2005 INTERNATIONAL TRUMPET GUILD® CONFERENCE
GRAND HOTEL BANGKOK, BANGKOK, THAILAND
TUESDAY – FRIDAY, JUNE 21 – 24, 2005

Conference Coverage Home • Schedule of Events

Thursday, June 23
11:00 A.M. - RECITAL: Luis Engelke
with Michael Decker, guitar
Grand Hotel Grand Ballroom

Scott Brown, reporter

Luis Engelke and Michael Decker gave a very fine recital of guitar and trumpet works. The recital was a sampler of music from around the world. They played two pieces from Mexico, two from France, two from Brazil, and then premiered three pieces, including one from a Finnish composer, Jukka Viitasaari, titled Sandman’s Day Off. The other two premiers were To Music, to becalm his Fever, by Eric Ewazen and Sonitude for Trumpet and Guitar, by Scott T. Miller. The Ewazen is an adaptation of his Three Songs for Voice and Guitar. To Music, to becalm his Fever is the third of those three songs. The duo has commissioned another work from a Baltimore-based composer named Jonathan Lessnoff titled Six Miniatures for Trumpet and Guitar that will be completed shortly. All of the works presented featured an excellent sensitivity to nuance as is necessary in such a transparent combination of instruments. The Viitasaari piece, in particular had light feel with many ethnic embellishments that were beautifully rendered by Engelke. The trumpet/guitar duo combination is one many more composers may find attractive, especially if this caliber of musician is willing to play it!

The inspiration for Engelke’s love of this combination, trumpet and guitar, stemmed from his time at Arizona State University as a graduate student. He spent a great deal of time in the Méndez library searching for Méndez’s trumpet and guitar manuscripts. The irony is that in the end, Michael Decker had them all along. These manuscripts became the basis from which Decker would arrange all of this music.

Engelke played beautifully to an attentive audience. His tone was pure and crystal clear. It truly was a wonderful experience hearing Engelke and Decker together. These two musicians, quite obviously, know and trust each other from musical and aesthetic standpoints, and that trust and maturity came shining through in this most enjoyable late-morning performance.

Program

“Music from Mexico”

Bambuco - Latin Folk Song
Arranged by Michael Decker

Romanza - Rafael Méndez (1906-1981)
Arranged by Michael Decker

“Music from France”

Pièce en Forme de Habanera - Maurice Ravel (1875-1937)
Arranged by Luis Engelke and Michael Decker

Entr’ Acte - Jacques Ibert (1890-1962)
Arranged by Michael Decker

“Music from Brazil”

Requiem para um Novillero - Dimas Sedícias (1930-2002)

Carinhoso - Alfredo de Rocha Viana, Junior, “Pixinguinha” (1898-1973)
Arranged by Michael Decker

“New Works and Premieres”

Sandman’s Day Off - Jukka Viitasaari (b. 1961)


To Music, to becalm his Fever - Eric Ewazen (b. 1954)

Sonitude for Trumpet and Guitar - Scott T. Miller (b. 1981)

Luis Engelke and Michael Decker graciously thank ITG, Towson University, and Joseph Bowman for making their appearance at this conference possible. Also, we wish to thank Jukka Viitasaari, Eric Ewazen, and Scott Miller for their support in providing new works for this recital.

The following web site contains information about Jukka Viitasaari and his music, including how to purchase Sandman’s Day Off: http://members.sibeliusmusic.com/jviitasaari.

Information on Eric Ewazen’s music and his Three Songs for Voice and Guitar can be found online at the following web site: http://www.ericewazen.com/.

Scott Miller’s Sonitude for Trumpet and Guitar has been accepted for publication and will be released soon. For information please contact him via email at scottmillercomposer@gmail.com.

A commission by Baltimore-based composer Jonathan Leshnoff titled Six Miniatures for Trumpet and Guitar will be completed shortly. Trumpeters wishing to participate in a series of premieres may contact Luis Engelke at lengelke@towson.edu or the composer at jleshnoff@towson.edu.