Wednesday, May 21 – 7:30pm
Washington Symphonic Brass
Ed Landreth Auditorium
Milt Stevens, Conductor
Washington Symphonic Brass Personnel
|
Trumpets
Phil Snedecor
Chris Gekker
Matthew Harding
Carlton Rowe
|
Trombones
Charles Casey
Bryan Bourne
David Sciannella
Ben Chouinard (bass)
|
|
Horns
Martin Hackelmann
Joe Lovinsky
Amy Horn
Jim Vaughn
|
Euphonium
David Sciannella
Tuba
David Brown
|
|
Timpani
Peter Wilson
|
Organ
William Neil
|
|
Percussion
Shari Rak
Joe Connell
|
|
Joseph Bowman, reporter
The Washington Symphonic Brass performed the Wednesday evening concert providing a wonderful capstone to the first full day of the ITG Conference. Made up of musicians from the finest ensembles in the Washington D.C. area, the WSB has made a name for itself as a premier large brass ensemble.
The concert opened with the performance of three works in succession, without pause. Fanfare for Four Trumpets and Four Conch Shells by Robert Rodriquez was written for a Mexican celebration, to express a link between the ancient Aztec world and the modern. With all eight players spaced throughout the hall, the result was an ethereal sound that stirred feelings in all who attended. This work was followed immediately with Karitas Habundat by Hildegard von Bingen, and featured the superb playing of legendary hornist Marty Hackleman, as well as Amy Horn. The final work in this set, “Como poden per sas culpas” from the Cantiages de Santa Maria, began with a bass drum stroke that shook the room. A lively battle between piccolo trumpets followed, featuring the talents of Chris Gekker and Phil Snedecor.
The first half continued with Canzon XVI by Giovanni Gabrieli and Salome’s Dance by Richard Strauss, and concluded with Holst’s “Jupiter” from The Planets. The group had a chance to blow on these selections that resulted in a massive brass sound appreciated by all. The intonation in many places was so perfect that overtones seemed to be everywhere! It was truly a sonic experience.
The second half of the program featured two extended works, The Aladdin Suite by Carl Nielsen and Ottorino Respighi’s Ancient Airs and Dances. Phil Snedecor arranged both these works, and several others on the concert. His talents were on display as the group made the pieces come alive. After a standing ovation, the group returned to perform an encore, a Snedecor arrangement of Louis Prima’s Sing Sing Sing. Audience members howled with delight as Gekker and Snedecor traded improvized solos on the piccolo and B-flat trumpet. This concert was truly dessert for the ears, and was a reminder of why these conferences are such special events.
|
Trumpet Prelude
University of Arizona Trumpet Ensemble
Edward Reid, Director
alla Scherzo - James Wiznerowicz
Sonoran Desert Harmonies for Trumpet Choir - Eric Ewazen
World premiere of works commissioned by the UA Trumpet Ensemble for their appearance at the 2003 ITG Conference
Members:
Brandon Burr, Alexander Cannon, Shawn Cullen, Ben Cummings, Carl Fetkenhour, Michael Harrison, Evan Keckta, Jessica Lance, Cristina Luis, Nicholas Nelson, Martin Patfield, Julie Patton, Geoff Scheusner, Bryan Yingst
Program:
Fanfare for 4 trumpets and 4 conch shells Robert Rodriguez (b. 1946)
Como poden per sas culpas Anonymous from the "Cantaiges de Santa Maria" 13th century
Karitas Habundat Hildegard von Bingen (1088-1179)
Canzon XVI Giovanni Gabrieli (ca. 1556-1612)
Salome's Dance Richard Strauss (1864-1949)
Jupiter from THE PLANETS Gustav Holst (1874-1934)
INTERMISSION
The Aladdin Suite Carl Nielsen (1865-1931)
1. Oriental Festival March
2. The Market Place in Ispahan
3. African Dance
Ancient Airs and Dances Ottorino Respighi (1879-1936)
1. Gagliarda
2. Aire di courte
3. Passacaglia
4. Passa mezzo e Mascherada
|
