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Commissioned by John P. Lynch and the University of Kansas Wind Ensemble. Premiered at the University of Kansas, Fall 2002
DURATION: 9’30”

Piccolo
4 Flutes (4.dbl picc.)
3 Oboes
2 Bassoons
Contrabassoon
Clarinet E-flat
6 Clarinets B-flat
2 Bass Clarinets B-flat
2 Saxophones (both on Sopranos and Altos)
Tenor Saxophone
Baritone Saxophone

6 Trumpets (B-flat)
4 Horns (F)
3 Tenor Trombones
Bass Trombone
3 Euphoniums
3 Tubas

Contrabass
Timpani
3 Percussion
Harp
Piano/Celesta

Program Note:

SLALOM is a taste of the thrill of downhill skiing.  The work is performed at a severe tempo throughout showcasing the orchestra’s volatility and endurance. The idea for a piece like this came directly out of a wonderful discovery I made several years ago at Steamboat Springs, Colorado when I embarked on the mountain-base gondola with a cassette player and headphones.  At the time I was treating myself to large doses of Shostakovich’s Tenth Symphony and Rachmaninoff’s Symphonic Dances.  The exhilaration of barreling down the Rockies with such music pumping into my ears was overwhelming.  After a few years of skiing with some of the greatest repertoire it occurred to me that I could customize the experience.

The work is presented as a collection of scenes and events one might come by on the slopes.  The score is peppered with phrase-headings for the different sections such as “First Run”, “Open Meadow, Champagne Powder”, “Straight Down, TUCK” and  “On One Ski, Gyrating ” among others.  In this way SLALOM shares its programmatic feature with that of Richard Strauss’ Alpine Symphony.  The similarities end there, however, for SLALOM lasts ten minutes…precisely the amount of time I need to get from Storm Peak (the peak of Mt. Werner, Steamboat Springs) to the mountain base, skiing full throttle.

*Purchase a recording of SLALOM at: http://www.amazon.com/Redline-Tango-Charles-Ives/dp/B000F1IQE6