Paul West Osterfield

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The composer writes: I composed "Lullaby for Michelle" for my daughter, who has been a constant source of joy, laughter, and surprises.

Lullaby for Michelle

Trumpet Trio

Smoky Mountain Autumn was inspired by the sights and the atmosphere of East Tennessee.  The first movement depicts the beautiful scenery we see from our cabin and from driving across the country roads.  The second movement opens with a horn call, setting the scene of the mountains just after dawn, with dew on the ground.  The final movement represents the boisterous activity of nearby Gatlinburg.

Smoky Mountain Autumn

Flexible Instrumentation Trio

Growing up in Northeast Ohio I spent much time by the mighty Cuyahoga (meaning "crooked river").  My family spent many summer afternoons walking the nature trails by the waterfall at the Gorge a Summit County park.  Although I did not have the Cuyahoga in mind as I was composing the work I titled the composition after its completion as a tribute to the waterway that gave my family relaxation.  The Cuyahoga River became infamous as the river in Cleveland that caught on fire in 1969 although that was not the first time.  Since then the river and the city of Cleveland have been cleaned up and have undergone a Renaissance.  The river now is a positive tourist attraction from the Good Time boat tours to restaurants and stores at the Flats.  Cuyahoga River is written for flutist Deanna R. Little.

Cuyahoga River

Alto Flute Solo Unaccompanied

Scored for clarinet, alto saxophone, bassoon, trumpet, contrabass, and piano, "Divertimento" is in five short movements, each with a different character.  The first movement is dance-like in nature, although the meters and lengths of beats constantly change through much of the movement.  The second movement is slower and more lyric.  The melody begins and ends in the trumpet, highlighted by shading of the other instrumental colors.  the bass is featured melodically in the third movement.  The theme is first presented as a quirky waltz, then proceeds through four contrasting variations.  Like the second movement, the fourth is slow and lyric.  The melody is passed from instrument to instrument, constantly changing color, and is supported by lush harmonies.  The final movement begins like the first, but quickly changes to more direct, driving rhythms.  Divertimento is composed for the Stones River Chamber Players.

Divertimento

Flexible Instrumentation Sextet

"Ablaze" was composed for violist Diana Mathews, who requested a piece that would be a show-stopper.  The ritornello sections are fast, frantic, and loud, as if on fire.  The intervening episodes contrast with the main idea, but there is still an underlying sense of urgency, like embers striving to erupt in a full blaze.

Ablaze

Viola Solo

Jubilant Fanfare for brass and percussion begins triumphantly and upbeat, based upon arpeggiated chords in the trumpets. Following the opening, the trombones lead into a more melodic, still spirited, section. The opening material returns heroically at the end.

Jubilant Fanfare

Brass Ensemble

Paul Osterfield's "Intrada" is a short piece for solo trumpet that opens with a simple, direct, fanfare-like figure, which is developed into the opening minute of music.  In contrast, the second section is more lyrical with a laissez-faire demeanor.  The third section displays more of the trumpet's technical prowess with the faster agile passages and growls, leading back to a restatement of the opening theme.  "Intrada" is written for composer/trumpeter Amy Dunker.

Intrada

Trumpet Solo

Paul Osterfield composed "Twenty-four Caprices for Solo Violin" as a set of flashy showpieces, each displaying various virtuosic techniques, such as upbow staccato, quarter tones, complex two-part counterpoint, chords and arpeggios, playing on a single string, fast pizzicato, harmonics, etc.  In one caprice, every note is the same pitch, allowing the performer and audience to focus on other musical parameters; in another, the violinist uses a wooden chopstick to strike the strings instead of using a bow.  Twenty-four Caprices for Solo Violin is written for Peter Sheppard Skaerved's Caprices Project, in which many different composers have written caprices for him to perform.  An inspiration for this project is the virtuosic caprices of Niccolo Paganini, and Osterfield's caprices are along that vein.  The final caprice is a chaccone, drawing inspiration also from the solo string works of Bach, which have been an influence for Osterfield since his early studies as a cellist.

Twenty-four Caprices for Solo Violin

Violin Solo Unaccompanied

Pale Blue Dot, a 44 minute work for bassoon and string quartet, is inspired by the history of planet Earth. The music follows the story, primarily from the Paleozoic era to the present day. The composition is not a historical document, but rather, a narrative. Various movements spanning the two parts of the composition represent flora and fauna that existed and exists, extinction of life forms, and ecological and atmospheric occurrences. Pale Blue Dot was composed during the spring and summer of 2017, during the composer's Non-Instructional Assignment semester grant from Middle Tennessee State University.

Pale Blue Dot

Bassoon Quintet

Format

In June 2004, I spent the month composing in residence at the MacDowell Colony in Peterborough, New Hampshire.  Every day, while I walked to my studio, I saw Mount Monadnock ahead of me.  One morning, I was walking to my studio, and I thought, there's an orchestral piece in that mountain somewhere.  Thus, I wrote "Monadnock" two years later.  This work is not programmatic, but the sections are inspired by my memories of different parts of the mountain when my sister and I hiked to the top.  At first, the scenery was lush with trees and plants, and the atmosphere was hot and muggy.  As we moved higher, the types of flora and fauna changed.  By the time we got to the top, it was cold, rocky, and devoid of vegetation, but the view was stunning.

