Up and Away - CL/BCL/PN

Up and Away: The Story of a Balloon

for clarinet, bass clarinet and piano

by Alyssa Morris (b.1984)

Original composition for Oboe, Bassoon, and Piano commissioned by the
BYU School of Music for the Sundance Trio

Arrangement for Bb clarinet, Bass Clarinet, and Piano commissioned by
Josh and Stefanie Gardner

Also available for oboe, bassoon and piano HERE,

ABOUT THE MUSIC

Up and Away is a musical depiction of the life of a Balloon. Little Balloon is brought to life, with effervescence, lightheartedness, and wonder. Inhale/ Exhale is a depiction of blowing up the balloon, watching it float, letting air out of Balloon and hearing the little squeal and sputter as it flies around the room. This movement also introduces Balloon’s “light”-motif (ha ha.) 

Movement 2, Life on a String, is about teenage angst and rebellion. Little Balloon is not so little anymore, and wants to prove that it has a mind and ideas of its own. So many times Balloon has felt that people want it to fit a certain mold. But Balloon just wants to be itself. This angst can be heard as each instrument quotes a passage that has become synonymous with what most people think that instrument is.  The Bb clarinet plays an excerpt from Gershwin’s Rhapsody in Blue and an excerpt from Prokofiev’s Peter and the Wolf, the bass clarinet plays an excerpt from Tchaikovsky’s Nutcracker ballet, and the piano plays an excerpt from Beethoven’s Fur Elise; but not without some significant changes to prove that they are not a pawn in this game, but an individual! The “light”-motif can once again be heard.

Movement 3, Letting Go, portrays the wisdom that comes with old age. This movement is Balloon’s reflection at a life full of happiness, sorrow,love, learning, and meaning. Letting Go is a quiet resignation, knowing that we are not always in control of what happens in life. However, we are in control of what we choose to do with what we have been given. The “light”-motif can be heard once more.

It is my hope that the listener will find some of themselves in the Balloon; in the joy, frustration, lightheartedness, loneliness, wisdom, and hope.

ABOUT THE COMPOSER:

Alyssa Morris has delighted audiences around the world with her “exceptional” and “soulful” musicianship (Fanfare Magazine). Alyssa serves as Assistant Professor of Oboe at Kansas State University and as the principal oboist of the Topeka Symphony Orchestra and Wichita Grand Opera.  She has appeared as a soloist in venues throughout the United States, Scandinavia, the British Isles, and Western Europe.  Alyssa has previously held the position of Associate Principal Oboe in the Richmond (IN) Symphony Orchestra, and second oboe in the Utah Wind Symphony.  Her recent CD album release via MSR Classics, “A Higher Place,” has been hailed by American Record Guide as “gorgeous and thoughtful” with “stunning” performances, “unmistakable…virtuosity” and “deft emotional timing.” 

Regarding her equally expansive work as a composer, the American Record Guide writes that Dr. Morris’s music “has charm, piquancy, verve, and most importantly, substance.” Her chamber music is performed extensively around the world, and has been presented at the national and international conventions of IDRS, ICA, NFA, and SCI.  Dr. Morris is an International Barlow Composition Commission Award Winner.  She has additionally been commissioned to write music for the River Oaks Chamber Orchestra, the Richmond Symphony Orchestra, the U.S. Air Force Woodwind Quintet, and Carolyn Hove (principal English horn of the Los Angeles Philharmonic) to name a few. Dr. Morris’s music has been recorded on the Equilibrium, Centaur, and MSR Classics labels.

Dr. Morris earned her BM and MM degrees at Brigham Young University, where she studied with Dr. Geralyn Giovannetti. She earned her DMA at the University of Cincinnati College-Conservatory of Music where she studied with Dr. Mark Ostoich. 

For more information, please visit the composer's website at: http://www.alyssamorrismusic.com/