Phillip Lawrence

The new trumpet concerto Blaze has just been issued on CD, and has brought a British Academy of Composers Nomination (in conjunction with BBC Radio 3) to its composer, ex-professional trumpet player Phillip Lawrence.

The work, dedicated to Rod Franks of the London Symphony Orchestra, was premiered in New Zealand in 2003 by Richard Marshall, an up-and-coming soloist – described by the composer as “stunning” - from Grimethorpe Colliery Band. The work had its UK premiere in September 2004, with Marshall accompanied by Grimethorpe under conductor Richard Evans. The concert, The Great Northern Brass Arts Festival 2004, at Manchester’s Bridgewater Hall, was attended by a capacity audience of almost 2,500. For a review from 4barsrest.com please follow the link below.

Lawrence tells us that while the work offers the audience appealing musical entertainment just like the great war horses – he mentions Haydn, Hummel, Arutunian and Thomasi - it will also set a new bench mark for the aspiring trumpet soloist. The concerto, though premiered with brass band, is being rearranged for chamber orchestra.

In the programme notes the composer writes “The concerto is ten minutes long and in one movement comprising four sections which are varied and repeated, one solo cadenza, and one section which appears only once, an episode. This singular episode, an addition when the concerto was revised, was additionally dedicated to the soloist Richard Marshall. The compositional style is I hope quintessentially 21st century English with an element of nostalgia There are some hints at jazz playing styles and rumba, but romantic English I would say, and especially the slow movement. Blaze is also very bold as the title suggests, full of bravura and constant amazement, offering little respite for the soloist and requiring much stamina.

Solo part extract

"The opening statement from the soloist is without accompaniment. Just as a matador stands alone in the ring for the first few seconds, and looks at the mass in defiance, he thinks, “you are here to see me die”, so the soloist stares the audience back in the face, and opens with the richest, largest sound (not loudest) one can muster, thus throwing the gauntlet down to the ears of all who might disbelieve what they are about to encounter, a gladiatorial cornet, a Blaze from the stage.”

The new recording of the concerto is out now on CD from World of Brass, catalogue number 24606. Richard Marshall is again the soloist and the whole CD is also entitled Blaze.

Contact details for the composer are available at his website, (see link), or from Elms Publishing, 10 Empress Ave, London E12 5ES, United Kingdom; telephone 020 8518 8629 (+44 20 8518 8629). At the website it is also possible to see and hear the score via the “Scorch” browser plugin for Sibelius scores.

Links:
Philip Lawrence's Elms Publishing
Blaze page at Elms Publishing - see/hear score with Scorch plugin
4barsrest.com review of Blaze
Blaze CD page at World of Brass (includes online ordering)

Scorch - what Scorch is and how to get it for your browser

Update: Added score extract 21st March.