Trinity (2006) is a three-movement work for saxophone quartet that comes out of a semester study with Allen Anderson.  As indicated by its title, the first movement "Gravity", employs ideas of weight throughout—from the heavy downward gesture in the first measure to the grave angst of the slower section to the collapse at the end.  "Opacity", movement two, is the wounded consequence that wades through the ruins of the previous movement.  The final movement "Agility" is a lively exaltation that turns and bends its way through distinct harmonies--as opposed to the burdened tones of "Opacity"—and breaks free from "Gravity" in the final gesture of the composition, leaping up into the harmonic stratosphere.

The piece was premiered at Duke University by the Red Clay Sax Quartet as a part of the Duke Milestones Festival of New Music in March 2007.

Trinity - II. Opacity

Trinity - I. Gravity

Beta (2007), transcribed for piano, is originally a low brass quartet for two euphoniums and two tubas. One of McCune’s few early works is a low brass ensemble titled Alpha, composed in 1999 for two euphoniums, bass trombone, and tuba.  Aggressive and angular, Beta translates well to piano.

About the performer: In 2006, Joo Hee Park received her M.M. in piano accompanying from Yonsei University in Seoul, South Korea.

Beta (arr. for Piano) (2007)

Lattices (2006) was composed for Allen Anderson’s final composition exam for the fall semester of 2006.  Anderson introduced to the class a scheme to compose harmonies that he called “lattice sets”, aptly titled because of the diagonal crosshatches produced visually by the notes on the page.  Composed for four marimbas, the piece incorporates many ways in which lattices can represented in music.

Performance by UNC undergraduates Brian Adam McCune (’07) and Mark Woodell (’09), and UNC alumni Heather Harrison (’05) and Blake Wynia (’06).

Lattices for marimba quartet (2006)

In 1983, after working with Jerry Goldsmith on the film score for "Under Fire", jazz guitarist Pat Metheny received the following compositional advice from Goldsmith:  as a performer, be wary of writing music that one can already perform.  Metheny took the words to heart and generated a work based entirely on a complicated series of mixed rhythms, through which he must work out a sensible harmonic solution.   The resulting piece, "First Circle" was a tremendous success for the composer.

Inspired by the same advice, "Second Circle" employs a similar compositional technique as homage to its namesake.  While there are nods to Metheny, the scope of the work widens to incorporate elements from other rhythmically adventurous compositions—works that emerged in McCune's life around the same time as "First Circle".  There are references to "Four by Five" from McCoy Tyner and "Tapan Bie (Beating the Drum)" by Zdravko Manalov, as well as some Stravinskian allusions.  Unlike "First Circle", this work contains many circular melodic gestures that permeate the composition.

This performance was conducted by Geoff McDonald.

Second Circle (2008)

Beanstalker (2007) was composed for the UNC Percussion Ensemble for their spring concert on April 12, 2007.  Dedicated to nationally-renowned percussion composer and UNC professor Lynn Glassock, the piece is inspired and influenced by Glassock’s ensemble writing.  The title of the work should conjure images from a certain English folk tale, and the piece is at times programmatic.

Beanstalker for percussion ensemble (2007)

A 2015 read-through of a 2005 composition by Brian Adam McCune.

Transylvania (2005)

Interview between guest host David Latulippe and composer Brian Adam McCune

Interview on Revolutions Per Minute 11 Nov 2018

Interview between host Devon Strolovich and composer Brian Adam McCune

Interview on Fog City Blues 5 Dec 2018

Brian Adam McCune (b. 1983) is a Colombian-American composer born in West Virginia and raised in Durham, North Carolina.  His music has been played all over the United States; from high school band rooms to the stage at Carnegie Hall in New York.  He is a graduate of Mannes College The New School for Music, receiving a Master's degree in Music Composition.

In addition to spending his days as a video game developer at Ubisoft’s Studio SF, Mr. McCune is a professional arranger and copyist.  He is a founding member of the Awesöme Orchestra Collective (http://www.AwesomeOrchestra.org/), serving as percussionist and orchestrator.

Brian Adam McCune

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