Instrumentation:
Two Treble Instruments

Difficulty:
Medium

Nine short fanfare motifs in a variety of flavors. Arranged for any pair of treble instruments.

Instrumentation:
One Clarinet

Difficulty:
Advanced

A whimsical, atonal rhapsody for unaccompanied clarinet.

Instrumentation:
Clarinet and Soprano Voice (or Violin/ or Trumpet)

Difficulty:
Advanced

A setting of the Longfellow Poem, “The Jewish Cemetery at Newport.” The solo part is arranged for Soprano Voice, Violin, and Trumpet, to be accompanied by a Bb Clarinet (Clarinet accompaniment includes glissandi). Chords are provided if singer desires additional accompaniment.

Instrumentation:
3 Trumpets, 2 Horns/Euphoniums (or 1 of each), 2 Trombones, Tuba

Difficulty:
Advanced

3^rd Place Winner of the inaugural Humboldt State University Chamber Music Contest, “Another Sweet” is a bright, neoclassical suite debuted by the Glacier Bay Brass Quintet in 2004. Three movements are titled “Intrada,” “Air,” and “Scherzo.”

Instrumentation:
Soprano Sax, Alto Sax, 2 Tenor Saxes, Baritone Sax (Optional Rhythm Section)

Difficulty:
Medium

Fast bebop quintet with modern harmonies, inspired by a twelve-bar blues.

Instrumentation:
4 Alto Saxes (or 2 Altos and 2 Tenors), Baritone Sax, Bass (Optional Flute)

Difficulty:
Medium

Bright twelve-bar blues piece with improvised solos for a large jazz combo.

Instrumentation:
2 Trumpets, Horn, Trombone, Euphonium, Tuba

Difficulty:
Advanced

Composed for the Humboldt State University Chamber Music Competition. From the composer: “One definition of sextant is one sixth of a circle. My concept of 'Brass Sextants' is a brass ensemble with Six Equal Parts.” Three movements, entitled “Andantino,” “Larghetto,” and “Allegro Giocoso.”

Instrumentation:
Alto and Tenor Sax

Difficulty:
Easy

Eleven-bar blues riff for two saxophones, composed for Carl Zaremba.

Instrumentation:
3 Bb Clarinets, Bass Clarinet

Difficulty:
Medium

A three-movement clarinet quartet in a modern classical style. The first two movements are slow, with the third quick and vibrant. Range and rhythms are accommodating to most clarinetists.

Instrumentation:
Large Symphony Orchestra with Solo Tenor Saxophone, Bass, and Drum Set

Difficulty:
Advanced

Commissioned and debuted in 2008 by the Whatcom Symphony Orchestra, this four-movement concerto is a seamless blend of jazz and classical influence. Movements entitled: 

1: Introduction and Allegro, 2: Scherzo, 3: Ballade, and 4: Cannon, Fugue, and Coda.

An epic atonal soundscape for strings and reed instruments. May or may not be satire...

Instrumentation:
Alto and Tenor Saxophones

Difficulty:
Easy

A slow, late-night ballad. Featured in the film “Beat Angel” (2004)

Instrumentation:
2 Clarinets

Difficulty:
Advanced

A short, dissonant, jazzy duet. Features challenging parts for both players.

Instrumentation:
3 Trumpets, Horn, 3 Trombones, Tuba

Difficulty:
Advanced

Composed for the 2009 Humboldt State University Chamber Music Competition, this octet is a lively portrayal of dreams, good and bad. The piece features four movements, “Hypnos,” “Morpheus' Dance,” “Phobetor,” and “Phantasos,” interspersed with three short movements for subgroups within the ensemble.

Instrumentation:
SATTB Saxes, 5 Trumpets, 4 Trombones, Bass Trombone/Tuba, Piano, Bass, Guitar, and Drum Set

Difficulty:
Advanced

A very fast and lively 12-bar blues chart for big band.

