CAVE OF SOULS by Andy Wolfe

INSTRUMENTATION: Horn and Piano
PUBLISHER: 2011 Denver Brass Publications
COST: ~$16.00
CAN BE FOUND ON IMSLP: No
YOUTUBE:
SPOTIFY:
iTUNES: There is a recording but it is not yet commercially available.
GRADE/DIFFICULTY (1 easy, 6 very difficult): 4.5
EXTENDED TECHNIQUES: Trills and Rips

Andy Wolfe is an active freelance musician in Colorado, performing throughout the state on alto, tenor, and bass trombone as well as euphonium for such groups as the Colorado Symphony Orchestra, Colorado Ballet, Opera Colorado, Central City Opera, The Denver Brass, Boulder Brass, Greeley Philharmonic, Colorado Jazz Repertory Orchestra, and many others. In addition to his busy performance schedule, he is an actively commissioned composer/arranger for many prestigious groups and soloists nationwide. Andy is a homegrown artist; born and raised in Littleton, CO, he received his Bachelor and Master Degrees in Trombone Performance from the University of Northern Colorado. He returned to the Denver Metro Area in 2002 where he currently resides with his wife and four children.

Cave of Souls was commissioned in 2011 by Professor Susan McCullough, horn teacher at the University of Denver. Susan premiered the piece at the 2011 International Horn Society Convention held in San Francisco, CA. It is a four movement work illustrating four poems written by the composer depicting four separate moments during the journey through the Cave of Souls.

Movement 1: Allegro
The first movement depicts the beginning of the journey through the cave. It is a highly anticipated event filled with playful exchanges between the horn and piano. This movement is played in a more delicate yet quick nature so as not to disturb or disrupt the delicate balance within the cave. Although the tempo is marked at Qtr. = 138, it sure is a lot of fun at Qtr. = 152!!

LENGTH: 97 measures, approx. 2m45s
EXTENDED TECHNIQUES: none
RANGE (horn pitch):

Movement 2: Largo con moto
The second movement is a reflective, dream-like moment on the journey. Calmness prevails giving way to deeper thoughts and emotions causing the traveler to stop and allow rest to give pause to their journey.

LENGTH: 41 measures, approx. 3m00s
EXTENDED TECHNIQUES: none
RANGE (horn pitch):

Movement 3: Vivace
The freedom to travel gives way to this fast paced, joyful movement. Rhythmic drive and long, soaring phrases keep the journey exciting and confident.

LENGTH: 78 measures, approx. 2m30s
EXTENDED TECHNIQUES: Rips
RANGE (horn pitch):

Movement 4: Grave
Trial and tribulation take hold in this portion of the journey. The opening is haunting – eluding to the troubles ahead. The horn takes up an epic Brahmsian/Hollywood style melody surging with power and determination only to be haunted and twisted with angst developing passages that are both quick and unyielding with the enchanting codetta causing the journeyman to scream to a high D!!!

LENGTH: 35 measures, approx. 3m00s
EXTENDED TECHNIQUES: Rips and Trills
RANGE (horn pitch):