Abertura Jobiniana

 

• Description: a 2013 symphonic composition built from melodic motifs and harmonic sequences associated with the music of Antônio Carlos Jobim.

• Original scoring: traditional symphony orchestra.

• Other versions: none.

• Commission: the Bossa Nova Sinfônico project of the National Symphony Orchestra of Costa Rica.

• Premiere and context: conceived as the opening work for the Bossa Nova Sinfônico concert.

• Recording: a live performance by the National Symphony Orchestra of Costa Rica, conducted by Jeremy Fox, released as the opening track of the album Bossa Nova Sinfônico.

• Recognition: nominated for the 2013 Latin Grammy Award for Best Classical Contemporary Composition.

• Musical characteristics: uses materials associated with Tom Jobim, including references to Canta Mais and Sinfonia da Alvorada.

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Abertura SubUrbana

 

• Description: a composition dedicated to Orquestra Urbana.

• Original scoring: full big band with percussion.

• Other versions: none.

• Documented performance: Orquestra Urbana at Teatro Iguatemi Campinas in 2014.

• Recording: the opening track of Orquestra Urbana’s album Pelos Ares.

• Recognition: Honorary Award in the 2015 ASMAC Pete Rugolo Big Band Arranging and Composing Competition.

• Musical characteristics: medium-tempo maracatu.

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Amaxixado

 

• Description: a composition created for the Rafael Piccolotto de Lima Chamber Project as part of Forró Sem Palavras.

• Available versions: reduced ten-musician ensemble; full ensemble with mixed winds; full ensemble with saxophone quartet and woodwind doubles.

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Asa, Zóio e Matulão

 

• Description: a composition dedicated to Luiz Gonzaga, built from motifs drawn from three of his songs and conceived in dialogue with Aaron Copland’s Appalachian Spring.

• Original scoring: thirteen-member chamber ensemble.

• Original instrumentation: flute, clarinet, bassoon, piano, two first violins, two second violins, two violas, two cellos, and double bass.

• Other versions: symphony orchestra.

• Commission: Henry Mancini Institute.

• Premiere: Gusman Concert Hall at the University of Miami’s Frost School of Music.

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Baião no Escuro

 

• Description: a composition originally commissioned for an ensemble combining string orchestra and a jazz rhythm section.

• Original scoring: string orchestra, piano, bass, and drums.

• Other versions: full Forró Sem Palavras chamber ensemble; Forró Sem Palavras symphonic ensemble with solo group.

• Commission: Henry Mancini Institute.

• Musical characteristics: a composition connected to baião.

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Balance Shift

 

• Description: a composition for a hybrid ensemble combining jazz, voice, and strings.

• Original scoring: saxophone, voice, piano, guitar, bass, drums, and orchestral string section.

• Other versions: Chamber Project with mixed winds; symphonic jazz ensemble.

• Documented performance: the symphonic jazz version was presented at the Gene Harris Jazz Festival.

• Recognition: 2015 ASCAP Foundation Herb Alpert Young Jazz Composer Award.

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Brookmeyer Motives

 

• Description: a composition dedicated to Bob Brookmeyer and inspired by his compositional world.

• Original scoring: full big band.

• Other versions: none.

• Recording: Frost Concert Jazz Band, Frost School of Music, University of Miami.

• Recognition: 2014 DownBeat Student Music Award for Outstanding Large Ensemble Composition.

• Musical characteristics: medium-tempo swing.

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Bulgarian Spices

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• Portuguese title: Especiarias Búlgaras.

• Description: a composition inspired by the Bulgarian folk song Dilmano, Dilbero.

• Original scoring: mixed chamber ensemble with percussion soloist.

• Original instrumentation: string quartet, flute, bass, piano, drums, percussion, and percussion soloist, with a prominent marimba part.

• Other versions: trio for percussion, piano, and violin.

• Documented performance: the trio version was presented at Carnegie Hall’s Weill Recital Hall with Svetoslav Stoyanov.

• Recording: the original version was recorded by students from the University of Miami’s Frost School of Music, with Svetoslav Stoyanov as soloist.

• Recognition: 2015 DownBeat Student Music Award for Best Small Ensemble Composition.

• Musical characteristics: brings together materials of Bulgarian origin and Brazilian musical influences.

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Caipora

 

• Description: a composition originally created for a hybrid chamber ensemble combining winds, strings, and a Brazilian rhythm section.

• Original scoring: chamber orchestra with six winds, string section, and rhythm section.

