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Beasts in the Window (2001) was oringinally composed for flautist Iwona Glinka and dedicated to the composer’s two cats, Princess and Euridice. The idea for the title comes from seeing these two cats sitting contently on a windowsill on a daily basis. Although both cats look harmless and innocent, while they enjoy the sunlight from outside, their true alter ego (“beasts”) is only revealed during the night. The brief piece attempts to capture the curiosity of the two cats during their prowling “beasts” activities. It also tries to portray the actual sounds of a cat through breathing in and out of the instrument, and by using a flutter technique to represent a cat’s purring (although extremely exaggerated in the piece).

The motive Bb-E-A-Eb-(B)-Eb spells the word “beasts” and includes an important tritone interval which is the central motific gesture of the work in which all other musical aspects are based on. Additional instrument effects attempt to portray the sounds of the “beasts” mischief during the night.

There are also small ornamental effects such as key clicks and pitch bends that portray the restless activities of these two cats – noises that the composer often hears as he’s trying to sleep at night. Motivic elements include the use of chromatic scales ascending and descending is also a strong feature in the piece, while rhythmically, a somewhat free and interrupted quality is present. This brief piece was later extended into a longer work a few months after the flute version was finished, and the composer enjoys the idea of both versions existing in different forms in his repertoire. This version of Beasts in the Window has been arranged for a solo tuba – which helps to further portray the “beasts” idea very effectively through a lower register and timbre.

John M. Crabtree is a New Orleans, Louisiana native who is currently completing his Doctoral degree in Music Composition under the direction of Stephen David Beck and Dinos Constantinides at Louisiana State University. Performances of his music have taken place nationally and internationally at various concerts and conferences in North America, Europe, and South America. Among his awards are the "Phi Mu Alpha National Conference Centennial Fanfare Competition" of 1997 for A Centennial Celebration: Sinfonian Fanfare for brass ensemble, New York’s "INMC (International New Music Consortium, Inc.) Composition Competition of 2001" for Scintillate Plectrums for electronic tape, a series of "Standard Awards" from ASCAP, and recently a Winner of one of two prizes in the "Penn State University College of Arts and Architecture’s Competition for Two Commencement Marches" for Commencement for the Penn State University Trombone Choir. Several recordings can be heard on the Magni and New Tertian Recordings labels, as well as on a soon released compact disc by trumpeter, Rex Richardson. John has previously served on the music faculty at Louisiana State University in Baton Rouge, La., Southeastern Louisiana University in Hammond, La., Our Lady of the Lake College in Baton Rouge, and the University of Houston. He is currently on the Music Theory faculty at Sam Houston State University in Huntsville, Texas. John is an active member of CMS (College Music Society), SCI (Society of Composers, Inc), SCL (Southeastern Composers League), NACUSA (National Association of Composers USA), Phi Mu Alpha Sinfonia, and ASCAP (American Society of Composers, Authors, and Publishers).

Joseph Skillen (Associate Professor of Tuba and Euphonium) In addition to teaching applied tuba and euphonium, Dr. Skillen coaches chamber music, and performs with the Norem faculty brass quintet. He is in demand as a clinician and soloist as well as an active performer in both chamber music and orchestral ensembles.

Prior to his engagement at LSU, Skillen has been principal tubist in several American orchestras, and has performed with touring ensembles across the United States, Europe and Russia. Additionally, he has presented solo performances throughout the United States and in Germany, Italy, Japan, Finland, and Sweden. He has been a finalist and winner in both American and International solo competitions, including winning first prize at the prestigious 1997 Leonard Falcone International Euphonium and Tuba festival.

As a Fulbright Scholar, Skillen studied in Stockholm, Sweden at the Kungliga Musikhogskolan with the renowned tubist Michael Lind. While in Sweden, Skillen performed frequently with the Royal Stockholm Philharmonic Orchestra. Other groups with whom Skillen has performed include the Kentuckiana Brass and Percussion Ensemble, The Galliard Brass Ensemble, Detroit Chamber Winds, Michigan Opera Theatre Orchestra, the Western Brass Quintet, the Tennessee Tech Tuba Ensemble and Symphonia - an ensemble of the premiere artists and teachers in the United States. His performances have been broadcast on America's National Public Radio and on Sweden's National Radio.

In recognition of his musical activities, Skillen was awarded the 2000 Louisiana Artist Fellowship from the State Department of the Arts and a summer 2000 Research Grant from the LSU department of Graduate Studies and Research. He has also been recognized for his excellence in teaching when he was awarded the 2000 Tiger Athletic Foundation Teacher of the Year award for the College of Music and Dramatic Arts. His students are playing professionally, teaching music in Universities and in the public schools, pursuing higher education, and have won international competitions.

Skillen's solo playing may be heard on the Mark, Bernel, Centaur, and Vestige labels. Recent ensemble recordings include The Kings of Brass, Tubalogy 601 Jazz CD on Mark Records (both with the Tennessee Tech Alumni Tuba Ensemble). His debut solo CD with pianist Jan Grimes, Blue Plate Special, was released in January 2002 on Mark Masters Recordings.

In addition to his teaching and performing schedule, Skillen is an Associate Editor of the ITEA Journal, the official journal of the International Tuba and Euphonium Association. His articles, reviews, and news columns have appeared in the International Trombone Association Journal (ITA Journal), the ITEA Journal, the TUBA Journal, and the Hokkaido, Japan Euphonium and Tuba Journal. Skillen is also an active arranger for solo tuba and the tuba/euphonium ensemble with his transcriptions and arrangements being published by the Tuba Euphonium Press and Bernel Music Publishers.

Dr. Skillen holds degrees in music education and performance from Tennessee Technological University, The Pennsylvania State University, and Michigan State University. Prior faculty appointments include: Murray State University, Western Michigan University, and The University of Michigan-Flint.