Ansel Adams: America (2009)
Details
Ansel Adams: America (2009) 22 min.
Music by Chris Brubeck and Dave Brubeck
Nominated for a 2012 Grammy Award for "Best Instrumental Composition", Ansel Adams: America is a symphonic tribute saluting one of America's most cherished artists.
Instrumentation
3 Flutes (Flute 3 doubles on Piccolo)
2 Oboes (Oboe 2 doubles on English Horn or a separate English Horn Part is provided)
2 Clarinets (Bb)
Bass Clarinet (Bb)
2 Bassoons, Optional Contra Bassoon
4 Horns (F)
3 Trumpets (C)
3 Trombones
Tuba
Timpani
Percussion 1- Tubular Bells, Xylophone, Marimba, Glockenspiel, Suspended Cymbal, Snare Drum
Percussion 2- Tambourine, Bass Drum, Tenor Drum, Tam Tam, Timbales, Maracas (non-plastic), Popper Noisemaker, Suspended Cymbal (one lower, one higher pitched), Crash Cymbals, Triangle
Percussion 3- Guiro (non synthetic) Bell Tree, Snare Drum,Suspended Cymbal
Harp
Piano (strong orchestral pianist, no improvisational skills needed)
Violins I & II
Violas
Cellos
Double Basses
Ansel on Top of Station Wagon, Yosemite, 1946 (Photographer: Cedric Wright, © Cedric Wright Estate, courtesy of the Wright Family Collection, Center for Creative Photography)
Overview
Ansel Adams: America, composed by Chris and Dave Brubeck, is a symphonic tribute saluting one of America’s most cherished artists. The 22-minute, one-movement piece, fully integrates sweeping melodies with 102 striking images of or by Ansel.
Few people realize that Ansel Adams trained to be a classical musician, a fact which greatly influenced the work. It has consistently played to full houses, and has succeeded in its mission to bring new and larger audiences to orchestra concerts.
Ansel Adams: America has been performed to critical and popular acclaim by orchestras across the country. The Stockton Symphony Orchestra, conducted by Peter Jaffe, gave the world premiere and led a commissioning consortium of orchestras including the Baltimore Symphony Orchestra, Sacramento Philharmonic Orchestra, Monterey Symphony, Fresno Philharmonic, Temple University Orchestra, and Abilene Philharmonic Orchestra. Ansel Adams: America has also been performed by the San Diego Symphony, Colorado Music Festival Orchestra, Yakima Symphony, Santa Barbara Symphony, North State Symphony, Sinfonia Gulf Coast, the Akron Symphony and more. See a full list of performances here.