Jay Vosk, composer

Desert Miniatures for Wind Quintet is comprised of a series of musical  sketches depicting  the varied life forms which abound in the Sonoran Desert. My intention here  was to impart a sense of place and a sense of the  natural world through music.

From the opening of movement one (‘ Jump’), the  listener might imagine a bobcat springing  over a barrel cactus. Or one might visualize a rattlesnake ,’slithering ‘ through a dry river bed as in the second movement.

This 12 minute piece is sure to be a rewarding experience for both the performers and audiences alike.

A complimentary perusal score is a available on request.

And  do check out  the links to the quality midi recordings below.

I am delighted to present my recent composition: Crosscurrents!

Crosscurrents is a work for brass quintet in three brief movements. In the  first movement entitled  ‘Divergence’, the instruments are meant to part ways in various configurations. In contrast to moment one, movement two , ‘Confluence’, is more of  a coming together both texturally and harmonically. In the final movement, ‘Propulsion’, the music seems to explode periodically in a rapid fire manner. Crosscurrents is around 7:30 minutes in duration.

A perusal score and set of parts are available on request.

You can hear the midi version here:

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Scene from a Desert Garden is a single movement work for flute quartet. The piece is configured for three flutes plus an alto flute.In this work, the alto flute is the featured performer. As the title suggests, the composition was inspired by my own backyard garden which is situated in the Sonoran Desert region.The piece is lyrical in nature, yet with an air of mystery. A PDF perusal score and set of parts is available on request.

Below you will find a link to the midi realization.

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Acacias for string trio drew, its inspiration from the acacia tree. This tree is prevalent in locals with rough, dry climates. This includes the Southwest United States, a region where I reside. Acacias are drought tolerant, often with thorny branches. This genus has over a thousand species. In the spring, the trees display beautiful yellow foliage.

By means of weaving in and out of a variety of moods and textures, I try to paint a musical picture of this fascinating species. The music is at times strident ; at times light and fleeting, as well as lyrical. The composition is around ten minutes in duration. A complimentary copy of the score and parts is available on request.

Points of Focus for Brass Trio is comprised of three brief movements. With each movement, I have associated some sort of visual imagery.

In the first movement ( bright, pointed) I visualize quick flashes of light shining on various points of a screen. Movement two (Slowing, easing up) seems to depict a series of flowing dark ribbons in shades of black and white, slowly rippling in the breeze. The final movement ( Bright, driving), is represented by what I perceive as pulsing spheres brimming with energy.

 I would consider the performance level of the piece to be advanced/professional. The total performance time of the piece, including pauses, is approximately seven minutes. A PDF Score and parts are available on request.

Be the first on your block to perform Happenstance! As the title suggests, Happenstance for oboe solo, came  about merely by chance. There were no preconceived notions of form or style other than the work’s length and a few melodic figures running through my head. In approaching the work, I thought of the oboe less as a musical instrument and  more as a solo personality acting out a bizarre monologue.  The end result of my little experiment is a seven minute piece comprised of five short movements each with its unique character. It is my hope that the work is both fun and challenging to the performer.

A full score is available on request.

Listen to the midi version here:

To Fly Above the Wind  is a work, (around 8 minutes in length), for string quartet. The title of the piece is derived from the poem ‘I Find No Peace’ by the 16th century poet,  Sir Thomas Wyatt.  In this time of regional conflict throughout the world, I felt  a deep desire to express myself in that regard. As a result, It  was my intention to compose a work which is a reflection of Wyatt’s poem of peace. The composition is lyrical and melodic, with extensive periods of interweaving lines. Far from being confrontational, the piece was written to sooth the soul of the listener. You can listen to the midi recording below. A score and set of parts is available on request.

‘Aviana’ for flute solo is my most recent piece. It was my intention to write a work that, hopefully, would pique the interest of the contemporary flutist. It is a piece that is both challenging and idiomatic, with a sprinkling of extended techniques. I believe the composition to be evocative as well, and, if skillfully performed, should appeal to the imagination of the listener.

Ariana is around 5 minutes in length and, as the title suggests, is meant to evoke images of birds of all shapes and sizes filling the sky. 

The entire piece is available on request. You can hear the piece below;

This ten minute work is in three distinct movements

The first piece is entitled ‘Greasing the Wheel’. Here a jagged series of staccatos depicts a whimsical machine clanking away. Intermittently, these figures include smoother interludes. Our machine continues to sputter along until the well-greased wheel whizzes away, out of sight!

In piece number, (Woebegotten Blues) the music slowly slides along with a series of deep sighs. Just at the point when things slowly slide to a halt, the piece changes gears, moving along with a jazzy groove. Finally, deep sighs return and the blues fade away.

The final piece, (March of the Leafcutter Ants), is in homage of the little creatures who drag bits of leafs long distances to their nests. As are the ants, the music is constant and persistent.

A score and set of parts is available on request.

Take a listen to the midi recording: