by Heidi Lucas
At the outset, Eastern Standard—a trio comprised of horn, tuba, and piano—focused on commissioning smaller “character” pieces, asking composers to write works around 5 minutes in duration in order to expand the breadth of the repertoire. The ensemble left details entirely up to the composers, and the resulting works were diverse, creative, and highly versatile, allowing for variety in programming. A few years later, the group shifted their commissioning focus to works which were more substantial, pieces which could be the cornerstone of a recital program. In 2017, they won a grant from the IHS Meir Rimon Commissioning Assistance Fund to support the composition of a multi-movement work by composer Octavio Vasquez entitled What a Circus! Eastern Standard had collaborated previously with Vasquez on a shorter work, Winter Train, which was recorded for their second album. In 2019, the group launched their annual Composition Contest which provides cash prizes as well as performance and recording opportunities to the winners each year.
Eastern Standard’s most recent focus has been on outreach. In 2022 they were awarded a grant from the Jessie B. DuPont Fund through the University of Delaware Partnership for Arts and Culture to support the composition of a new work by Robert Litton. A Grand Day Out for horn, tuba, piano, narrator, and collaborators was premiered during their fall 2022 tour. Upcoming plans include commissions of works for the trio alongside ensembles of varying configurations and levels, and including opportunities for the audience to participate in order to create performances with “no passive seats.”
Below is a listing of works commissioned by Eastern Standard, including upcoming anticipated premieres:
2024
4 Works for Eastern Standard and level 2 band (4 composers including Carol Brittin Chambers, Larry Clark, 2 additional TBA)
Premiere TBA
2023
Work for Eastern Standard and level 4 band by Steve Shewan
Premiere, December 2023, NYSSMA Convention
Work for Eastern Standard and level 4 orchestra by Todd Goodman
Premiere, November 2023, Altoona Symphony Orchestra
Five Quirky Miniatures for Horn, Tuba, and Piano by Gina Gillie
Premiere TBA
Work for Eastern Standard and Mixed Media by Nancy Galbraith
Premiere TBA
Work for Eastern Standard by Leah Michael Whalen
Premiere TBA
2022
A Grand Day Out by Robert Litton
Premiere: AI DuPont Middle School, Wilmington, DE
2019
Gallus Rex (winner of the 1st annual Composition Contest) by Daniel Morrison
Premiere: Spring 2020 tour
Three Miniatures (runner up, 1st annual Composition Contest) by Andy Junttonen
Premiere: Spring 2020 tour
Triple Concerto by David Martynuik
Premiere: TBA
2017
Fanfare for Horn, Tuba, and Piano by Bruce Stark
Premiere: Southwest Horn Workshop, January 2018
Last Dance by Charles Ingram
Premiere: Fall 2017 tour
Wanderlust by Todd Goodman
Premiere: Fall 2017 tour
2016
Slabloblian Suite by David Martynuik
Premiere: 2017 Northeast Horn Workshop
Tunes and Reels by Keith Young
Premiere: 2017 Northeast Horn Workshop
Yearning to Be by Matthew Murchison
Premiere: 2017 Northeast Horn Workshop
Toboggan by Robert Litton
Premiere: 2016 International Tuba Euphonium Convention
Winter Train by Octavio Vazquez
Premiere: 2017 Northeast Horn Workshop
2015
Big Sky by Frank Gulino
Premiere: 2015 Northeast Tuba Euphonium Conference
Fragments II by Christopher Wiggins
Premiere: 2015 International Horn Symposium
Jam Bourree by Anthony O’Toole
Premiere: 2015 International Horn Symposium
For additional repertoire for this ensemble, see http://www.easternstandardtrio.com/rep-list.
Eastern Standard, Part I: The Ensemble from Horn and More, February 1, 2023
