About Apex was commissioned by Mark Bousie and
David Armitage (President of Sellers International Ltd.) for the Sellers International
Youth Band to perform at the Action Research Entertainment Contest in Blackpool,
2007. Originally commissioned as part of a stage act with a magician, who levitated
the soloist, Apex takes its title from the literal meaning of the word – the
highest point.
As well as being a solo for cornet, the piece also strongly
features the percussion section, as well as the band singing!
The solo
part is equally suitable for cornet, flugel horn or trumpet.
First performance:
Sellers International Youth Band
Mark Bousie - Conductor
Joe Murray -
Cornet
Performance notes:
- The singing parts are written in transposed pitch, and should be sung
to an "ah" sound
- The percussionists should feel free to add instruments (Such as bongos)
and treat section C to the end as a guide, which they can change and build
on
- From section C until the end, percussion parts 1 and 2 may be played
by one percussionist on a drum set
