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Concert: Genkin Philharmonic
Jim Donaldson, Reporter Originating as a class taught by Nelson at the University of Buffalo, the ensemble became the university’s Eclectic Ensemble and further evolved into the Genkin, which is this year’s conference ambassador from the avant-garde. A quick look at the program reveals that we are not in Kansas any more, with works by composers ranging from Prokofiev to Jimi Hendrix, all but one arranged by Nelson. Among the works performed were four tunes by Frank Zappa, Peaches en Regalia, Enchidna’s Arf, Marqueson’s Chicken, and Run Home Slow. Interestingly, Frank Zappa was also the composer of two tunes played later in the day by the Atlantic Brass Quintet, Big Swifty and Sofa. Who would have guessed that since his death in 1993, his tunes would be wiggling their way into the repertoire? It is not, however, hard to see why. Crafted with irregular rhythms and highly technical passages, the tunes are all highly melodic but playful and good-natured, ideally suited for ensembles like these. The highlight of the afternoon’s program was the long final piece, music from the film Shvitz, by Frank London, arranged by Raymond Stewart. The Shvitz is from the genre known as klezmer, traditional Jewish music combining Eastern European time signatures and altered scales. The piece was in several parts including traditional passages common to the idiom with Nelson playing what would normally have been clarinet parts on piccolo trumpet. Nelson performed these passages with great clarity, accuracy, and stamina. There were also short cacophonous passages where the winds play as loudly as possible while the rhythm section pounds out a high-velocity pulse. The band occasionally screamed and shouted as well. In the middle was a gorgeous ballad with the melodic line being passed between the muted trumpet, the bowed electric cello, and open trumpet. Though the audience was decreasing as the program progressed (the result of the conference event overlap), those that stayed to the end were wildly enthusiastic, rewarding Genkin with a sustained standing ovation. |
Trumpet Prelude
(click here for review) Texas Christian University Trumpet Ensemble Fanfare, Dance and Chorale (2001)................ James P. Allen Jr. Dr. Jon Burgess, Director Members Justin Barbee, Danielle Cash, Matt Cyr, Anne Daleiden, Paul Garza, Daniel Hardaway, Aaron Koonce, Garth Ramsey, Bridget Sommers, Wes Zercher
Program Vroom............................................................... King Crimson Peaches en Regalia/Echidna’s Arf.................... Frank Zappa Song for a Dead King................................................ Jon Nelson Marqueson’s Chicken/Run Home Slow ................. Frank Zappa Manic Depression.................................................... Jimi Hendrix Mvt. 2 from Ala et Lolly............................. Sergei Prokofiev Oath ............................................................... Tom Pierson Plague................................................................. Nick Didkovsky Preaching to the Converted................................. Nick Didkovsky Suppression, Hat of Anger, Of Bisons and Vogons..... Vinnie Golia Music from the film “Shvitz”................................. Frank London All arrangements by Jon Nelson except for “Shvitz”, arranged by Raymond Stewart. |
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The brainchild of former Meridian Arts Ensemble trumpeter Jon Nelson, the Philharmonic earns its name honestly, with all the sections of the orchestra represented in the group’s nine players: the brass section consists of Nelson on trumpet and piccolo trumpet, and Raymond Stewart on tuba; the woodwinds include an alto sax and a second saxophone player alternating on baritone and tenor sax; strings of electric cello, guitar, and bass; and percussion including drum set, with another percussionist alternating between marimba and vibes. The voices were often divided into two groups with the powerful bottom end of electric bass, cello, bari and tuba and the top end of trumpet, alto and tenor sax. The program listed a flute and clarinet player but unless she was hiding behind a speaker tower, I never saw or heard her.
