Chesapeake

Chesapeake

    

Chesapeake

Chesapeake began with David Sampson’s desire to write for the members of the American Brass Quintet as individuals, and to create a recording that would stand on its own as a full recital. As a composer, this meant that the series of works had to have a flow of distinctiveness yet be connected by an innate style, and thus the music is conceived as one extended composition. Sampson (b. 1951 Charlottesville, Virginia) belongs to a small group of contemporary composers who have followed an autonomous path to success, recognition and, most importantly, the admiration and respect of the musicians performing and championing their work. Eschewing prescribed late 20th-century paths to success has led Sampson on an uncommon, richly rewarding avenue refreshingly individual in many aspects.

  1. Breakaway – Mvt. 1. Carving the Stone
  2. Breakaway – Mvt. 2. A Single Shot; Prayers and Chants
  3. Breakaway – Mvt. 3. Awakening
  4. Powell Trio – Mvt. 1. Flow
  5. Powell Trio – Mvt. 2. Stillwater
  6. Powell Trio – Mvt. 3. Eddies
  7. Three Sides – Mvt. I
  8. Three Sides – Mvt. II
  9. Three Sides – Mvt. III
  10. Just Keep Moving – Mvt. 1. Just Keep Moving
  11. Just Keep Moving – Mvt. 2. Looking Back
  12. Just Keep Moving – Mvt. 3. Scattered
  13. Just Keep Moving – Mvt. 4. Cleaning House
  14. Chesapeake – Mvt. 1. Morning in Annapolis – Setting Sail
  15. Chesapeake – Mvt. 2. Full and By
  16. Chesapeake – Mvt. 3. Bloody Point
  17. Chesapeake – Mvt. 4. St. Michaels – Crab Claw
Dectet

Dectet

    

Dectet

David Sampson, born in Charlottesville, Virginia, makes his Albany Records debut with a disc of exciting, highly original music. In the past you may have heard such orchestral works as Hommage: JFK, Simple Lives, and Reflections on a Dance (for brass and percussion); you then know his music is rhythmically charged, intense in its emotions and dramatic in its orchestration, comparable to such composers as William Schuman and Benjamin Lees. One of his specialties is writing for brass; among his trumpet teachers were such stellar names as Gerard Schwarz, Gilbert Johnson, Robert Nagel and Raymond Mase. His composition teachers included Karel Husa, Henri Dutilleux and John Corigliano, so you have some idea of the exciting sounds to be heard here. This is an important disc for those with an interest in contemporary American music; brass fanciers will obviously find this very attractive too!

  1. Serenade For Flugelhorn (instrumental)
  2. Sonata Forty: Crisis
  3. Sonata Forty: Shadows
  4. Sonata Forty: Sentiments
  5. Sonata Forty: Resolve
  6. Strata For Brass Quintet: I
  7. Strata For Brass Quintet: II
  8. Strata For Brass Quintet: III
  9. Dectet: I
  10. Dectet: II
  11. Dectet: III
  12. Dectet: IV

David Sampson, composer
Serenade for flügelhorn and string orchestra
Raymond Mase, flügelhorn, Czech Philharmonic Chamber Orchestra, Paul Polivnick, conductor

David Sampson, composer
Sonata Forty
Scott Brubaker, horn, Ron Levy, piano

David Sampson, composer
Strata
American Brass Quintet

David Sampson, composer
Dectet
Wihan String Quartet, Afflatus Wind Quintet, Richard Ormrod, piano

Notes From Faraway Places

Notes From Faraway Places

Notes From Faraway Places

    

Over the decades, David Sampson (b. 1951, Charlottesville, Virginia) has emerged as a leading composer uniquely acclaimed for the integrity of his music. His works have been described as intensely honest and human, taking his audiences through rich experiences filled with depth and emotion.

Among Sampson’s chamber music works are Dectet (Chicago Chamber Musicians), Chesapeake, Morning Music, Distant Voices (American Brass Quintet), Breathing Lessons (Chamber Music America/Amherst Saxophone Quintet), What The Living Do (Gail Williams and friends), Memories To Keep Awhile (David Elton and friends), and Short Stories (Chamber Music America/Pew Charitable Trust/Aspen Wind Quintet.

  1. Fanfare for Canterbury Cathedral performed by American Brass Quintet, Quo Vadis Brass Quintet
  2. Tenebrae for Trumpet and Organ performed by Raymond Mase, Trent Johnson
  3. Mock Attack for Clarinet performed by Andy Lamy
  4. Without Warning for Piano performed by Steven Beck
  5. Hommage JFK
  6. A Family Portrait for Brass Quintet performed by Philadelphia Brass
  7. Evensong for Tuba and Electronics performed by Scott Mendoker
  8. The Death of Macbeth for Solo Tympani and Percussion Quartet performed by James Musto, Tom Murphy, Nancy Pontius, David Stockton, Jeff Willet
  9. Notes from Faraway Places, Suite 3 for Two Trumpets performed by Donald Batchelder, Raymond Mase
  10. Changewater for Eight Trombones performed by Richard Clark, Richard Harris, Tom Hutchinson, Chris Olnes, Michael Powell, Tim Albright, Kenneth Finn, John Rojak
  11. Inamere for 12 Trumpets performed by Julliard School Trumpet Students
  12. Smoky Mountain Fanfare for Brass Quintet performed by Philadelphia Brass
Monument

Monument

    

Monument

From Hommage JFK, which was commissioned to commemorate the twenty-fifth anniversary of the opening of the Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts, to Monument, the emotional depiction of the reaction of a Vietnam war veteran visiting The Wall for the first time, David Sampson’s scores touch deep themes with a language that goes beyond philosophy, poetry, or science.

  1. Triptych for Trumpet and Orchestra – Mvt. 1 Introduction
  2. Triptych for Trumpet and Orchestra – Mvt. 2 Main Movement
  3. Triptych for Trumpet and Orchestra – Mvt. 3 Conclusion
  4. Simple Lives
  5. Hommage JFK
  6. Three Portraits for Tuba and Chamber Orchestra – Portrait I
  7. Three Portraits for Tuba and Chamber Orchestra – Portrait II
  8. Three Portraits for Tuba and Chamber Orchestra – Portrait III
  9. Monument