Originally commissioned by the San Francisco Ballet. Choreographed by Dani Rowe.
The story of Betty Fine and Robert Alder.
"Don't take any wooden dimes" - a saying used a lot in the 1920s, meaning: "Don't be naive or don't be fooled."
Betty and Robert have a love that they think they know and they think will be forever, but situations, circumstance and their evolution as people inevitably change their relationship and therefore their love, and it ends up being nothing like they predicted.

This Ballet for wind ensemble was commissioned at the specific request from Col. Jason Fettig of "The President's Own" US Marine Band. While some of the order of the movements from the
(San Francisco Ballet) original were shifted to accommodate a new arc for this slightly shorter version, the storyline of the original remains in tact.

Wooden Dimes Ballet Suite

Performed on March 7, 2014, by the Northwestern University Contemporary Music Ensemble, conducted by Eli Chen.
The title Come prima is a standard Italian musical indication which means "as before" or "like the beginning." In this piece, the term applies to the work's literal structure: the opening section is reprised at the end, albeit in a notably altered and abbreviated fashion. The title also refers to something more philosophical: many pieces, which purport to express conflict or struggle, emphasize a process of transformation. In Come prima, I felt inspired to explore that which keeps a person in crisis grounded, or centered—what remains constant, what one can hold onto throughout the crisis which lends stability and strength. Most of the harmony in Come prima is derived from the opening chord of the last movement of Mahler's First Symphony, which Mahler called "an outburst of despair from a deeply wounded heart." Mahler's chord is first fully heard in the piece at the transition from the first slow section to the first fast section.

Come prima was composed for the Seattle new-music ensemble Contemporary Chamber Composers and Players, which gave the premiere performance in August of 2004, in Seattle. The work is dedicated to them and especially to my violinist friend Eric Rynes, which explains the somewhat difficult and prominent violin part.

Come Prima (Northwestern University performance)

Jim Stephenson is a full-time composer and arranger based out of Chicago.

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Produced by Austin Boyer and Buddy Deshler of FredBrass

The Entrepreneurial Musician: Jim Stephenson of Stephenson Music - Episode 11

Spinning Wheel 
- a sonatina for trumpet and piano by James M. Stephenson
https://composerjim.com/works/spinning-wheel/
duration: 12' 
Program Notes:
I have now been very fortunate to have composed two works for Robert Sullivan, professor of trumpet at the Northwestern University Bienen School of Music. This one, at his request, to be written for his feature recital at the 2015 International Trumpet Guild (ITG) to be held in Columbus, Ohio.
Bob asked for a work more "popular" and "lyrical" in nature.
Bob is one of the rare individuals who - through his trumpet - combines musicality with a beautiful sound, agility, strength, and exceptional lyricism. I tried to expose all of these qualities in "Spinning Wheel", while creating a work accessible in nature, yet imbued with subtle depth.
The title comes from the roundabout left hand of the piano, as it weaves its way throughout most of the entire work. The hemiola effect creates a sense of infinite motion, and propels the music forward.
Jim Stephenson; April 30, 2015

Spinning Wheel

Dillon MacIntyre performing Sonata for Trombone and Piano Mvt 1 composed by James Stephenson. Trombone solo accompanied by piano.

Sonata for Trombone and Piano, Mvt 1 - James Stephenson

Dillon MacIntyre performing Sonata for Trombone and Piano Mvt 2 composed by James Stephenson. Trombone solo accompanied by piano.

Sonata for Trombone and Piano, Mvt 2 - James Stephenson

Dillon MacIntyre performing Sonata for Trombone and Piano Mvt 3 composed by James Stephenson. Trombone solo accompanied by piano.

Sonata for Trombone and Piano, Mvt 3 - James Stephenson

Chicago Symphony Orchestra
Riccardo Muti, conductor
Charles Vernon, bass trombone

Wooden Dimes Ballet Suite

James M. Stephenson

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