Commissioning Project
Consortium Commissioning Project
A Collaboration between Bernie Scherr, composer, Abilene Christian University and McMurry University
Dr. David Amlung, Chair, Department of Music, Assistant Professor of Music, active trumpet performer and teacher, invites fellow trumpet artists to participate in this consortium commissioning project. The work by composer Bernie Scherr is titled “The Long Goodbye” and is scored for solo Bb trumpet and wind ensemble.
“The Long Goodbye” traces the emotional journey of gradually losing a loved one to Alzheimer’s disease. It begins with the sudden, but not completely unexpected diagnosis, and then evokes the highs and lows of the good and bad days in which the present and memories of the past become intertwined. Near the end of the piece, there is dramatic passage in which the profound sense of loss is keenly felt. The piece concludes with an epilogue that conveys the Christian hope of eternal life for our loved ones.
The soloist and wind ensemble players will find the piece written idiomatically for their instruments, and audiences will readily appreciate the accessible nature of the tonal harmonic vocabulary and lyrical melodies.
Consortium details are listed below:
The World Premiere will be given by the Abilene Christian University Wind Ensemble on February 26, 2022, under the direction of Dr. Steven Ward. Consortium members will be required to host their premieres after this date.
Consortium members will have exclusive performing rights from February 27, 2022 to December 31, 2022. In 2023 the piece will be available to the public for purchase and performance through www.berniescherrcomposer.com
Consortium members will be listed on the published score, and are requested to be listed on all printed/electronic advertisements and concert programs.
Consortium members will have permission to make professional recordings of the piece through calendar 2022, but must withhold distribution until after February 26, 2022. Beginning in 2023, all consortium members that want to make professional recordings for distribution must seek the composer’s permission.
The cost for becoming a consortium member is $200. This cost includes:
A full score (pdf)
A complete set of parts (pdf) for the wind ensemble and soloist
A piano reduction of the wind ensemble with the soloist part (pdf)
Permission to perform and record the piece (recording permission ends in 2023)
The consortium fee can be paid through PayPal (a link will be provided upon request) or a check made out to:
Bernie Scherr, B&D Music Services, LLC
282 Sanford Lane, Abilene, Texas 79602
The initiators of this project are looking forward to building a consortium of fellow musicians that also resolutely believe in the creation of new music for solo trumpet and wind ensemble. A sample recording of the work can be provided upon request for those interested in becoming a part of this exciting project. Contact the composer at https://berniescherrcomposer.com/contact/ for more details.
Consortium Members (as of 10/6/2021)
David Amlung, McMurry University
Steven Ward, Abilene Christian University
Bill Harden, Hardin Simmons University
Dustin Seifert, Eastern New Mexico University
Sid Shuler, Eastern New Mexico University