Instrumentation:
9 Reeds (SATB Saxes, Eb, Bb, and Bass Clarinets, Flute, Wood Flute), Percussion, and Acoustic Bass

Difficulty:
Advanced

A large-scale piece full of extended techniques, inspired by Anthony Braxton. Written as a way of releasing his feelings towards Zone 12 (Conventional methods of playing European and American music), “Escape from Zone 12” is a challenging “mosaic or collage” of 10 main sections and 10 subsections, and requires advanced techniques from musician and conductor alike.

Instrumentation:
Violin, Cello, 2 Electric Guitars

Difficulty:
Medium

A short, humorous study for unconventional instruments, featuring improvised solos for violin and guitars. Composed in a classical style... at first.

Instrumentation:
Solo Instrument with Chords

Difficulty:
Easy

An easy jazz solo for any C instrument, based on the harmony of “Autumn Leaves” (Joseph Kosma, 1945).

Instrumentation:
2 Trumpets, Horn, Trombone, Euphonium, Tuba

Difficulty:
Advanced

Ray's last completed composition, written for the Humboldt State University Chamber Music Competition. Movements are titled “Procession,” “Air,” “Proclamation,” “Arioso,” and “Valse.”

Instrumentation:
4 French Horns

Difficulty:
Advanced

An expressive modern study featuring the full range of the French Horn.

Instrumentation:
Alto Sax, 2 Tenor Saxes, Guitar, Bass

Difficulty:
Advanced

A lively and harmonically diverse jazz featuring solos in Dorian and Phrygian modes; A nice opportunity to feature jazz guitar solos.

Instrumentation:
Alto Sax, Tenor Sax, Baritone Sax, Drum Set (No Notated Part)

Difficulty:
Advanced

Funky in the literal and colloquial sense, this serial-atonal saxophone trio is full of unpredictable energy. Rather than composed in a linear fashion, the three saxophone parts are written separately and can be played in any order or simultaneously. In its inaugural performance, the saxes were accompanied by improvised percussion, but the piece could be performed unaccompanied with dramatic negative space.

An ambient, aleatoric soundscape featuring semi-tonal Celtic winds and stone percussion.

An early electronic epic, reminiscent of classic sci-fi film scores. Very ambient and atonal.

Instrumentation:
Trumpet, Alto Sax, Tenor Sax, Guitar, Bass, and Drum Set

Difficulty:
Medium

A quick and easy jazz number with an island swing.

Instrumentation:
4 Trombones

Difficulty:
Medium

A short, humorous riff for four trombones.

Instrumentation:
Keyboard (Piano and Celeste), Percussion

Difficulty:
Advanced

A modern duet alternating between sections of chaos and sweet, lullaby melodies. Features extended techniques for keyboards.

Instrumentation:
2 Trumpets, 2 Horns, 2 Trombones, Tuba

Difficulty:
Advanced

A jazz suite for Brass Septet, composed for the 2013 Humboldt State University Chamber Music Competition. Movements are titled “Olive,” “Nocturne,” and “Brother Joe.”

Instrumentation:
Flute, Oboe, Clarinet

Difficulty:
Easy

A slow, beautiful piece for three winds; Quiet, expressive, with easy notes and simple syncopation.

Instrumentation:
2 Clarinets

Difficulty:
Medium

A short, modern duet, featuring dramatic counterpoint and a happy ending.

Instrumentation:
2 Violins, Viola, Cello

Difficulty:
Medium

A quick, jazzy quartet for strings.

Named for a city near the university at which the composer studied, Lynden Snake Dances is a western-style dance suite played in a variety of alternative styles. The movements (and styles) are as follows: Pavane (Gamelan), Galiard (Western Swing/Postmodern Blues), African Minuet (Various African Genres), and Gig (Big Band Jazz).

Instrumentation:
SATB Saxophones

Difficulty:
Advanced

A modern saxophone quartet; It begins with introduction of a chromatic theme, progressively growing more rhythmically intense. In the middle of the piece, all musicians have extended unaccompanied solos before the piece returns to a rhythmically relaxed conclusion.

