Cobalt Blue: Concerto for Flute (with Piccolo) and Wind Symphony
Duration approximately 14 minutes
(Version with Piano available for chamber performances, competitions, and rehearsals – LEARN MORE)

Instrumentation: 

Solo Flute/Piccolo

Piccolo
Flute 1, 2
Oboe 1, 2
Clarinet in B-flat 1, 2, 3
Bass Clarinet in B-flat
Contrabass Clarinet in B-flat
Bassoon 1, 2
Contrabassoon

Soprano Saxophone
Alto Saxophone
Tenor Saxophone
Baritone Saxophone

Trumpet in B-flat 1, 2, 3
Horn in F 1, 2, 3, 4
Trombone 1, 2
Bass Trombone
Euphonium
Tuba 1, 2

Double Bass

Celesta
Harp

Timpani
Percussion 1:
Tam-tam, Drum Set, Wind Chimes, Triangle

Percussion 2:
Crash Cymbals, Glockenspiel, Egg Shaker, Triangle

Percussion 3:
Bass Drum, Xylophone, Suspended Cymbal, Crash Cymbals

Percussion 4:
Suspended Cymbal, Vibraphone, Temple Blocks, Cowbell

Percussion 5:
Crotales, Marimba, Crash Cymbals, Chimes

Chamber/Rehearsal version available with Piano here: Cobalt Blue for Flute (with Piccolo) and Piano – Jenni Brandon
(Use this version for chamber performances, preparation for Concerto performances/auditions)

About Cobalt Blue

Cobalt Blue: Concerto for Flute (with Piccolo) and Wind Symphony is inspired by the beauty and unique landscape of Long Beach, California, with the solo flute (with piccolo) as our guide through its sights and sounds.

The journey begins at the striking Walter Pyramid (I. The Great Pyramid), a cobalt-blue landmark rising 18 stories above the city on the campus of California State University, Long Beach. As the flute soars above, the Cobalt Blue theme emerges, weaving throughout the piece.

Moving through the city’s roads and highways, we arrive at the Grand Prix of Long Beach (II. The Grand Prix),

where a rhythmic groove captures the speed and excitement of the race. Trombones mimic a Doppler effect as cars zip by, and the Cobalt Blue theme returns in a dreamlike slow-motion moments before accelerating toward the finish line.

Leaving the race behind, we head to the beach, where wind chimes and flute jet whistles evoke the ocean breeze (III. Western Sandpipers at the water’s edge). The piccolo sings the calls of Western Sandpipers in a solo cadenza using several transcribed Western Sandpiper songs, eventually joined by the flute section as birds play in the surf: running, darting, and soaring into the sky. Sunlight sparkles on the water as the solo piccolo gives us a bird’s-eye view of the water and sand below.

In majestic flight, we fly over the Long Beach harbor, glimpsing the Queen Mary with her iconic red and black stacks (IV. Majestic flight over the Queen Mary).

As birds dive and glide above, we await the deep, resounding blast of her 55Hz typhoon whistle from the low brass and low winds. The journey concludes back at the Great Pyramid, bringing our musical exploration full circle.