James Curnow
Rhapsody for Euphonium
A widely programmed single-movement rhapsody, a staple of school and university euphonium studios.
| Composer | James Curnow |
|---|---|
| Composed | 1985 |
| Era | 20th century |
| Type | Original |
| Difficulty | intermediate |
| Available scorings | Piano, Wind Band |
| Duration | ~8 minutes |
| Clef | bass, treble |
| Originally for | Euphonium |
| Piano part | Medium |
| Technical demands | lyrical phrasing, moderate articulation, dynamic contrast |
| Good for | developing player, first recital, solo and ensemble |
| Publisher | Curnow Music (1985) |
James Curnow’s Rhapsody is one of the most-played American euphonium solos, valued for its balance of expressive lyricism and accessible technical demands. It gives a developing player a genuine concert vehicle — dramatic gestures, a singing slow section, a bright close — without the extreme range of the major concertos, which has made it a fixture of the student and early-professional repertoire.
Sources
- Lloyd Bone & Eric Paull, Guide to the Euphonium Repertoire (2007)
- Hal Leonard — Rhapsody for Euphonium