Featuring - Opera Australia Brass: Trumpets – Joshua Clarke & Brian Evans - Horn – Victoria Chatterley - Trombone – Gregory van der Struik - Bass Trombone – Brett Page - Piano – John Martin

The Fellowship of Australian Composers Concert Series held the Australian Music for Brass Concert at Riverside Theatre in Sydney on 3pm, Sunday, November 30, 2008. The concert began with the entire brass ensemble on stage with Ceremonial Fanfare No.1 by David Stanhope, a work originally written for graduation ceremonies.  Following this, pianist John Martin performed Amanda Handel’s jazzy solo work Not Yet!  Next on the program, trumpeter Joshua Clarke performed Richard Meale’s technically challenging Arabesque for Solo Trumpet.  The work contains motives from Meale’s Three Miro Pieces.  Both pieces were composed in 2001.

Victoria Chatterley and John Martin performed hornist /composer Michael Dixon’s Padma for Horn and Solo Piano.  The piece is slow and pensive, and the two instruments’ partnership communicates the mood of the music.  After this, Brian Evans and John Martin performed Michael Irik’s 1997 dramatic composition, Concertstuck for Trumpet, which was followed by Martin’s rendition of Ann Carr-Boyd’s Boulevard Waltz. Originally composed for chamber orchestra, Carr-Boyd has also arranged this for solo piano and two pianos.

The first half of the concert closed with the brass quintet performing Paul Sarcich’s Maranoa Songs.  The performers mingled with the audience during the intermission, which was a neat opportunity for audience members to interact with these members of the Australian Opera and Ballet Orchestra.

Eric Gross’s Fanfare Concertante, dedicated to Gregory van der Struik by the composer, opened the 2nd half of the concert.  Brian Evans, Greg and John Martin combined in this world premiere.  It is a majestic, fanfare with independent lines from all instruments, which join together for a regal performance.

Brett Page and John Martin performed Barry McKimm's Andante Tranquillo. Originally composed for Gene Pokorny of the Chicago Symphony Orchestra, Page arranged the melodic work for bass trombone.  Following this, the full quintet players joined for Canto Fermo by Hugh Dixon.  After the quintet performed, John Martin played his original composition, Twilight Tango.

Clarke and Martin appeared on stage to perform Clarke’s arrangement of the traditional Australian folksong Moreton Bay, set for trumpet, piano, and off-stage trombone (played by Gregory van der Struik).  After this, Gregory van der Struik and John Martin played Michael Forsyth’s Concert Suite.

The concert finished with the full brass ensemble together again performing Gordon Kerry’s Towermusic.  The work, which sounds like it is played from the top of a tower, was a fitting fanfare to complete this evening.

Left to Right: Joshua Clarke, Gregory van der Struik, Brett Page, Victoria Chatterley, Brian Evans

Source: Julie Simonds & Brian Evans