Friday, June 24
3.00 P.M. - FESTIVAL OF TRUMPETS: “A Tribute to James Olcott”
James Sherry, Coordinator
Grand Hotel Lobby
Assisted by the Festival Orchestra:
Violins: Juris Madrevich, Inga Causa, Thang Soponpong
Viola: Andrew Filmer
Celli: Juris Lakutis, Baiba Jurmale
Double Bass: Maris Arents
Timpani and Percussion: Kae Hashimoto
Piano: Bang Lang Do, Kom
Drum set: Kom Komsuttikul
Conductor, Harpsichord, Jazz Bass: Goesta Mueller
Gary Mortenson and Scott Brown, reporters
Rondeau by Mouret (J. Olcott) opened the Festival of Trumpets Program and presented outstanding piccolo playing on this well-known classic. Style, attacks, intonation and response were perfectly suited to open this concert at a high level. (GM)
Concerto in F Major by Johann Friederich Fasch included the incredible talents of Arthur Vanderhoeft and Michael Tunnel on the Corni Da Caccia on this three movement Baroque masterpiece. The darker sonority of the instruments employed was a perfect break from the prevalent brighter sounds heard all week. The soloists ability to match each other in tone quality and use of ornaments was a true joy to experience. (SB)
Sonata Sancti Polycarpi by Franz Ignatz Biber (E. Tarr) provided a stately interpretation that was perfect for the vastness of the Grand Hotel lobby. Terraced dynamics, contrapuntal precision, uniform attacks, and impeccable intonation on contributed to this spirited reading. (GM)
The Silver Swan by Orlando Gibbons (arr. R. Sherman), performed by sixteen players, placed antiphonally around the vast lobby space, filled the air with a beautiful, warm sound. The set up of the hotel lobby lent itself wonderfully to the antiphonal playing done here with no problems in ensemble due to the distance between the musicians. (SB)
Concerto in D Major by Johann Altenburg is probably the best-known trumpet ensemble piece of all time. In this spirited reading the seven performers did an admirable job of working together to create a good balance and uniform interpretation. The group took an aggressive approach in this reading that met with a favorable response from the appreciative audience. (GM)
The Girl with the Flaxen Hair by Claude Debussy (arr. D. Marlatt), as one would expect with Debussy, featured beautifully serene melodies, transparent harmonies, and beautifully tuned chords. The musicians on this selection worked very well in passing the melodic line between each other in a seamless fashion. (SB)
“The Orion Nebula” from Stars and Galaxies by Paul Van Hooff, Fanfare by Narongrit Dhamabutra, and Il est be et bon by Passereau were all performed as a set by the Thailand Trumpet Ensemble and displayed just what kind of variety this ensemble is capable of carrying off. From the lush melodies of the Van Hooff to the brilliance of the Narongrit, and finally to contrapuntal complexity of the Passereau, this was a brilliant set. Well done! (GM)
Three Pieces in Sound by Jamey Simmons was a three-movement featuring employing different styles of playing from the opening fanfare full of bell tones, to the mysterious passages of the middle movement, finally to the big band sounds including improvisatory solos of the last section. Kudos to John Thomas for his rip on the end! (SB)
An Evening Chase by Roseann Wilson featured very precise sounds in this rhythmically oriented work. The precision and uniform approach to articulation by the six members of this group was exactly what was required. A very interesting work, extremely well played! (GM)
Fanfare for the Uncommon Woman by Joan Tower is a wonderful fanfare from one of the greatest composers of the last half-century. The group performed this masterpiece of the genre in a very aggressive fashion, and matched style and intonation as they lit up the room with their beautiful, bright sound. These musicians REALLY went after this piece and did it a great job in the process. (SB)
The Non-Articulated Sensibility of Being by Christopher Lobinger was a commissioned work receiving its premiere on the Festival of Trumpets concert. A contemporary work with a fair amount of complexity, it featured soft, lyrically-oriented sections employing the sound of the marimba that were then punctuated with what amounted to violent interruptions from percussive trumpet lines. An effective use of dynamics and phase-shifting metrical elements combined to make this a most effective offering on this program. What an intense bit of musical architecture, and what a great space in which to send it off into the trumpet cosmos! (GM)
