Rhapsody No.1 for Wind Soloist and Strings

String orchestra conductors interested in featuring a non-string soloist in their concert program will find this a perfect tour de force for a rising woodwind star. Stylistically, it is lyrical and melodic; with a nod to Ellington and Ravel, it straddles the jazz and impressionistic writing styles, combining them into an appealing tonal tapestry. All sections have interesting material to perform, with countermelodies, call-and-response sections, and interesting flourishes in abundance. Solo first violin enjoys a short duet section with the clarinet. String parts are deliberately placed mostly in the lower positions to allow directors to focus on blend, rhythm, and intonation rather than challenging fingering and position work. The title may be altered in the program based on your soloist. (7:30)