Monadnock

Full Orchestra Score & Parts

Concerto for Violin and Sinfonietta displays musical passion, lyricism, and technical agility in an exciting and intense piece. The work is in three movements. The first movement continually develops from the opening solo. The second movement is a lyrical passacaglia, beginning with the ostinato in the contrabass and bassoon. The final movement is a five-part rondo, ending with a flurry of technical virtuosity. Scored for 1-1-1-1, 1-1-1-0, pc, pno, solo-violin, strings (from 11111 to 55331).

Concerto for Violin and Sinfonietta

Chamber Orchestra Score & Parts

The four elements of nature, according to Greek philosophers, are fire, earth, water, and wind (although Aristotle added a fifth: ether).  Other ancient cultures independently came up with similar lists.  For example, Chinese philosophy has five elements: earth, fire, water, metal, and wood.  Each of the movements of Elements of Nature represent one of the four elements attributed to Plato.

Elements of Nature

Trumpet Duet

"Khamsin," composed for string quartet, refers to a Saharan hot, dry dust storm that blows across Northern Africa.  The work is in four parts, plus a coda.  The first part begins on one pitch, then expands outwards with intense driving rhythms.  In contrast, the second section is more placid and laid-back, highlighting sustained tones and harmonics.  This is followed by a dance-like section, with an injection of a dose of humor, which then leads to return to the energetic opening material.

Khamsin

String Quartet

An interrobang is a punctuation mark that combines the question and exclamation marks.  Much of "Interrobang" for saxophone quartet is direct, boisterous, and loud, with angular punctuating rhythms, displaying an exclamatory character.  Intervening sections of the work contrast with calmer, more restrained music.  Interrobang was composed during the fall of 2008, during the composer's Non-Instructional Assignment semester grant from Middle Tennessee State University.

Interrobang

Saxophone Quartet

For three oboes, one English horn, three bassoons, and one contrabassoon."Cumberland Reeds" is a three movement work for double-reed ensemble.  The opening movement is a march inspired by those of American bandmaster and composer John Philip Sousa, though with thicker harmonies.  The middle intermezzo is lyrical and fluid, highlighting the dark luscious sound of the English horn.  The finale explores the twelve-bar blues format, with uneven meters lending to an off-balance feel.

Cumberland Reeds

Woodwind Octet

Six Vignettes are a series of short contrasting character pieces for clarinet.  In the first movement, the performer focuses on different pitches in each section, playing almost entirely in the clarion register.  The second movement, using the chalumeau register of the clarinet, is a slow melody based on a twelve-tone row.  The third movement begins with a basic pulse that continues throughout the entire movement; however, the activity surrounding the pulse constantly increases.  The traditional metric grid is removed in the fourth movement, lending an improvisatory-sounding feel to the music.  The fifth movement is lugubrious, focusing on the wide dynamic and registral ranges of the instrument.  The final movement, using octatonic collections, is the bookend that focuses on the athletic nature of the clarinet.

Six Vignettes

Clarinet Solo

The two movements of Nocturnal Radiance for oboe and string quartet are of contrasting character. The lyrical first movement, Evening Stars, depicts a pastoral country scene in which the stars of the night sky are clearly visible, unobscured by clouds, tall buildings, or street lamps. The second movement, City Lights, represents the hustle and bustle of urban night life.

Nocturnal Radiance

Oboe Quintet

For seven clarinet parts (E-flat clarinet, 3 B-flat clarinets, alto clarinet, bass clarinet, and contra alto clarinet).  At the conductor's discretion, more than one performer may be assigned to a given part."Repose and Cascades" is composed as an introduction and allegro.  The work opens with a chorale texture, although rhythmically blurred.  A melody emerges, played in octaves in the E-flat clarinet and the bass clarinet.  The faster section is more rhythmically direct, yet quirky and often humorous.  The work builds to a climax in which the E-flat clarinet soars above the rest of the ensemble in a cascade of sound.

Repose and Cascades

Clarinet Ensemble

Composed in one movement for solo piano, "In the Tower of Sleep" vacillates among different states of sleep, from calm and dream-like to more restless.  Mostly lyrical and subdued, the pianistic tones blend like watercolors or pastels.  After completing the work, I borrowed the title from Andre Masson's painting, which I saw as part of an exhibit in Nashville, Tennessee, although this music does not reflect the vivid (and somewhat wonderfully disturbing) tone of the Surrealist painter's work.

In the Tower of Sleep

Piano Solo

Ithaca Fanfare is composed in three short sections. The outer sections feature driving rhythms and interjections that highlight various instrumental colors. In contrast, the cantabile middle section is chorale-like.

Ithaca Fanfare

Concert Band Score & Parts

Global Sections - CORE [DO NOT TOUCH]*

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