Instrumentation:
3 Bb Clarinets, Bass Clarinet

Difficulty:
Medium

A modern clarinet quartet. Mostly slow and still, featuring easy extended techniques and dramatic low-pitched harmony.

Instrumentation:
Soprano or Tenor Sax, Piano, Tuba

Difficulty:
Advanced

A fun, jazzy trio full of time signature changes and syncopation.

Instrumentation:
Soprano Sax (Or Trumpet), Alto Sax, Guitar, Bass

Difficulty:
Advanced

Double-time jazz combo with a gentle, ¾ time introduction. 

Instrumentation:
AATTB Saxes (Lead Alto Doubles on Piccolo), 4 Trumpets, 3 Trombones, Bass Trombone, Guitar, Piano, Bass, Drum Set

Difficulty:
Advanced

Rubato introduction, followed by an upbeat swing. Features notated and improvised solos.

Instrumentation:
2 Trumpets, 2 Horns, 2 Trombones, Tuba

Difficulty:
Advanced

Named for the park at the border of Washington State and British Columbia, Canada, this Septet was composed for the Humboldt State University Chamber Music Competition and debuted by the Glacier Bay Brass Quintet. Movements entitled “Proclamation,” “Rally,” “Vigil,” and “Festival.”

Instrumentation:
5 Trumpets, 3 Trombones, Bass Trombone, Tuba

Difficulty:
Advanced

Medium-length jazz-inspired work for 10 brass instruments. Includes chorale, jazz fanfare, and double-time jazz sections.

Instrumentation:
2 Euphoniums, 4 Tubas

Difficulty:
Medium

This programmatic Tuba Sextet depicts each instrument as an individual from a primitive tribe. In the first movement, the members call out to each other through the woods, eventually gathering together. In the second movement they perform a Pagan Mass, before setting off on the third movement's Conquest March. 

Instrumentation:
3 Clarinets, Bass Clarinet (Eb clarinet optional for 1st clarinet)

Difficulty:
Medium

An upbeat blues quartet with plenty of space for solos.

A largely-improvised symphony featuring many non-western instruments, this is a true homage to jazz, the avant-garde, and as-yet-unheard possibilities.

Instrumentation:
4 reeds (Saxes and Flutes), 4 Trumpets, 4 Trombones, Tuba, Guitar, Bass, Drum Set

Difficulty:
Advanced

Big band Samba, composed in 1979.

Instrumentation:
3 Trumpets, Horn, 2 Trombones, Euphonium, Tuba

Difficulty:
Advanced

Inspired by famous locales and events in the San Juan Islands of Washington State, this three-movement suite won 3^rd prize at the 2006 Humboldt State University Chamber Music Contest. Movements titled “Pig War Folly” (Only the pig died), Afterglow Manor, and “Friday Harbor Shuffle.”

Instrumentation:
Baritone Sax, Trumpet (Optional), Bass, Piano, and Drum Set

Difficulty:
Medium

Free-style jazz featuring the bass, inspired by a trip to the Washington coast.

Instrumentation:
Solo Piano

Difficulty:
Medium

Seven fanfares in varying style for piano; Simple harmony with some fast/uneven rhythms.

Instrumentation:
SATB Saxophones

Difficulty:
Advanced

Puppets is a thoroughly modern saxophone quartet in one movement. Featuring all four musicians throughout, the piece features an exciting contrapuntal midsection bookended by chromatic chorales.

Instrumentation:
2 Flugelhorns (or Trumpets), Horn, Trombone, Tuba

Difficulty:
Advanced

Brass quintet dedicated to Gil Evans. Features long sections in 7/4 time, and finishes with a fast, jazzy section.

Instrumentation:
2 Bb Instruments, Rhythm Section

Difficulty:
Medium

Short, twelve-bar blues bop for a small combo.

Instrumentation:
STTB Saxophones

Difficulty:
Medium

A fast, approachable jazz finale displaying rhythmic unity between the four saxophonists.

