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Prelude Performances
Doug Wilson – Coordinator
University of Arizona (2 preludes)
The University of Arizona Trumpet Ensemble, under the direction of Edward Reid, began their prelude the world premiere of Fanfare Existant, a piece incorporating cup mutes, Harmon mutes, and non muted trumpets simultaneously with odd meters and an asymmetrical pulse. The ensemble then added a trombonist to premiere Any Note You Can Play I Can Play Lower, which comically integrates familiar trumpet excerpts such as Petroushka in a “musical feud” between the trumpet and trombone parts. The battle finally ended when a euphonium player barged in, finishing the trombonist’s part! (KB)
From first note to last, you could tell this group had it going on! With an energetic performance of Toot Sweet by Jeffrey Haskell, the University of Arizona Trumpet Ensemble dazzled with big band flare and trumpet/fluglehorn soloing that did not disappoint. This ensemble was full of solid musicians and was a fun performance for all to watch. (KB)
Centre College
Under the direction of Vincent DiMartino, the Centre College Trumpet Ensemble performed Prelude and Fugue for Trumpet Choir by Eric Ewazen, a piece that should be familiar to the ITG membership considering the fact that it was written to commemorate the 25th anniversary of the organization. The members of the trumpet ensemble were all smiles during their performance. They played with a level of excitement and confidence that was fun for the audience to experience. (SB)
Central Conservatory of China
Under the direction of Zhonghui Dai, the Central Conservatory of China Trumpet Ensemble performed three works for their prelude performance. Repertoire included Cavalry Fanfare #3 by J. O. Zelenka, The Last Spring by Edward Grieg (arr. Horton), and Intrada and Allegro by Arthur Frackenpohl. This prelude demanded that the ensemble play in distinctly different styles, and this was achieved with great flair and maturity. Of particular note was the groups fine blend, response and balance on the Grieg, and their equally inspiring rhythm, accuracy, and technical prowess on the Frackenpohl. (GM)
Eastern New Mexico University
Under the direction of John Kennedy, the Eastern New Mexico University Trumpet Ensemble performed three works for their prelude performance. Repertoire consisted of Sonoran Desert Harmonies by Eric Ewazen, Sometimes I Feel Like a Motherless Child featuring soloist Douglas Wilson, and The New Century – 2000 A.D. by David Uber. The popular writing of Eric Ewazen for brass, especially trumpet, was shown to great effect with the ENMU trumpets. Fanfare passages were played crisply and with good balance. Douglas Wilson was featured on a flugelhorn solo with the ensemble in the thoughtful arrangement of the spiritual. The blend of instruments as well as the dialogue between solo flugelhorn and trumpet lines made for an effective performance. David Uber’s The New Century – 2000 A.D. effectively contrasted solo lines with ensemble sections.
Bryan Goff
While many of the preludes are done by university trumpet ensembles, this one featured Bryan Goff, professor of trumpet at Florida State University; he also served as ITG Treasurer for many years. Goff performed “Blow-Back for trumpet, tape and Kyma computer music system.” This piece was composed by Steven Everett, professor of composition at Emory University in Atlanta, Georgia, and was the winning work for the 2002 ITG Composition Contest.
More than mere echoing, Everett, seated at the computer during Goff’s performance, manipulated, distorted, and enhanced each musical line, creating shimmering, other worldly effects. At times sparse and angular, at other times bordering on violent, the piece led the audience from one landscape to another in an alien world. In my opinion, this was one of the more interesting and unusual preludes to be presented during the conference. (KE)
Mahidol University
This excellent group was coached by James Sherry but performed their prelude without conductor, achieving fine ensemble as they did so. They played Fanfare by Valerie Riseav, a Mahidol College of Music colleague of Sherry’s. This is a short but most effective piece, starting with antiphonal figures with nice shifting rhythms, adding instruments and rhythmic complexity as the fanfare is reiterated, and moving to a rousing and brilliant conclusion.
It’s great that we had an opportunity to hear these young trumpeters, opening for such a prestigious event as the Lindemann recital. The Mahidol students have been highly visible throughout the Conference, helping and supporting in so many different ways, and I hope that the audience’s very warm applause for this fanfare reflects not only our high regard for their playing, but our gratitude to them and their student colleagues for all their fantastic work this week. (NY)
Kansas State University
Members of the KSU trumpet studio (Gary Mortenson, Kari Brooks, and Scott Brown) rose magnificently to their task of opening for the Brandt Brass’s performance this evening. They started with Britten’s Fanfare for St Edmundsbury, in which Britten cleverly uses three apparently unconnected fanfares from “pseudo-natural” trumpets in C, D, and F, each sticking to their appropriate range of notes; we hear the three fanfares separately first then they come in together bringing what seems like polytonal chaos, before magically resolving into a triumphant ending. It’s a great piece but hard to bring off well, and KSU did so, featuring fine tone, nice sustained playing (upon which, it later turns out, the “joins” depend) and great co-ordination in the tricky final section where only precision timing can make the piece suddenly “click” and change the listener’s perspective. Their second piece was a Scheidt Canzon arranged for four trumpets and the ensemble, augmented by its guest Michael Anderson, gave us a fluent and jubilant performance, with a rich texture and a nicely non-pompous quick tempo which gave it a well-deserved lightness. (NY
Michigan State University
The Michigan State University Graduate Trumpet Ensemble performed the world premiere of Tsunami Memorial Canon, composed by their director Rich Illman. The piece was comprised of four sections: 1) the calm before the earthquake, 2) the angry destruction of the tsunami, 3) the aftermath, and finally 4) a joyful theme for the survivors. A slide show played along with the ensemble, showing emotional photos of the tragedy. (KB)
Texas Christian University
A moment of calm then a smile from conductor Jon Burgess were followed by an exuberant dive into the first of TCU’s two pieces, both new works. Spirited Horizons by Robert Garwell (Dedicated to the memory of former student Garth Ramsey) offered us vigorous high playing and sweeping melodic lines, with bold fanfare passages and interesting, often dissonant harmonies with lots of textural interest and variety. Ensemble member Micah Bell’s Midnight featured the composer on flugel and trumpet and took us on a quick and exciting ride through a whole world of musical styles before burning our socks off with an excitingly screaming ending. (NY)
Thailand Festival Trumpet Ensemble
This group represented the country of Thailand with a well-prepared program. The four-member group performed with intensity and good balance, and seemed to have a great time doing so. Their prelude program consisted of Two Fanfares by Wagner, Scherzino by Jack Normain Kimmell, (which required the musicians to pass the line from one to the other quickly and seamlessly, and they did so with ease), and closed their performance with a spirited performance of Cantiga Brasileira by Gilbert Gagliardi. Response, intonation, and tone quality was commendable, from all four members, throughout the prelude performance. (SB)
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