James Marshall Music

2026 Premieres
Evocation for Piccolo and Bass Flute Nan Raphael Florida Flute Convention January 30, 2026
The Road not Taken Richardson Community Band February 15, 2026
Spheres Clarinet Quintet - Alison Eales and the Alban Ensemble London March 13, 2026
Soliloquies and Dances Debbie Barnes, Alison Eales London March 13, 2026
Folklore Fantasia Lower Michigan Low Flutes May, 2026
Orion Prelude Lower Michigan Flutes May, 2026
Bluebonnet Spring Flutes Unlimited Arlington, Texas TDB
Grandma’s Village Laguna Flutes TBD
American Travels Plano Clarinet Choir TBD

Divertimento for Clarinet, Basssoon and Strings
was premiered March 23, 2025 by Alison Eales and
Debbie Barnes at City Lit College in London.

Island Sunrise
Commissioned by Deborah Rebeck Ash for Lower Michigan Low Flutes was premiered it in Saginaw on September 15, 2024.
Debbie performed it with the Lowly Cantations at
the Florida Flute Convention February 2, 2025.
The Lower Michigan Low Flutes performed it at the
NFA convention in Atlanta August 9 assisted by distinguished Contras
Jonathan Cohen and Paige Dashner Long and others.

Autumn Gray for Flute/Alto Flute and Piano was premiered by Leo Snow for the Music Club Hartford.
In this piece, the leaves are the light. Shades of yellow, orange and red engulfed by early morning clouds and fog.
The evocative and illusive low tones of the alto flute are enhanced by subsequent passages in the higher, illuminating, singing tones of the concert flute. The music, shifting in mood and perspective is illuminated by piano shadings of the evolving flute passages.
Listen to Leo’s premiere recording:

Spheres for Clarinet Quintet was composed in Spring, 2025.
Commissioned by London Clarinetist Alison Eales it follows the two Sonatas
and chamber music composed for her and London colleagues.
The music relies on the pastoral English style that I have developed for her and her groups.
It also alludes to the heritage of the Mozart and Brahms (no pretention on my part) quintets
so dear to Alison, myself all clarinetists. A global, yet British, mood prevails.
The world continues to change becoming a convergence of spheres. An eclectic convergence
inspiring the music. The premiere is scheduled for March 13, 2026 in London.

While in London in March, Debbie Barnes inquired about a solo piece for bassoon.
Alison suggested something for bassoon and piano since she plays piano as well as clarinet.
Debbie commissioned Soliloquies and Dances. It’s an atmospheric, evocative piece in the
two sections. Played continuously.

Holly Clemans from the Lower Michigan Low Flute group performed on Island Sunrise
at the NFA convention in August. She showed me the low whistle tone flute and commissioned me to write Folklore Fantasia for Solo Whistle tone and Low Flute Choir drawn from Scottish and Irish songs.
It is set in 5 continuous sections:

Give Me Your Hand
At the Wooden Bridge
Sonny’s Marzuka
The Left Handed Fiddler
Archibald MacDonald of Keppoch
The Blackthorn Stick
Lady MacKenzie of Coul