From the composer:
Flying Circus was commissioned by the Pacific Brass Ensemble and was premiered in January 2002. It is a three movement work (fast-slow-fast).
Movement 1, Barnstorming, like its title, is energetic and extroverted. A fanfare intro is followed by soli statements in each of the brass families.
Movement 2, Castles in the Sky, is a slow ballad with many contrapuntal solo lines leading into a 12/8 waltz. The middle section features a tuba quartet. This movement was completed shortly after September 11, 2001 and is dedicated to the memory of the victims and heroes of that day.
The finale, Wing Ding, is a fast, odd-meter romp that features jazz solos for trombone and trumpet. The title, Flying Circus, comes from my other passion–flying.
James Self
Hard copy score. All parts are provided in pdf format on disc.
Parts include: trumpet 1-4 in Bb (flugelhorn for Mvt. 2), horn 1-4 in F, trombone 1-3, bass trombone (euphonium for Mvt. 3), tuba 1-2, percussion 1-3