| Thompson and Lindemann at Toronto Symposium | December 1, 2004 | |||||||
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The first University of Toronto/Yamaha Trumpet Symposium took place on August 17-20, 2004. The four-day event was a stimulating series of masterclasses, group lessons, trumpet ensemble rehearsals, an orchestral section workshop, and technique/warm-up sessions, and concluded with a gala concert. The 37 participants, from many parts of the United States and Canada, were energized and inspired by the excellent teaching and performing of James Thompson and Jens Lindemann. During warm-up sessions in the morning Jim and Jens alternated in leading participants through breathing and mouthpiece drills and a wide range of techniques. The masterclasses which followed provided an opportunity for individuals to be critiqued, always positively and helpfully, by Jim and Jens. The audience of fellow participants also learned from this experience, and contributed a positive collegiality which became stronger as the week progressed. A highlight of the symposium was the orchestral section workshop, led by James Thompson, who drew on his brilliant career as principal trumpeter in the Atlanta and Montreal Symphonies as he coached and demonstrated. On the final day, Steven Butterworth of Yamaha Canada gave a presentation on the latest developments in Yamaha trumpets, and Stephen Chenette spoke to the participants about the many benefits of ITG membership. Another highlight was the preparation and performance of two ensemble pieces for performance on the final concert. The Fanfare for 10 Trumpets by Gary Kulesha was even more brilliant when played by all 37 participants. Kulesha is a guest conductor as well as composer advisor for the Toronto Symphony Orchestra, and also teaches composition at the University of Toronto. Alexander Rapoport’s Sonata for 9 Trumpets was also effectively played by the expanded group, closing the concert as the players left the theatre while playing the final repeated figure.
These pieces were the bookends of the gala concert, which included premieres of three compositions for two trumpets, violin, cello, and piano. All were composed or arranged by University of Toronto faculty members for this concert, and are important additions to the repertoire for trumpets in chamber music. The featured performers, in addition to James Thompson and Jens Lindemann, were University of Toronto faculty members Scott St. John, violin, Shauna Rolston, cello, and James Parker, piano. Jeffrey Reynolds served as conductor. Jeff, who teaches trumpet and conducts bands at the university, was the organizer and administrator of the Symposium, and it was he who persuaded the composers to write music for the occasion. Rounded with a Sleep by Alexander Rapoport takes its title from a line in Shakespeare's The Tempest. It is a rich and evocative work, with ample opportunity for all performers to play lyrical lines. Rapoport’s Sonata for Nine Trumpets was also performed on the Festival of Trumpets concert at the 2004 ITG Conference in Denver, with Jeff Piper conducting. Suite: Pike's Peak, by Gary Kulesha, is a reworking and expansion of four duets that Stephen Chenette commissioned in 1981 for Don MacIntosh and himself to play on Pike's Peak, on the days before the 1981 ITG Conference in Boulder, Colorado. They called the event "The Pike's Peak High Altitude Trumpet Camp," and it was a follow-up to the "The Grand Canyon Rim-to-Rim Standard Bb Trumpet Run" in 1979, for which Gary Kulesha also wrote a set of duets. (See the ITG Newsletter of May, 1980; No. 6., No. 3, page four.) The four movements are titled: Cog Railroad, Summit, Timber Line, and Barr Ranch. (Don and Steve premiered Summit in a snow storm on top of this 14,000 foot peak.) Gary Kulesha's Fanfare for Ten Trumpets, performed by the 37 trumpeters, opened the gala concert. Kulesha has composed a number of works for brass, including Pentagram, for five trumpets, which was played as a Prelude performance by five University of Toronto students, conducted by Stephen Chenette, at the 1983 ITG Conference in Ithaca, NY. Other Kulesha compositions include two pieces for trumpet, tuba, and piano, his Second Chamber Concerto, for solo trumpet and piano with chamber winds and percussion, and also a brass quintet and a tuba concerto.
Par-Ci, Par-La ("this way, that way"), by Chan Ka Nin includes two percussion parts (and on three occasions the audience taps a rhythm on pieces of wood). The trumpeters for this piece were Jens Lindemann and his student, Adam Bhatia, a symposium participant. Adam was a finalist in the student solo competition at the 2004 ITG Conference in Denver. The ensemble gave a strong performance of a challenging work, with great technical and expressive demands on all players. The quality of the performances was outstanding; Stephen Chenette said afterwards that, “this was one of the best trumpet concerts that I have ever heard.” For availability of the music, contact the composers: Ka Nin Chan - kanin.chan@utoronto.ca, Gary Kulesha - gary.kulesha@utoronto.ca, and Alexander Rapoport - alexander.rapoport@utoronto.ca . The gala concert also included May I Quote You?, by Greg McLean, played with flair and humour by Jens and Jim, and Sugar Blues, played with incredible control and expression by Jens, accompanied by James Parker. In the second movement, Andante, from Sonata for Trumpet, Violin and Piano, by Eric Ewazen, Jim’s gorgeous sound and phrasing were thoroughly matched by Scott St. John, and James Parker. The concert was recorded for later broadcast by the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation, and was a stirring climax to a successful inaugural symposium. Jeff Reynolds is already planning next year’s event: the tentative dates are August 15-19, 2005 and information about the 2005 event will be appearing soon on the symposium's web site. Website:
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