My new Grandson

My first grandchild Colin Joseph Campbell was born 10/20/2006! Have written three pieces so far
The first is Colin's Lullaby, next Colin at Play and then love for Colin. - listen here
You can se more pictures here

It's a wonderful life

A rambling brief history of how I got where I am.

As a young boy (4 or 5 year old) I provided my older brothers with some fun when I would cry when I heard a beautiful piece of music. At 13 my brother bought me a trombone because they needed a trombonist in his band. At 15 I was playing with professionals in symphonic ensembles (mostly orchestras). Even made a faux pas (came in a measure too soon) on a national broadcast. I could also sight-read parts for every instrument in the orchestra or band – and would often have 3^rd/4^th horn or 3^rd trumpet parts on my stand in high school groups. In high school I taught theory and harmony classes. At 17 I won a music scholarship to university. At 18 I quit school (since of course I knew more than they did!?!?). Was scheduled for an audition with a minor city symphony orchestra (believe it was San Antonio??). One month before the date had an accident which destroyed my mouth and ended my trombone playing.

I set off to New York to study to become the world’s greatest composer. But soon some bad experiences and family pressures brought me back home – and into a “safe” life in the business world. In 1960 I became one of those geeks known as a “programmer” and had a pretty successful career. Actually became a technical guru. I never lost my love of music and collected conductor’s scores and read them as I listened to symphonic and operatic music.

In 2001 – at the age of 69 I retired. Discovered music writing software and began composing again. To date I have written over 40 pieces. There are Euphonium, Cello, Tuba, Oboe and Contrabass solos. Woodwind, Brass and String Ensemble works. Chamber Orchestra, Symphonic Wind Band and Brass Band works. More than half have been published and actually more have sold more than I expected. Also most of the brass solo and ensemble works have had a least one performance – mostly in the UK.

Also over the years I have supplied several thousand free charts to mostly young college musicians (at last rough count in excess of 5,000). And I've actually had 42 of them thank me!

Ironically my work has been performed in the UK, Japan, California, Australia and even Baghdad! There may have been performances in Spain, Singapore and Malaysia (can’t confirm). But I cannot get anyone in my neighborhood (Chester County Pennsylvania) even interested in looking at my music.

It doesn’t matter I have been having fun and finally doing what I have wanted to do all my life. It’s a wonderful life.

Site update

I've revamped my site. Hopefully made it easier to find your way - cleaner - leaner look. Free music offered a bit sparse right now. Have had too many pieces published!! Need to write some more. By the way click here to go to my site. Waddyathink?

ITEA reviews

Had quite a few pieces reviewed in the summer ITEA journal (International Tuba Euphonium Association). You can read some on my site (the good ones) click here

My publisher Brassworks4 had quite a few pieces reviewed this time. Also a great interview article on Charley Brighton. Check it out.

Some updates to my site

Finally cleaned up my home page some (sort of). Hopefully easier to find the category you are looking for. Also added three new pages - Live performances has (what else!) MP3 files of live performances of my music. Then there is another page of comments and reviews about my stuff.
Finally there is a publishers page where one can find out where to acquire the sheet music.

Brassworks4

Quite a few of my Tuba and Euphonium pieces have been published by Brassworks4.
Also a trumpet trio and some brass ensemble pieces. And by the end of July the catalog will include my Fantasia for Tuba (listen) as well as the Euphonium version (listen)

Pay them a visit - lots of new and traditional brass music available.

More bragging

I've put up the program, some pictures and information about the London premiere on my site. Just click here to check out my showcase.

Wow

Well I'm back from London and the premiere of the Euphonium concerto (the Willson Concertante) was phenomenal! What a thrill. It was performed by the City of London Symphonic Winds conducted by John Andrews with Charley Brighton as soloist. I left the applause after the last movement in because it was a thrill to hear the small cheer when the conductor called me to the front to take a bow.

An MP3 of each of the 3 movements can be heard by clicking on the following.

Movement 1 Con Bravura

Movement 2 Notturno Adagio

Movement 3 Vivace Con Brio

Something new

I heard a flute choir play and was impressed. So I wrote a suite for a flute choir. There are four movements - Adagio Triste, Scherzo, Elegy and Gigue a la Fugato. The instrumentation is - Piccolo, 2 C Flutes, 2 Alto Flutes, 2 Bass Flutes. It can be heard here

Off to England

I am quite excited. On 5/28/06 The City of London Winds will premiere my Euphonium Concerto - "The Willson Concertante" - with Charley Brighton as soloist. And I'm going over to here it in person. When Charley premiered my Summer Celebration with the Nonesuch Strings I wasn't there and the recording sis not work. Taking no chances this time I will be there. You can hear a computer rendition here

You can read about the music here

Podcasting

I'm beginning to play around with Podcasting. Have set up a couple of items for testing. Anyone with a device that wants to try it and let me know if it works I would appreciate it. Neither has any spoken words or narrative yet. Just checking the technology out.
This one is two miniatures for small groups "Among the Reeeds" & "The Unasked Question".
www.joesmusicroom.com/media/mypodcastrss.rss

The other is a Dance Essay for small orchestra
www.joesmusicroom.com/media/mypodcastrss2.ess

Hope to hear from some of you

Miniature compositions II

Since I had some inquiries I decided to make PDF files of the scores for the Miniatures available on my site here.
Let me know what you think.