Scott Robbins, composer
Chamber Works
Click the button to learn more about each piece, including information about obtaining scores and recordings.

Antiphonal Fanfare
brass ensemble (44311)
2:00
The title says it all--it's a fanfare that positions the brass ensemble spatially in order to emphasize antiphonal effects. This work has been performed a few times, including some very fine performances by the Chicago Brass Ensemble on one of their concert tours.

Chamber Concerto
flute and 8 wind instruments (2 ob, 2 cl, 2 bn, 2hn)
12:00
Commissioned by James Croft for the Florida State Winds to premiere at the 1995 National Flute Association Conference, this piece is modeled on the wind divertimenti of Mozart. Four movements: Allegro Gravoso-Metallico, Scherzo, Adagio, Final Quasi-Minimalistico. Originally entitled "Pervertimento," but I caved to pressure to find a less annoying title.

Psychedelic Epigrams
flute, oboe, violin, cello, two pianos
22:00
Such a cool piece: three movements inspired by psychedelic rock songs:I. The Dizzy-Dancing Way You FeelII. Butterflies and Zebras and MoonbeamsIII. Where the Diamond Crescent's GlowingCommissioned by the South Carolina Music Teachers Association and MTNA.
Grand Prize: Composers Guild 37th Annual Composition Contest, 2006
Nominated for the Pulitzer Prize in Music, 2006

Radiance
flute, oboe, piano
18:00
Written for Ensemble Radieuse (radiance = radieuse). A very cool monster of a piece--18 minutes of extremes: the piece starts with an incredibly tranquil piano solo before bringing in all the instruments and really turning up the heat. I had forgotten how good this piece is.

Sonata for Flute and Oboe
11:00
The first of many pieces written for Chris and Kelly Vaneman, this is a three movement work, featuring the first-ever version of "Spooky Does the Bunny-Hop." When the Vanemans received this piece they gave me two cases of wine and said, "Thank you for a piece that we can play for the rest of our lives." I hope they do just that. Bottoms up.

String Quartet #1 ("Fortressed House")
2 violins, viola, cello
13:30
My take on the four-movement sonata cycle for string quartet. This one did pretty well on the prize circuit:
ASCAP Foundation Grant for Young Composers, 1992 (now they're called Morton Gould Awards)
HM: Washington International Competition for Composers, 1994
HM: Instrumental Music: Composers Guild 24th Annual Composition Contest
Recorded by the Moyzes Quartet for MMC Recordings.

Una Pallottola Senza Un Nome
piccolo, oboe d'amore, guitar, harpsichord, recorded sounds
10:30
Subtitled "​Scenes from a non-existent western," this works evokes the sound of spaghetti westerns of the 1960s and 1970s. For four live performers plus an assortment of recorded sounds, including theremin, jaw harp, and boot-steps.