Stephen Bulla

Symphonette

This three movement work, modeled on his earlier work Rhapsody for Brass, develops from and mirrors the earlier work, but with more modern tonal outlines and original melodic material. The first movement opens with several fanfare-like figures, which recur at various times in different instrumental combinations. With development, this music takes on a carnival-like atmosphere before concluding with an upward flourish. The second movement commences quietly with a slower theme shared by several solo instruments and develops into an extended study on The Water is Wide, a folk song which seems to have its beginnings in the United Kingdom as O Waley, Waley. The third movement reverts to the rhapsodic format with a lively theme marked 'in a playful manner'. This substantial work is a gem in the concert band repertoire.