Casa De Suerte by Bob Ojeda had a soft, ballad feel to it that provided yet another change of pace to the program. Employing some improvisational solos and some great unison playing, this Latin number was well received. (SB)
Jada & Take Me Out to the Ball Game arr. Tom Kubis and John Thomas gave this superb group of jazz artists the perfect vehicle to really take this entire concert to another level. A tasty arrangement, incredible jazz artistry, screaming solo lines, power to spare in the tutti section, man…this group had it all! (GM)
Four Brothers by Jimmy Giuffre (arr. J. Olcott) was a rip-roaring, up-tempo blast of wonderful solo playing and powerful tutti sections that put a smile on everyone’s face. The contrapuntal jazz lines were played as if this group worked together every day. (SB)
Fireworks Fanfare by Joseph Valenti took all of one minute to get its ear catching point across through its powerfully stated lines providing a perfect segue to the last two works on this long program. (GM)
Danse Boheme by George Bizet (arr. Olcott), a superb arrangement of this classic operatic moment, provided the program with increasingly frantic activity from this fine grouping. The different sonorities required of this arrangement were handled with comparative ease. (SB)
“Overture” from Music for the Royal Fireworks by Georg Frederic Handel (arr. Olcott) brought the combined forces of this year’s Festival of Trumpets into the grand finale mix of this long, but enjoyable concert event. And a spectacle it was! The stately tempo, remarkably fine balance, and consistent approach to the style of the work brought this year’s concert to its impressive end. Never failing to disappoint those looking for hair-parting volume, one can only hope the Grand Hotel did not suffer structural damage to the large columns gracing its lobby! (GM)
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ITG Festival of Trumpets 2005 Personnel
Brian K. Appleby-Wineberg Rowan University
Michael Arndt Middle Tennessee State University
Mark Boren Free-lance
Joseph Bowman Mahidol University College of Music
Brad Braendlein Kennewick, Washington
Frank G. Campos Whalen Center for Music, Ithaca College
Lertkiat Chongjirajitra Rangsit University, Bangkok Symphony Orchestra
John Clarke Hong Kong Philharmonic
Kevin E. Eisensmith Indiana University of Pennsylvania
John Ellis The Crane School of Music, SUNY Potsdam
Brian Evans Australian Opera and Ballet Orchestra
Jaume Fàbregas Escola Municipal de Música “Victòria dels Àngels” Sant Cugat del Vallès, Barcelona, Spain
Rustem Galiollin Shrewsbury International School, Bangkok
Pat Harbison Indiana University, Bloominton, Indiana
Stanton Haugen Ewa Beach, Hawaii
Dennis Herrick Huntingdon College, Montgomery, Alabama
John Irish Angelo State University, Texas
Larry Johansen Riverside Community College, Redlands, California
Gregory Jones Truman State University
John Kennedy Eastern New Mexico University
John Korak Southern Illinois University, Edwardsville
Christopher Krummell Dana School of Music, Youngstown State University
Seelan Manickam BALA Brass Quintet
David McChesney Ravenscroft School, University of NC at Chapel Hill
William Pfund University of Northern Colorado, retired
Jeffrey Piper University of New Mexico
Phil Pfeiffer Free-lance
Vanich Potavanich Bangkok Symphony Orchestra
Sompop Puengpreeda Mahidol University College of Music
Thanu Raksaraj National Symphony Orchestra, Bangkok
Rex Richardson Rhythm and Brass, Virginia Commonwealth University
Alan Siebert University of Cicinnati, CCM
Ed Sherry Gold Coast Casino, Las Vegas
James Sherry Mahidol University College of Music
Cathy Sheridan Free-lance, Albany, New York
Viroj Srisunarat Bangkok Symphony Orchestra
John Thomas University of Southern California
Michael Tunnell University of Louisville
Arthur Vanderhoeft MAGO Antwerpen
Ramon Vasquez Auburn University
Douglas Wilson Washington, DC
Gary Wurtz Stephen F. Austin State University, Nacodoches, Texas
Maurice Weiss Los Angeles
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