Description
👆👆 What is 6 Inventions going to sound like? Watch this video to hear the Tower Duo perform the first completed movement, “fangled contraption.”
Join Alyssa Primeau (flute, Chicago, IL) and Alex Sellers (saxophone, Rochester, MI) in commissioning a new work for flute and saxophone duet, entitled 6 Inventions.
The piece began its life as “fangled contraption,” premiered by the Tower Duo (Michael and Erin Torres) at the Brevard Music Center in 2011. Ten years later, it’s finally time to complete the full set.
6 Inventions draws its inspiration from the map-cap energy of crazy inventors and their inventions. Over the course of six movements, the piece will capture the futility of all of Heinz Doofenshmirtz’s failed –inators, the lunacy of Rube Goldberg’s over-the-top inventions, the darkness of Rotwang’s machine dystopia (from Fritz Lang’s Metropolis), and more. I consider consortium members as collaborators in the creative process: so bring me all your thematically related ideas!
Though the piece can be performed in a concert setting on its own, we will also be collaborating with visual artist Eddie Farr (Atlanta, GA) in creating “contraptions,” “inators,” and “gizmoids” that will give audience members a full interactive experience.
The full piece receives its World Premiere in 2022. Join now for exclusive performance rights in the 2022–23 concert season.
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
- 2021, 2019, 2016, 2010 Barlow Endowment for Music Composition, Commissions
- 2021 Midwest Clinic, Presenter
- 2019 American Prize (for vocal chamber music), 3rd Place Winner
- 2019 Herbert and Sandy Fisher ’56 Award for Exceptional Achievement in the Creative Arts
- 2018 Noah Matthew Siegel Prize for Young Composers, Runner Up
Testimonials
“‘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
“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 20+ composers I have commissioned/works I have premiered, Joseph is one 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, Carroll University Wind Ensemble
“Joseph’s music is beautiful and a little brainy — tight intersections of lyrical lines add up to a very pleasurable listening experience. His phrasing and his formal sense are first-rate, and you always know where you are — even when there’s the occasional surprise. The joy he feels in writing is palpable.” — David Rakowski, Walter W. Naumburg Professor of Composition at Brandeis University
Audio Clips
fangled contraption (2011) for flute and saxophone (more details), played by the AWEA Duo
Apple Fantasy (2021) for flute, clarinet, violin, and cello (more details), played by Hub New Music
About the Commission
Key Details
- Difficulty: College/professional
- Duration: 10–12 minutes total
- Form: 6 short movements
- Instrumentation: Flute and saxophone — with optional multimedia
Consortium Members & Performance Exclusivity
- Alyssa Primeau (flute, Chicago, IL), Alex Sellers (saxophone, Rochester, MI), and Eddie Farr (visual artist, Atlanta, GA) — Consortium Leads
- AWEA Duo (Jennifer Brimson Cooper, flute, and Mas Sugihara, saxophone)
- Angela Reynolds (flute, Terre Haute, IN) and Paul Bro (saxophone, Terre Haute, IN)
- David Stevens (saxophone, Boston, MA)
- Garret Klauss (saxophone)
- Nave Graham (flute, Oxford, MS) and Adam Estes (saxophone, Oxford, MS)
- Tower Duo (Erin Helgeson Torres, flute, and Michael Rene Torres, saxophone)
- Additional members TBA
The consortium lead will give the premiere in Spring 2022. Additional consortium members will share co-exclusive performance rights in calendar year 2022.
Premiere Date: Spring 2023
Deadline to Join: October 1, 2022
The piece will be delivered to consortium members no later than March 1, 2022.
Method of Delivery: PDF
Buy-In Price (per ensemble): $200/$100 professional/student
- 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.), please email [email protected].
Questions?
Contact Joseph Sowa at [email protected]