• Original instrumentation: flute; alto, tenor, and baritone saxophones with woodwind doubles; trumpet; trombone; strings; piano; accordion; bass; drums; and percussion.

• Other versions: Chamber Project with mixed winds; Forró Sem Palavras symphonic ensemble with solo group; full big band.

• Musical characteristics: medium-tempo maracatu and marcha-rancho.

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Casa do Lago

 

• Description: a composition originally created for the Coletivo Orquestral da UNICAMP.

• Original scoring: full big band with percussion.

• Other versions: none.

• Recording: Orquestra Urbana’s album Pelos Ares.

• Musical characteristics: medium tempo with a straight feel.

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Cenas Quiméricas

 

• Description: a symphonic work in four movements.

• Original scoring: symphony orchestra in a Romantic configuration.

• Instrumentation: woodwinds in pairs, four horns, three trumpets, three trombones, tuba, harp, piano, strings, and orchestral percussion.

• Other versions: none.

• Premiere: Orquestra Sinfônica Municipal de Campinas.

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Danças da Quarentena

 

• Description: a composition created during the pandemic lockdown for a hybrid online orchestra.

• Original scoring: hybrid online orchestra.

• Other versions: big band; Chamber Project.

• Recordings: the original version was released on digital platforms; the big band version was recorded for Orquestra Urbana’s forthcoming album, currently in post-production.

• Musical characteristics: medium-tempo baião and maracatu.

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Danças em Cordas

 

• Description: a four-movement suite for strings.

• Original scoring: string quartet.

• Other versions: solo string quartet and string orchestra.

• Commission: Henry Mancini Institute, for the institute’s string quartet.

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Dark Woods

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• Description: a chamber music composition.

• Original scoring: trio.

• Instrumentation: flute, percussion, and double bass.​

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Encantamento

 

• Description: a composition written for Caruwa.

• Original scoring: Caruwa sextet.

• Instrumentation: saxophone, Brazilian viola caipira, acoustic guitar, acoustic bass, cello, percussion, and voice distributed among the six members.

• Recording: Caruwa’s album.

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Entre Outras Coisas

 

• Description: a composition for big band.

• Original scoring: full big band.

• Commission: Remy Le Boeuf, in connection with the University of Denver’s Lamont School of Music.

• Recording: Orquestra Urbana’s forthcoming album, currently in post-production.

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Fables of Mingus

 

• Description: a composition for big band.

• Original scoring: full big band.

• Other versions: none.

• Recording: Frost Concert Jazz Band, Frost School of Music, University of Miami.

• Recognition: 2014 ASCAP Foundation Herb Alpert Young Jazz Composer Award.

• Musical characteristics: medium-tempo swing.

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Fantasia Gismontiana

 

• Description: a composition for piano and orchestra inspired by the creative world of Egberto Gismonti.

• Original scoring: solo piano and orchestra.

• Instrumentation: solo piano, woodwinds in pairs, brass, orchestral percussion, and strings.

• Other versions: expanded version for piano and orchestra.

• Premiere: Orquestra Sinfônica da UNICAMP.

• Subsequent performance: the expanded version was presented by the Orquestra Sinfônica Municipal de Campinas.

• Recording: the initial recording was made by students from the University of Miami’s Frost School of Music, with pianist Asya Korepanova.

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Febre

 

• Description: a composition originally written for a reduced jazz ensemble and later revised for big band.

• Original scoring: instrumental nonet.

• Other versions: full big band with percussion.

• Recording: the big band version was recorded by Orquestra Urbana for the album Pelos Ares.

• Musical characteristics: medium tempo with a straight feel.

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Gaia

 

• Description: a composition for Caruwa and string orchestra.

• Original scoring: Caruwa sextet and string orchestra.

• Instrumentation: saxophone, Brazilian viola caipira, acoustic guitar, acoustic bass, cello, percussion, and voice distributed among the members of Caruwa, with string orchestra.

• Recording: Caruwa’s album.

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Inconsciente

 

• Description: Rafael Piccolotto de Lima’s first symphonic work, composed in 2004.

• Original scoring: symphonic jazz ensemble combining symphony orchestra and big band.

• Other versions: Chamber Project; full big band with percussion.

• Premiere: Orquestra Sinfônica Municipal de Campinas in 2004.

• Recording: the big band version was recorded for Orquestra Urbana’s forthcoming album, currently in post-production.

• Musical characteristics: the big band version is connected to a medium-tempo baião.

