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Rhapsody for Piano and Flute - Orig Composed by Thomas Giles
Rhapsody for Piano and Flute - Orig Composed by Thomas Giles aTomaCat - 1,410 views - 1 year ago
Composed in 2007, and premiered at this event, this was written to sound very much like a fantasia which could have been composed in the romantic period. I utilized harmonic minor scales loosely based around C minor. This rhapsody is a vigorous and technical experience written to amplify the emotional expression. I have written in many cross rhythms to give this piece a very fluid motion. The most prominent of these cross rhythms is a four over eighteen hemiola that is an ostinato in the right hand of the piano, which is gives the sweeping feel. I like challenging the performers with the pieces I write while aiming to still please the listener (keeps from getting boring). When fast, it should catch your attention; when slow, it should wrench your heart. This particular piece is a portrait of different emotions and thus does not resolve at the end.
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Interferences #1 (Roger Boutry) - Thomas Giles Alto Sax
Interferences #1 (Roger Boutry) - Thomas Giles Alto Sax aTomaCat - 1,099 views - 1 year ago
I think Charlene and I both got a bit excited with this piece, and took it a warp speed. Fast, but fun!

This is a bassoon piece, which I arranged for alto saxophone. Composed in 1972, it was originally written for Maurice Allard, professor of bassoon at the Paris Conservatory. This piece explores harmonies and dissonances, the brilliance of which is rarely seen. It is an extraordinary example of contemporary composition and had always fascinated me, so I arranged it for myself. I see it as a story of a man who has been framed to appear as a lunatic. The piece starts out very aggressive and uncontrolled. It continues to build to a cadenza that is near the beginning of the piece as this man is carted off to the asylum. This cadenza has the same aggression and agitation. The rhythms and individual pitches move forward in almost a random format. This chaos builds up to the highest note in the piece. The piano then breaks off to restate the first theme, a memory of his betrayal. He has almost a peaceful resignation to his circumstances when suddenly the piano takes off again to wreak a subtle havoc in his mind. The chaos is quiet, but still continuous, as the tempo slow down, the phrasing and lines become more intelligible, and the mood becomes more pensive allowing the audience time to catch its breath as he plans his escape and his revenge, a brief slow section is entered, then a break that is filled with a quiet peaceful longing melody. Suddenly, as the man escapes from the asylum, a chase scene begins. The main theme of the second movement is introduced here, agitated like the first movement, but more decisive. The rhythms are still chaotic, but continuous and in time. Suddenly the bottom falls out as if the lunatic has been tackled by one of his assailants. You can hear him fall and stumble, but also fight his way free. As he fights his way to freedom, the music goes to half time, and feels much more relaxed. The saxophone reenters on a high note as if the madman sings to himself in the dark. Suddenly he is found and the chase begins again. You can hear the punches. As he starts to run again, he finds more determination and remembers his plan to find the person who framed him. This is the beginning of the end. As he fights his way through to get to the man he sees in front of him, the rhythms intensify their disorder. The piece continues to crescendo until the very end when the man finds his enemy and shoves the blade into his back with the last note.
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Dahl Concerto 3rd Movement - Thomas Giles Alto Sax
Dahl Concerto 3rd Movement - Thomas Giles Alto Sax aTomaCat - 545 views - 1 year ago
The Dahl Concerto commissioned by virtuoso Sigurd Rascher was revised many times, as the composer was never completely satisfied with it. While the 1949 version was originally 29 minutes long, the composer rewrote it several times and shortened it considerably, deleting about a third of the content. The final version performed here was the product of four years of revisions, and was published in 1953. It has a duration of 20 minutes for all three movements, which doesn't fly well with current YouTube rules, but you dial up watchers probably are glad. Dahl continued to make revisions even to the last days of his life, noting in a letter that the last note should be played one half beat later than notated. He had a reputaion of being a cheerful, quirky little man, and I think his personality can be easily seen in this piece.
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Interlochen World Youth Sax Quartet--Lacour Mvmt III
Interlochen World Youth Sax Quartet--Lacour Mvmt III jdschwim - 1,068 views - 11 months ago
At the first honors recital
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aTomaCat  
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Name:
Thomas
Channel Views:
1,187
Age:
18
Joined:
May 29, 2008
Last Sign In:
2 months ago
Videos Watched:
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About Me: *** NOTICE: Thomas is attending Interlochen this summer and will answer your comments when he returns. Sorry for any delays! ***

Thomas Giles has received numerous awards and praise for both classical and jazz performances in five states including:

2008 Interlochen Emerson Scholar - 1 of 52 Worldwide
2008 Downbeat Magazine National Classical Soloist
2007 Downbeat Magazine National Classical Soloist
2007 Pikes Peak Philharmonic Concerto Competition
2007 Principal Alto Sax, All South Regional Honor Band

He is equally versed as a soloist in orchestral performance and jazz improvisation. Although only seventeen years of age, Thomas has already achieved national acclaim. Several nationally known saxophone professionals have praised Thomas for his beautiful tone, amazing technique, extreme range, modern stylistic interpretation and moving artistic expression.

In 2007, Thomas was recognized by Downbeat Magazine as one of two Best High School Classical Soloists nationally from among all instruments. In 2008 he was the only Classical Soloist selected nationwide on all instruments. Thomas was also named as one of fifty-two Emerson Scholars to the prestigious Interlochen Music Camp for the summer of 2008, chosen from hundreds of finalists worldwide. In February 2008, Thomas participated by special invitation in the All-South Regional Honor Band as principal alto saxophone.

Thomas won the Pikes Peak Philharmonic Orchestra Young Artists Competition in 2007 and played the three-movement concerto, Concertino Da Camera by Jaques Ibert, from memory with the orchestra for their May concert. He has maintained perfect ratings at the local Spring Solo and Ensemble Contest for the past three years. Thomas has performed with the All-State Band of Colorado this year, and the All-City Band of Colorado Springs for the past three years.

The UNC/Greely Jazz Festival awarded Thomas a scholarship to the Yellowstone Jazz Camp in 2006. He was also recognized for Outstanding Solo Improvisational Performance at the UNC/Greely Jazz Festival in April 2006, December 2006, April 2007 and April 2008.

In addition to soprano, alto, tenor and baritone saxophones, Thomas plays bassoon, clarinet, piano, guitar, bass guitar, and drums. He also composes and arranges music for many different instruments and ensembles.

Thomas is a graduate of Giles Conservatory while participating in the Lewis Palmer High School Bands. He plans to enter the University of Southern Mississippi this fall with a full music scholarship. He hopes to become a composer and professor of saxophone performance at a prestigious university to pass on his joy and passion for music.
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Channel Comments (5)
Celloboy09 (7 months ago)
Hey, another high school sax player here. I was looking at your videos (great stuff, love the control on the altissimo register) and was wondering what sax you play. Is it a keilwerth? That was a tag in one of the videos and since I'm considering buying one of those, you happen to be a fine musician, and I think you have one, I was wondering what you thought of it.
ahnee3773 (10 months ago)
dude! I was just watching your interlochen video (the quartet) and you've gotten like so much better! not that you were too shabby before... but now... your SEXY! ;)
cyspaceboy (1 year ago)
Nice music bit I hope the quality of your videos will improve.

Alexander.
kashleeime (1 year ago)
that was an awesome video
onln4jesus (1 year ago)
Wow...you are very young to be composing such complex music. Will look forward to seeing more videos. Did you graduate yet? OR, USA