Description
Join Darrell Brown (Georgia Southern University Fred and Dinah Gretsch School of Music) in commissioning a transcription for concert band of Summer Has Ten Thousand Stars. A one-movement piece with bold fanfares contrasted with lyrical writing and delicate pointillism, the work captures the wonder of the night sky.
Originally written for full orchestra, Summer Has Ten Thousand Stars has received numerous recognitions over the years:
- 2023, Official Selection, ACO EarShot Reading Session with the Cincinnati Symphony Orchestra
- 2015, Semi-finalist, American Prize (Orchestral Music)
- 2011, Finalist, Morton Gould Young Composer Awards, ASCAP
The concert band transcription will receive its World Premiere in Fall 2024. Join now for exclusive performance rights in the 2024–25 concert season.
Audio Clips + Perusal Score
Full Performance at Georgia Southern University Symphonic Wind Ensemble, Darrell Brown, cond.
Highlights from Summer Has Ten Thousand Stars (2010) as performed by the BYU Philharmonic Orchestra, Jamie Teot, cond.
👉 Download the PDF perusal score of the concert band version here.
About Joseph Sowa
Joseph Sowa grew up playing violin and listening to film scores and orchestral broadcasts on NPR. Inspired by these sounds, he has since composed a diverse catalog of more than 70 works. His music focuses on intricate textures and vivid colors to produce surprising twists and compelling flourishes. In 2020, his piece “Motion Lines” was released on the PRISM Quartet’s album Surfaces and Essences. Joseph received his PhD from Brandeis University where he studied with David Rakowski, Yu-Hui Chang, and Eric Chasalow.
Recent Awards and Honors
- 2023 ACO EarShot Reading Session Participant with the Cincinnati Symphony Orchestra
- 2021, 2019, 2016, 2010 Barlow Endowment for Music Composition, Commissions
- 2021 Midwest Clinic, Presenter
- 2019 American Prize (for vocal chamber music), 3rd Place Winner
- 2018 Noah Matthew Siegel Prize for Young Composers, Runner Up
Testimonials
“Joseph Sowa is a great composer with which to collaborate. He never missed a deadline, he offered my students the opportunity to watch him compose in real time, and was very communicative. Besides writing a fantastic piece of music for everyone involved, he was also very open to conversation about the piece’s elements (such as time signatures, orchestration, etc.). He even went as far as to make revisions to the piece that made accomplishing his aural objectives achievable and more conducive to a successful premiere. Of the 70+ works I have premiered, Joseph is a composer that I know I will work with again in the future because the experience was so great for both me and my students.” — Darrell Brown, Georgia Southern University Fred and Dinah Gretsch School of Music, Director of Bands
“‘Motion Lines’ (recorded on Surfaces and Essences) has a wonderful pointillist quality that explores the inherent tension in generating musical momentum. Joseph is a rising star, and we look forward to hearing and playing more of his music.” — Matthew Levy, PRISM Quartet
About the Commission
Key Details
- Difficulty: Grade 5
- Duration: 10–12 minutes
- Instrumentation: Concert band
Consortium Members & Performance Exclusivity
- Darrell Brown (Georgia Southern University Fred and Dinah Gretsch School of Music)
- Jermie Arnold (Bob Cole Conservatory of Music at Cal State—Long Beach)
- Tom Davoren (Benedictine College)
- Stéphane Delley (Harmonie Municipale de Sion – Sion, Switzerland)
- Paul Popiel & Matt Smith (The University of Kansas)
- more soon!
The consortium lead will give the premiere in Fall 2024. Additional consortium members will share co-exclusive performance rights in concert year 2024–2024.
Delivery Date: January 15, 2025
Deadline to Join: December 31, 2024
Method of Delivery: PDF
Buy-In Price (per ensemble): $250
- Payment may be made through the link above or checks can be made out to Joseph Sowa and mailed to 27 Ladd St., Watertown, MA 02472.
- For institutional documentation (i.e., W9, invoice, etc.) and purchase orders, please email orders@josephsowa.com.
Questions?
Contact Joseph Sowa at joseph@josephsowa.com or Darrell Brown at mr.darrell.brown@gmail.com.