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Lifted

 

• Description: a contemporary chamber music composition.

• Original scoring: orchestral percussion quintet.​

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Lost in Reveries

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• Description: a composition for strings with solo quartet.

• Original scoring: solo string quartet and string orchestra.

• Commission and premiere: Henry Mancini Institute Orchestra.

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Maracaião

 

• Description: a composition associated with the Rafael Piccolotto de Lima Chamber Project and Forró Sem Palavras.

• Available versions: full ensemble with mixed winds; full ensemble with saxophone quartet and woodwind doubles; reduced ten-musician ensemble; symphonic ensemble with solo group.​

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Masks

 

• Description: an orchestral composition with choir and solo voice.

• Original scoring: orchestra, choir, and solo voice.

• Original instrumentation: woodwinds in pairs, strings, orchestral percussion, choir, and solo voice.

• Other versions: symphony orchestra; symphonic jazz ensemble.

• Performances: Orquestra Sinfônica Nacional da UFF, conducted by Tobias Volkmann, during the 2017 Mostra OSN de Música da Atualidade at Cine Arte UFF in Niterói; Orquestra Sinfônica Municipal de Campinas; and the symphonic jazz ensemble of the Gene Harris Jazz Festival.

• Recording: the original version was recorded by students from the University of Miami’s Frost School of Music.

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Negative Space

 

• Description: a composition originally written for a small jazz group and later expanded for chamber ensemble and big band.

• Original scoring: jazz combo.

• Other versions: Chamber Project with six winds; full big band.

• Recordings: the chamber version was recorded at a New York University studio in New York; the big band version was recorded for Orquestra Urbana’s forthcoming album, currently in post-production.

• Recognition: finalist for the 2017 BMI Jazz Composers Workshop Charlie Parker Jazz Composition Prize.

• Musical characteristics: 6/8 feel.

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Online

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• Description: a composition commissioned for a university project and later incorporated into Orquestra Urbana’s repertoire.

• Commission: Boise State University, at the initiative of Professor Derek Ganong.

• Premiere: The Jazz Gallery in New York, as part of The Jazz Composers’ Showcase.

• Recording: Orquestra Urbana’s forthcoming album, currently in post-production.

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Open Space

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• Description: a composition for symphony orchestra.

• Original scoring: symphony orchestra.

• Premiere: Orquestra Sinfônica Nacional da UFF, conducted by Tobias Volkmann, during the 2017 Mostra OSN de Música da Atualidade at Cine Arte UFF in Niterói.

• Subsequent performance: Orquestra Sinfônica Municipal de Campinas.

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Pelos Ares

 

• Description: a composition for big band.

• Original scoring: full big band.

• Other versions: none.

• Recording: Orquestra Urbana’s album Pelos Ares.

• Recognition: First Prize in the 2009 Ricardo Rizek Latin American Composition Competition for Big Band.

• Musical characteristics: fast tempo with a straight feel.

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Quase Forró, Quase Brasil

 

• Description: a fantasy composition based on Hermeto Pascoal’s Forró Brasil, with quotations from other works by the composer, including Vale da Ribeira.

• Original scoring: Frost Recording Ensemble.

• Other versions: Chamber Project with mixed wind quartet, string quartet, and Brazilian rhythm section.

• Recording: the original version was recorded by the Frost Recording Ensemble at the University of Miami’s Frost School of Music.

• Musical characteristics: a fantasy constructed from themes by Hermeto Pascoal.

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Quebra-Cabeças

 

• Description: a composition based on the construction, deconstruction, and reorganization of musical materials.

• Original scoring: jazz combo of the Frost Recording Ensemble.

• Other versions: full big band with percussion.

• Premiere of the big band version: One O’Clock Lab Band of the University of North Texas, during the Jazz Education Network Conference.

• Recording: the big band version was recorded by Orquestra Urbana for the album Pelos Ares.

• Recognition: 2014 JEN Student Composition Showcase Award.

• Musical characteristics: funk-fusion and an experimental harmonic language.

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Raiar

 

• Description: a composition conceived as a lullaby for the moon and inspired by the arrival of vibraphonist Errol Rackipov’s first child.

• Original scoring: symphony orchestra and the jazz group of vibraphonist Errol Rackipov.

• Other versions: full big band.

• Commission: Symphony of the Americas, for its thirtieth-anniversary season.

• Premiere: Symphony of the Americas and the Errol Rackipov Jazz Group, with Rafael Piccolotto de Lima as guest conductor, during The Orchestra Meets Jazz in Fort Lauderdale in 2018.

