Eyebrows
Instrumentation
Clarinet choir
Medium/Intermediate
4:50
2026
Available from:
JW Pepper
Sheet Music Plus
Sheet Music Direct
Media
The piece begins at 2:03
Program Notes
It all started with Steve Sveum’s eyebrows.
I know Steve from participating in the Birch Creek Adult Wind Ensemble Retreat. He is a wonderful clinician who serves as one of the conductors and oversees the woodwind sectionals. His knowledge, warmth, and humor endear him to us all. One particular tool of his is having a group vocalize “chum-chum-chum-chum” to help us lock in the eighth note subdivision. But vocalizing isn’t enough. Anyone who has worked with Steve knows that effective, internalized subdivision also requires happy, expressive eyebrows.
At the 2025 Retreat, the clarinet section talked amongst themselves about playing a clarinet choir piece for the Friday night chamber recital the following year. I offered to write a piece, and we somehow decided that it could reference the time we spent with Steve. I half-jokingly said I would call it “Eyebrows.” Now I can’t imagine calling it anything else.
Throughout the piece are references to Steve-isms:
- “Chum-chum-chum-chum.” Always feel the eighth note subdivision, no matter which part. No angry eyebrows!
- “Dance.” Along with bouncy subdivision, Steve always encourages us to feel like we’re dancing. The section beginning in measure 23 should feel light and dancelike, especially the accompaniment in measures 27-30.
- “Overtone.” One of the warmups Steve leads us through helps us concentrate on tone and tuning as an ensemble. In measure 74, the octaves on concert E♭ should result in an audible overtone of concert B♭.
The final notes of the piece are for my husband, who requested a final “chum-chum” at the end since I refused his suggestion of including a horn solo.
“Eyebrows” is a lighthearted work that also reinforces musical concepts related to pulse and tone. While scored for full clarinet choir, alternate parts are provided for E♭ and Alto clarinets and the contra parts are optional. The intermediate difficulty level is suitable for contest for many high school groups. College and community groups will also enjoy it.
