The Boulder Bassoon Quartet plays Odes to the Americas, by Marjan Mozetich, during concerts in Louisville and Arvada, Colorado.

Odes to the Americas

A little over 10 years after the release of "Revenge of the Sith," Star Wars fans were presented in 2015 with the first installment in a new trilogy of films, titled "The Force Awakens".  Though there are a number of differences between the production of this trilogy and the previous two, one of the best creative decisions that was made when planning the new movies was to retain John Williams as the composer for the score.

This gem from the soundtrack is titled "March of the Resistance", and is a bold, dramatic anthem meant to symbolize the tenacious and stalwart members of the Resistance, a collective of freedom fighters bent on protecting the New Republic from the insidious First Order.  John William's musical prowess is on full display here, combining his distinctive melodic writing, unique harmonic language, and contrapuntal design with the full force of a huge studio orchestra.

This is my own arrangement of the original full orchestral score for a bassoon quartet, and the recording is of me playing all four parts: the bassoon is my late 5000-series Heckel, and the contrabassoon is my 500-series Mollenhauer, and was recorded over a rainy weekend in late June of 2021.

"March Of The Resistance" from "Star Wars: The Force Awakens" - arr. by Kyle Sneden

THis is a rough track of me writing my Bassoon Quartet #1 as commissioned by the Boulder Bassoon Quartet. Enjoy and look for "The Opposite Shore" CD by Boulder Bassoon Quartet which includes a wonderful happening recording of my quartet.

bassoon quartet 1st movement partial

The Boulder Bassoon Quartet plays Odes to the Americas, by Marjan Mozetich, during a concert in Louisville, Colorado.

Good Times from Odes to the Americas

With You I Dance from Odes to the Americas

The entire "Odes to the Americas" suite by Marjan Mozetich is also available here on our SoundCloud profile.  

We were particularly pleased with this performance of the second movement, "Blue Souls", recorded on May 14, 2013 during a concert for the Second Tuesdays at Trinity chamber series in Arvada, Colorado.  Enjoy!

Blue Souls from Odes to the Americas

Composed by Daniel Kellogg for Yoshiyuki Ishikawa. Recorded live, October 2008.

Suite for Bassoon and Strings: I. Prelude

Suite for Bassoon and Strings: II. A Slow Yearning

Suite for Bassoon and Strings: III. Scherzo

The Boulder Bassoon Quartet is Michael Christoph, Kent Hurd, Brian Jack, and Ethan Turner.

The Boulder Bassoon Quartet has impressed a wide audience through substantive, engaging performances since 2006. Having performed in venues as diverse as concert halls and coffee shops, the Quartet is dedicated to expanding the repertoire for the bassoon quartet in a variety of genres through new arrangements and original compositions.

In 2011, they premiered Kent Hurd’s new piece, “So Cliche”, at the International Double Reed Society convention in Tempe, Arizona.

Each member attended the University of Colorado College of Music where they studied with Yoshiyuki Ishikawa. Members of the Quartet perform regularly with major professional ensembles throughout Colorado such as the Colorado Music Festival, Colorado Ballet, Boulder Chamber Orchestra, and the Colorado MahlerFest Orchestra. They are active members of the arts community and committed to music education.

Performances throughout the Boulder/Denver area include weddings, recitals, and receptions. Check out our website to get in touch with us. We’d love to play at your event.


youtube.com/boulderbassoons

Blue Souls from Odes to the Americas

BoulderBassoonQuartet

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