• Performance of the big band version: BMI Jazz Composers Workshop Big Band in New York.

• Recording: the big band version was recorded for Orquestra Urbana’s forthcoming album, currently in post-production.

• Recognition: finalist for the 2018 BMI Jazz Composers Workshop Charlie Parker Jazz Composition Prize.

• Musical characteristics: slow ballad.

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Rhapsody for Thad

 

• Description: a composition honoring Thad Jones.

• Original scoring: full big band.

• Premiere and recording: Frost Concert Jazz Band, Frost School of Music, University of Miami.

• Musical characteristics: up-tempo swing.

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Ritualística

 

• Description: a three-movement composition written for Caruwa.

• Original scoring: Caruwa sextet.

• Instrumentation: saxophone, Brazilian viola caipira, acoustic guitar, acoustic bass, cello, percussion, and voice distributed among the six members.

• Musical characteristics: three-movement work.

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Samba de Proveta

 

• Description: a composition honoring Nailor Azevedo “Proveta.”

• Original scoring: big band with clarinet soloist.

• Instrumentation: full big band; the solo clarinet part may be performed by an additional guest soloist or incorporated into the big band itself.

• Premiere and recording: Orquestra Urbana; recorded for the album Pelos Ares with Nailor Azevedo “Proveta” as guest soloist.

• Musical characteristics: samba-choro.

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Seven Masks: Mentor

 

• Description: one of the three completed movements of the suite Seven Masks, composed as part of Rafael Piccolotto de Lima’s doctoral dissertation.

• Original scoring: symphonic jazz ensemble.

• Instrumentation: symphony orchestra and big band.

• Recording: students from the Frost School of Music and fellows of the Henry Mancini Institute.

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Seven Masks: Threshold Guardians

 

• Description: one of the three completed movements of the suite Seven Masks, composed as part of Rafael Piccolotto de Lima’s doctoral dissertation.

• Original scoring: symphonic jazz ensemble.

• Instrumentation: full symphony orchestra and big band.

• Premiere: the symphonic jazz ensemble of the Gene Harris Jazz Festival.

• Recording: Henry Mancini Institute Orchestra, fellows of the institute, and students from the Frost School of Music.​

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Seven Masks: Trickster

 

• Description: one of the three completed movements of the suite Seven Masks, composed as part of Rafael Piccolotto de Lima’s doctoral dissertation.

• Original scoring: symphonic jazz ensemble.

• Instrumentation: full symphony orchestra and big band.

• Premiere: Symphonic Jazz Orchestra in Los Angeles.

• Recording: Henry Mancini Institute Orchestra, fellows of the institute, and students from the Frost School of Music.

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Sob(re) Pedais

 

• Description: a composition originally written for a reduced jazz ensemble and later revised for big band.

• Original scoring: jazz nonet.

• Other versions: full big band with percussion.

• Recording: the big band version was recorded by Orquestra Urbana for the album Pelos Ares.

• Musical characteristics: medium tempo with a straight feel.

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Spanish Suite

 

• Description: a suite and fantasy composition based on Chick Corea’s Spain and Joaquín Rodrigo’s Concierto de Aranjuez.

• Original scoring: symphonic jazz ensemble.

• Instrumentation: symphony orchestra and jazz group.

• Commission: Henry Mancini Institute for the Jazz and the Philharmonic concert in the Jazz Roots series.

• Performance and associated artists: Chick Corea, Terence Blanchard, and Eric Owens with the Henry Mancini Institute Orchestra.

• Recording and broadcast: released on the Jazz and the Philharmonic CD and DVD and presented in a PBS television program.

• Recognition: 2016 DownBeat Student Music Award for Outstanding Studio Orchestra Arrangement.

• Musical characteristics: an extensive reimagining that connects two preexisting works through new material, transitions, dialogues, and cadenzas.

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Voo Hermeto

 

• Description: a composition honoring Hermeto Pascoal.

• Original scoring: full big band.

• Premiere: Sala São Paulo.

• Recording: Orquestra Urbana’s forthcoming album, currently in post-production.

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Xote por Vir

 

• Description: a composition created for the Rafael Piccolotto de Lima Chamber Project as part of Forró Sem Palavras.

• Original scoring: full ensemble with mixed winds, string quartet, and Brazilian rhythm section.

• Other versions: Forró Sem Palavras symphonic ensemble with solo group; full big band.

• Musical characteristics: slow-tempo xote.