Katelynn Apolonio

Orchestra (0 Period)
Ms. Rose
4/7/17
Orchestra Essay
The musical piece, Fantasia on an Original Theme, is a musical composition that has a
free form and often an improvisatory style. It has several familiar tunes and a mixture of several
different styles.
The composer of this piece, Joseph J. Phillips was born in April 26, 1962 and still lives to
this day in Patterson, New York. He was an American and only spoke English. Although his
family was not mention, he did have a good personal life on his own. He worked as Director of
Fine Arts in the magnet/gifted programs for the Independent School District of Galveston, Texas.
He also experienced as a music educator in New Hampshire, Texas and New York. He now
works as a Music Supervisor for the Carmel Central School District in Patterson, New York. In
1998 Joe won the Texas Orchestra Directors composition contest. He also holds degrees from the
Crane School of Music at the State University of New York at Potsdam and the University of
North Texas. The Fantasia piece was original for a string orchestra. The time of the piece came
out is unknown.
This is a poignant and distinctively Irish-flavored fantasia in a cantabile style. Violists
will love the opening soli introduction that is quite beautiful says the J.W. Pepper & Sons, Inc.
This, to me, describes how I feel about the piece. As a viola player myself, the beginning of this
piece is delicate and sweet as you can only hear the violas, it brings the expression of the piece,
several different styles. Also the melody of violas changes to the violins.
In the piece, I did not know the markings in measure 17 and 18. They were arrows, one
pointing up and the other pointing down. It was until later my stand partner told me that they
were another way in saying flat and sharp. Another thing I never knew before I played the piece
was what key we were supposed to play in. Usually I see in pieces that they would usually have
2 sharps or 4 flats, but in this piece it has neither sharps nor flats shown in the key signature.
Later, I learned that a key signature without sharps or flats is in the key of C.

Works Cited
Phillips, Joseph. http://www.alfred.com. n.d. 7 April 2017.

. https://www.jwpepper.com. n.d. 7 April 2017.

. https://www.kendormusic.com. n.d. 7 April 2017.