Hand Piano (two pianists performing on only one piano), draws you into three charming atmospheres, complete with enchanting harmonies and enticing themes.

The Charm

The Charm is a collaboration between Ellis Hall, Cameron Cummins and Linda-Joy Shishan, composed for the UCF New Music Ensemble's 2024 concert: PLOT/TWIST. This unique ensemble of instruments, including a Four-Hand Piano (two pianists performing on only one piano), draws you into three charming atmospheres, complete with enchanting harmonies and enticing themes.

Global Sections - CORE [DO NOT TOUCH]*

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