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Friday, June 18 - 5:00 pm
Members: Lisa Blackmore, Reporter The performance began with a difficult arrangement of Concert Etude by Goedicke. He indicated that the next work on the program, Anthony Plog’s Abstractions for Brass was being Gershwin’s Porgy and Bess Suite, creatively arranged by Dave Hanson, featured nice trumpet solos by Terry Sawchuk and Rob Murray. Where the Beautiful Trumpet Sounds by Gustav Mahler was originally written for solo voice and piano. Michael Allen’s beautiful arrangement highlighted a warm flugelhorn solo by Dawn Kramer. The texture was transparent and the entire group played very gently and with sensitivity. Eric Ewazen’s Grand Canyon Sinfonia was originally conceived for an octet of four trumpets and four trombones. This three-movement composition was one of the best-performed works on the program. The opening “Allegro maestoso” demonstrated the influence of polychoral tradition and was very sonorous. The “Andante appassionato” was a dramatic color change and featured flugelhorn solos by Bruce Barrie and a trumpet solo by Dawn Kramer. This is brass writing at its best—hymn-like melodies and a dramatic middle section. The ensemble matched attacks and releases, playing well in tune. The energetic last movement closed the most substantial work on the program.
Since the ensemble performs without a conductor whoever has the prominent part leads the group. The musicians seemed comfortable with this arrangement and at no time was there any confusion onstage. Michael Allen’s arrangements for the group are imaginative and make effective use of the many shadings and color possibilities of the large brass ensemble setting. All four of the trumpeters demonstrated great flexibility and sensitivity. The group was rewarded with a standing ovation from the audience. |
Trumpet Prelude Central Washington University Trumpet Ensemble, Members: Antiphonal Fanfare - Robert Panerio Program: Concert Etude - Alexander Goedicke1 Farnaby's Conceit - .Giles Farnaby1 Abstractions for Brass (2004) - Anthony Plog Porgy and Bess Suite - George Gershwin2 Where the Beautiful Trumpet Sounds - Gustav Mahler1 Grand Canyon Sinfonia - Eric Ewazen1 American in Paris - George Gershwin1 Arrangements by 1 - Michael Allen and 2 - Dave Hanson |
The artists that comprise the Boulder Brass are members of Colorado’s orchestras and universities. The group was founded in 1993 and consists of the following instrumentation: four trumpets, two horns, euphonium, three trombones, tuba, and two percussionists. Michael Allen, served as announcer for the program.
performed for the second time. The group had premiered it just last week at the Raphael Méndez Institute. The piece began with a “slithering” theme in the muted trumpets. The work included a quick rhythmic section and concluded with a powerful ending.
Allen’s “paraphrase” of Gershwin’s American in Paris was the last composition on the concert and featured nice piccolo trumpet playing by Bruce Barrie and trumpet solos by Terry Sawchuk. 