Ballad For Sharon v.2 for orchestra by Bill Fulton

Description

This is an original composition by Bill Fulton written around 1992 which I dedicated to my daughter Sharon. A video montage was made from the v.1 of this piece which is shorter and has a different orchestration. This piece was performed and recorded 7/16/95 at one of the Sundays at 4 concerts at the Bing Theater at LACMA in Los Angeles, CA now known as Sundays Live. Quincy Jones also conducted an arrangement of his music from the movie The Pawnbroker in this concert.

Ballad for Sharon orchestra is an original composition by Bill Fulton that combines lyrical melodic writing with expressive orchestral colors. Written with a warm and reflective character, the piece develops its musical ideas through changing textures, harmony, and instrumental combinations. The result is an orchestral work that emphasizes melody while allowing the ensemble to provide depth and emotional movement.

About Ballad for Sharon Orchestra

The music is built around a lyrical approach to orchestral composition. Rather than relying on constant dramatic effects, the arrangement allows the melody and harmony to shape the emotional direction of the piece. As the music develops, different sections of the orchestra contribute contrasting colors and textures. Therefore, the orchestration becomes an important part of the composition itself.

Fulton uses the orchestra to support the melodic material while maintaining clarity throughout the work. In addition, changes in instrumental texture help create contrast from one passage to another. The writing moves naturally between intimate moments and fuller ensemble statements, giving the piece a broad expressive range without losing its central musical character.

A Lyrical Orchestral Composition by Bill Fulton

Ballad for Sharon orchestra reflects Bill Fulton’s interest in melody, harmony, and orchestral color. Although the composition has the expressive quality suggested by its title, the orchestration gives the music additional dimension. Individual instrumental colors can emerge from the larger ensemble and then blend back into the full orchestral texture.

Moreover, the piece demonstrates how a ballad can be developed beyond a simple melody-and-accompaniment format. The orchestra provides opportunities for countermelodies, harmonic movement, dynamic contrast, and changes of register. Consequently, the musical material can evolve while remaining connected to the central theme.

Expressive Writing for Orchestra

This version of Ballad for Sharon presents the composition in an orchestral setting designed to highlight its melodic and emotional qualities. The writing favors musical phrasing and ensemble balance, while the orchestration adds depth to the underlying harmonic structure. As a result, the piece combines the directness of a ballad with the broader palette available to an orchestra.

Listeners who enjoy Bill Fulton’s orchestral and chamber writing can explore more music in the orchestra and chamber music collection. There, additional compositions and arrangements demonstrate different approaches to orchestration, ensemble writing, harmony, and musical form.

Ballad for Sharon Orchestra by Bill Fulton

Ballad for Sharon offers a melodic, expressive approach to contemporary orchestral writing. Above all, the composition places musical expression at the center of the arrangement. Its combination of lyrical themes, harmonic color, and evolving orchestral textures makes it a distinctive addition to Bill Fulton’s catalog of original concert and orchestral music.

Instrumentation:

• Flute
• Oboe
• Clarinet
• Bassoon
• 2 Horns in F
• Trumpet
• Trombone
• Percussion
• Harp
• Piano
• Strings

Genre: classical