Instrumentation:
Large Symphony Orchestra

Difficulty:
Advanced

This one-movement smphonic jazz epic is subtitled “Rag, Ballad, and Blues.” The piece provides great opportunities for every section to shine, culminating in a fortissimo staccato extravaganza.

Instrumentation:
Oboe, Clarinet, Alto Sax, Bass Clarinet, Bassoon

Difficulty:
Medium

A lively classical suite for an atypical ensemble; Four movements.

Instrumentation:
Tenor Sax, Piano, Bass

Difficulty:
Advanced

A Latin Jazz solo for Tenor Sax 

Instrumentation:
SATB Saxophones or Trumpet, Horn, Trombone, Bass Trombone/Tuba

Difficulty:
Advanced

Straight-eighth jazz quartet for two potential ensembles; Very active and rhythmic.

Instrumentation:
French Horn, Vibraphone

Difficulty:
Advanced

Modern duet, featuring plenty of separation, growing more connected toward the end of the piece. Short and mysterious. (Dedicated to Jack Champagne)

Instrumentation:
One Clarinet

Difficulty:
Advanced

A short, jazzy piece for unaccompanied clarinet. Features alternating motifs, one slow and full of glissandi, the second intense and full of large interval jumps.

Instrumentation:
Flutes, 3 Clarinets, 4 Alto Saxes, 2 Tenor Saxes, Baritone Sax

Difficulty:
Easy

Written with the intention of performance at student recitals, “The Band Director's Blues” is a musical parallel to the music-education process. It begins with simple, repetitive themes by the least-experienced musicians in the 3^rd clarinet/4^th alto parts, then gradually builds in number of players and complexity of the variations. Appropriate for all levels of clarinets and saxophones, while flute parts are more challenging, this piece is a dramatic and cathartic climax to a student showcase.

Instrumentation:
2-3 Flutes, 2-3 Clarinets, 2-3 Alto Saxes, 1-2 Tenor Saxes, Baritone Sax

Difficulty:
Easy

Inspired by, and written during, canceled music lessons, “The Cancellation Blues” is a student-friendly piece intended to be played for mixed woodwind recitals. The latter portion of the piece features sparse accompaniment appropriate for improvised solos by experienced students.

Instrumentation:
Piano, or any instrument with chords

Difficulty:
Easy

A 12-bar blues riff for any treble instrument.

Instrumentation:
Eb Clarinet, 3 Bb Clarinets, Alto Clarinet, Bass Clarinet, Contrabass Clarinet

Difficulty:
Advanced

A clarinet septet composed for the London Consorts of Winds in 2012.

The lower register of the clarinet is known as the Chalumeau Register, getting it’s name from an earlier instrument similar to a recorder but with a small mouthpiece and reed called the chalumeau. The Muses of Chalumeau consists of 3 movements, as follows: 1. Air and Procession: The clarinets begin in the lower register calling out the muses for inspiration. 2. Ballad: The melody is passed between the members of the clarinet family over a rich texture predominately in the chalumeau register. 3. Valse: The clarinets offer a dance for the muses based in the mixolydian mode; however, one of the muses does not like to waltz  and tries twice (unsuccessfully) to interrupt the dance, but the other muses continue the valse. The composer, Ray Downey lives in Bellingham, Washington, 30 km south of the Canadian border. He plays in local orchestras, chamber groups and jazz ensembles in the Pacific Northwest, while maintaining a woodwinds teaching studio.

Instrumentation:
Soprano Sax, Alto Sax, Tenor Sax, Trumpet, Trombone, Rhythm Section

Difficulty:
Medium

An upbeat swing dance favorite, “The Other Brother” features plentiful flowing melodies and five part harmony. Solos are clearly marked, making this a great choice for new and experienced jazzers alike.

Instrumentation:
Sopranino Sax (Or Flute), Bass Sax

Difficulty:
Advanced

A modern duet featuring extended techniques and advanced rhythm and harmonies. Written in 1981 and revised in 2001.

