Happenstance
for Trumpet and Wind Ensemble
World-Premiere: 22.7.2022, Zofin Palace, Prague
Swiss-Premiere: 17.9.2022, Casino, Berne
Happenstance, a coincidence or chance situation, is a reference to a harmonic idea which this piece is based upon. The concept of Random Harmony, developed by the American jazz pianist Kenny Werner, combines a random sequence of bass notes with random chord qualities (e.g. Lydian, Maj7#5 or Symmetric Dominant). Through voice leading and melody, these chords, which are rather alien to each other, are now connected and formed into musical phrases. The resulting continuum creates unexpected sounds and chord progressions that repeatedly deceive the listener’s expectation and provide surprising moments.
To counteract the random element and to achieve musical continuity, more traditional and square forms, such as a tango or a bossa nova, are used.
The three characteristically different movements give the soloist the opportunity to showcase the diverse facets of the instrument, from the marching and fanfare-like, to the recitative-singing, to the dance-like and rhythmic qualities in the final movement:
I – Devious Tango
II – Aria
III – Elegant Bossa
The work was composed in the winter of 2021/22 after a lengthy study phase with Kenny Werner and is dedicated to the trumpeter Giuliano Sommerhalder, the Bern Symphonic Wind Orchestra (SIBO) and its conductor Rolf Schumacher.
Our warmest thanks to FONDATION SUISA for the financial support.
Stephan Hodel
(Foto: Dennis Yulov)
Stephan Hodel is a versatile composer, arranger and orchestrator. He has written for ensembles of various kinds, from big band to symphony orchestra. He has also written for theatre/ballet, rock music productions and has composed music for children.
Based in Berne, Switzerland, Stephan is a graduate of the Royal College of Music in London where he completed his postgraduate studies with distinction in Composition with Joseph Horovitz. Also at the RCM he was awarded the Cobbett and Hurlstone Prize for outstanding creative achievement. He studied Jazz Composition and Arranging at Berklee College of Music in Boston and holds a MA in Conducting and Music Education from the University of Applied Sciences and Arts Lucerne.
Two of Stephan’s orchestral songs, written for soprano Katerina Mina, have been recorded by the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra and Grzegroz Nowak and appear on Katerina’s debut album Angel of Fire. His orchestral work PC-24, ein musikalischer Alpenflug was commissioned by the Festival Strings Lucerne and celebrates the launch of a new aircraft.
Further highlights include a ballet score for the English National Ballet Choreographics at the Barbican, Sinfonische Stubete, a piece for clarinet ensemble at
Tonhalle Zürich, a showcase of the musical The Happy Hypocrite in London and Oxford, the music for the theatrical show Romeo and Juliet de Buenos Aires (Cockpit Theatre, London) a concert with his music at Beijing Concert Hall with the Dunshan Symphonic Wind Orchestra and the concert series The Power of Musick (featuring rapper Greis) at KKL Luzern.
As an orchestrator he worked on films such as Albatross (with Julia Ormond, Felicity Jones and Sebastian Koch), Above&Beyond: The Craftsman and the Swiss sci-fi film Cargo. His collaboration with the rock band Dada Ante Portas has been awarded with a Gold Record for the album Seasons Change.
Teaching activities include a jazz workshop at Morley College, orchestration for wind band at Bern University of the Arts (HKB), and music theory at the University of Teachers Education Lucerne. In theatre he worked with the London Bubble Theatre Company, the Harbinger Company and also held the position of MD for the production of Sugar – some like it hot! at the Luzerner Theater.