Three Episodes

I. High Seas | II. Vantablack | III. Nindo

For French Horn & Piano

By Shawn W. Davern

Andrew Parker (french horn) & Amy Robertson (piano), 2021

Year: 2021
Duration: 11:00

Grade: Advanced



Commissioned by John and Laura Parker. Dedicated to Andrew Parker.

Premiered by Andrew Parker (french horn) and Amy Robertson (piano) on May 1st, 2021 at Harrisonburg Baptist Church.

Recorded by Andrew Parker (french horn) and Amy Robertson (piano) May 15th, 2021 at Harrisonburg Baptist Church.

Program Notes

Of the five years that I lived in the great state of Virginia, I think my favorite year was probably the year of 2018-2019. In that year I graduated from James Madison University with my master’s degree in conducting and acquired my first teaching position, as well as took part in a myriad of amazing performances. Despite this, I think my most treasured aspect of my favorite year in Virginia was being part of the amazing organization that is the Gamma Alpha Chapter of Phi Mu Alpha Sinfonia and taking my dear friend Andrew Parker through the process of becoming a fully realized brother of Sinfonia at James Madison University. A few years after I graduated from JMU and as Andrew entered his final year at JMU, Andrew’s parents Laura and John approached me about commissioning a piece for Andrew as a special gift. Upon the Parker’s request, Three Episodes for French Horn and Piano was composed in the Winter of 2020 and presented to Andrew in the spring of 2021. The composition was later premiered by Andrew Parker and pianist Amy Robertson on May 1st, 2021 at Andrew’s final degree recital.

As the title suggests, Three Episodes for French Horn and Piano is broken up into three separate movements each encapsulating the theme of “The Hero’s Journey” from different perspectives in literature and film. The piece acts as a musical narration for Andrew’s journey as he made his way to James Madison University and entered into the fold of Phi Mu Alpha Sinfonia.

Entitled High Seas, the first movement opens as a haunting sea song, accompanied by open piano harmonies that ebb and flow like crashing waves on the open ocean. The movement morphs into a jaunty sea chanty that elicits all the excitement of starting a new journey, much alike how an eager young sailor feels when they set sail for the first time. For the Hero of our musical tale, Andrew first began his collegiate journey at Old Dominion University, where he braved the harsh surf of his freshman year just a few miles from the beachfront of Norfolk, Virginia looking over the Atlantic Ocean.

The second movement is an extremely dark, noir-jazz inspired ballad that stretches the ranges of both the instrumentalists. Entitled Vantablack, this movement attempts to capture the cold desolation of space and the feelings of loneliness and uncertainty that often accompany space faring voyagers in their attempts at discovery. As we often find, there can be comfort and calm found in solitude, and the lush harmonies and soaring melodic lines act as a temple of solace within this second movement. For our Hero, Andrew made the hard decision to leave Old Dominium University and embark into uncharted space as he continued his musical journey.

The last movement is a fun, fast paced mixed meter dance that brings the entire piece to an exciting conclusion. Named after the Ninja Art of living by your own personal rule, Nindo encapsulates the utter elation of coming to the end of a long journey and enjoying the sweet rewards of finding a place to call “Home.” Our Hero Andrew ended up finding his home at James Madison University with the brothers of Phi Mu Alpha Sinfonia, thus ending our own musical journey through this composition. I hope you enjoy performing Three Episodes for French Horn and Piano!

Ian Zook (french horn), Dr. Eric Ruple (piano), 2022