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Concert: Festival of Trumpets
Saturday, May 27, 2:00pm
Arthur A. Molitierno, Reviewer
On Saturday, May 27, in the Performing Arts Center's Recital Hall, an overflowing audience of trumpet players and lovers found satisfaction, if not heaven, in the performances of 90 trumpeters who participated in the ITG Festival of Trumpets. Kevin Eisensmith, professor of trumpet at Indiana University of Pennsylvania, organized this extended concert that featured every conceivable combination and key of trumpets, from piccolos to natural trumpets, and flugelhorns. 19 separate works that span the full range of possible styles and periods, from the baroque to modern jazz, were presented. There were literally trumpeters everywhere, filling both the stage and the balconies above the audience. Here, amateur and professional, teacher and student, novice and master met on common ground to experience the joy of playing together. The concert began with some fifty players who had been part of the 8:00 a.m. reading session, a group of hearty souls that Del Lyren, conductor for the opening fanfare, found to be among the most dedicated attendees at the conference.
There is no doubt the performance that will ring the clearest, if not the loudest, in everyone's memory was the finale presentation of the Clarke/Mitchell Trumpet Involuntary Manslaughter, conducted by organizer Kevin Eisensmith, performed by every trumpet player in the Festival of Trumpets. Trumpet players not only filled the stage but each wing of the concert hall, literally surrounding the audience in a brass ring of sound. In the valley of sound sat the audience. Trumpets to the left of the audience, trumpets to the right of the audience, trumpets in front of the audience volleyed and thundered. It was a concert to cause serious consideration of making up a last will and testament preparatory to meeting Gabriel in person.
The Manslaughter arrangement demands special attention since it is not only a version of the well-known Clarke Trumpet Voluntary but because it spanned the range of styles and periods from the days of Clarke to the present. Included in the composition for massive formations of players was an extended solo by the winner of the ITG jazz competition, John Sneider. This kind of rousing and powerful presentation is not for those who like string quartets. But, after all, if people came to hear trumpets and trumpeters do everything possible to awaken and energize an audience, they did not leave disappointed. Truly, this was a glorious festival. (Arthur A. Molitierno, associate professor, Wright State University) |
