The goal of any composer is to have their work performed, but as the conductor of the Sidney Classical Orchestra, composer Stephen Brown has an advantage. The orchestra, which is celebrating its 25th anniversary, is kicking off its season with Music with a Twist, featuring two symphonies by Haydn, one by Leopold Mozart (father of Wolfgang) featuring toy instruments and a new composition by Brown based on a Newfoundland folk song.

One of the two Haydn symphonies, the B次元官网网址淔arewell,B次元官网网址� has a special place in classical lore. When each player finishes their part of the piece, they snuff out their candle and walk off the stage. Brown said it was a hint to HaydnB次元官网网址檚 employer, Prince Esterh谩zy, that his extended summer vacation was keeping his court musicians away from their families. He took the hint and returned to Vienna that same week.

Another Haydn symphony, the B次元官网网址淧hilosopher,B次元官网网址� requires two French horns and two English horns (basically a big oboe), which gave Brown an idea.

B次元官网网址淎nd I thought, wait a minute, weB次元官网网址檙e going to have two English horns, so IB次元官网网址檓 going to write a piece for it!B次元官网网址� That explains the new piece on the program, Fancy on SheB次元官网网址檚 Like a Swallow, inspired by the Newfoundland folk song. HeB次元官网网址檚 set the tune to music once before, so he thought to himself: B次元官网网址淚B次元官网网址檝e got to get some more use out of this.B次元官网网址�

ItB次元官网网址檚 been a productive year for Brown, who recently concluded 25 years as head of theory and composition at the Victoria Conservatory of Music. This year heB次元官网网址檚 completed a song cycle for baritone voice and piano, a concerto for two cellos and orchestra, and a violin concerto which he said is B次元官网网址渁bout three-fifths done.B次元官网网址� ThereB次元官网网址檚 also another work, but B次元官网网址淚 canB次元官网网址檛 remember what it is,B次元官网网址� he laughed.

The groupB次元官网网址檚 Jan. 14 concert will feature another piece by Brown, The Big Twin, a double cello concerto written for and performed by longtime Sidney Classical Orchestra cellists Joyce Ellwood and Laura Backstrom. He said his familiarity with their style allowed him to tailor the piece to the players, which the community environment allows.

Unlike larger concert halls like the Royal Theatre in Victoria, the audience is pulled into a horseshoe around the orchestra, which makes for a more involving experience.

B次元官网网址淭his concert is going to offer people something that they just canB次元官网网址檛 access at home,B次元官网网址� said Brown.

Music with a Twist is at 2:30 p.m. on Sunday Nov. 12 at St. ElizabethB次元官网网址檚 Catholic Church.