Instrumentation:
2 Trumpets, Horn, Trombone, Euphonium, Tuba

Difficulty:
Advanced

A three-movement classical piece which won an honorable mention at the 2007 Humboldt State University Chamber Music Contest. Three movements are entitled “Gnome at Home,” “The Daydreamer,” and “The Traveler.”

Instrumentation:
Alto Saxophone/Trumpet, 2 Tenor Saxophones, Bass, Drum Set

Difficulty:
Advanced

Alto/Trumpet part is written in concert pitch

A slow-building jazz dance, featuring a powerful intro from the rhythm section. Offers plentiful solos and performance notes by the composer in each part.

Instrumentation:
5/6 Trombones, 2/3 Bass Trombones

Difficulty:
Advanced

A heroic, cinematic piece for Trombone Octet, composed for the 2011 Humboldt State University Chamber Music Contest. 6^th Trombone part playable on bass or tenor with F attachment.

Instrumentation:
Alto Sax, 3 Tenor Saxes, 4 Trumpets, 4 Trombones, Rhythm Section

Difficulty:
Advanced

Standard-style big band funk, featuring very fast melodic sections for saxophones.

Instrumentation:
3 Bb Clarinets (1st Clarinet may be played on Eb), Bass Clarinet

Difficulty:
Medium

A bouncy and relaxed swing tune dedicated to the composer's friend, Barry Ulman. Strongly features the 1^st clarinetist, who may play his part on Eb if desired.

Instrumentation:
Soprano Sax (Doubles Piccolo), 2 Alto Saxes, 3 Tenor Saxes, Baritone Sax, 4 Trumpets, 4 Trombones, Piano, Electric Bass

Difficulty:
Advanced

Big band classic; Begins with an extended introduction featuring changing time and fermatas before settling into grooving solos.

Instrumentation:
SATB Chorus (Piano accompaniment for rehearsal only)

Difficulty:
Advanced

Two a capella choir movements in an African Spiritual style. Lyrics come from Longfellow's “Poems on Slavery” (1842), specifically “The Witness” and “The Slave's Dream.”

Instrumentation:
Solo Baritone Sax, Flute, Horn, Cello, Percussion

Difficulty:
Advanced

A solo for baritone sax accompanied by a mixed quartet. Features numerous percussion effects and completely independent rubato passages for the soloist.

Instrumentation:
Bass Clarinet and Acoustic Bass

Difficulty:
Advanced

A very modern and often atonal duet. Features extended techniques and use of the instruments as percussion.

Instrumentation:
SATB Saxophones and Solo Alto Saxophone

Difficulty:
Advanced

The first movement of a fast jazz quintet composed for Mark Kelly. Vee Vop features numerous time changes in it's later half and challenges soloist and accompanists alike.

Instrumentation:
ATTBB Saxophones (All doubling on flute), 4 Trumpets, Flugelhorn, 3 Trombones, Bass Trombone, Tuba, Piano, Bass, Drum Set

Difficulty:
Advanced

A romantic big band tune featuring the saxophone section doubling as a flute quintet. One of Ray's earliest compositions (1976).

Instrumentation:
Trumpet, Horn, Trombone, Tuba (Second Movement available for Sax Quartet)

Difficulty:
Advanced

Four movements full of movement, this brass quartet won an honorable mention in the 2012 Humboldt State University Chamber Music Contest. The second movement, Solitary Waltzer, is also arranged for SATB Saxophones and Piano.

Instrumentation:
Solo Soprano, Flute, English Horn, Clarinet, and Bassoon

Difficulty:
Advanced

A setting of the synonymous Longfellow Poem, this composition won the second prize in the 2011 Longfellow Choral Festival in Portland, Maine. Alternately tranquil and exciting, just as the woods are both calming and dangerous.

Instrumentation:
3 Trumpets, Horn, 2 Trombones, Euphonium, Tuba

Difficulty:
Advanced

A dissonant and majestic four-movement suite for brass octet, composed for the 2011 Humboldt State University Chamber Music Contest. Movements entitled Sun Dance, October Storm, Snow Meditations, and Spring Awakening.