| Huug Steketee and his new CD Shining Waters | January 29, 2006 | |||||
   |
||||||
|
||||||
Chris Helme writes: “It was back in 2001 when I received an e-mail and became aware of Huug Steketee, a professional orchestral trumpet player from Holland. It transpired he was a brass band enthusiast and wanted to buy a copy of my book about the legendary English cornet player James Shepherd, one of his musical heroes. It was from this initial contact that eventually led to the two of us organising his recent partnership with the Hepworth (Persimmon Homes) Band and the recording of his new and exciting CD "Shining Waters". This recording was the completion of another of his childhood dreams – to make a solo CD and to be accompanied by a top class British Brass Band. Huug was born in Zeeland, a province in southern Holland: his father was a good amateur musician and played the cornet with the local brass band. As a child Huug has happy memories of a musical family home with his father playing his cornet or listening on a Sunday afternoon to his father’s collection of old English brass vinyl band records. By the time Huug was nine years old, he was introduced to the cornet by his father. Not long after that he took his first tentative steps in the world of brass bands and joined the other youngsters in his father’s village band. This was in the learners’ class, where quite naturally his first tutor was his father who taught him all the basics. At the age of 18, Huug had an audition for the Sweelinck Conservatory in Amsterdam with Klaas Kos, Principal Trumpet of the Royal Concertgebouw Orchestra, who was one of the most respected brass musicians in the country. He was the maestro and known to every trumpet player in the country: his reputation went before him. At their first meeting Huug was put through his paces with a number of exercises as the maestro looked on slowly drawing on his cigar and nodding approvingly. He was accepted, and these lessons proved invaluable to Huug’s future. He enjoyed every minute, they got on well together, and the level of respect Huug had for the maestro was always self-evident. In 1986 whilst still having lessons with Klaas Kos, Huug successfully auditioned for the Principal Trumpet player at the Residentie Orkest at The Hague, a position he has now held for the last twenty years. He is also the Professor of Trumpet at the Koninklijk Conservatorium at The Hague. One of his former students is Robert–Jan Hoffman who now plays Second Trumpet, sitting alongside his former tutor in the Residentie Orkest. Robert-Jan is also an important part of the team involved in the CD project. He comments: "…Huug is an outstanding trumpet and cornet player - his brilliant tone and virtuosity makes you want to listen to his performances over and over again. The high quality of his cornet solo compositions highlight the fact that here is a musician whose roots are clearly in the Brass Band world. It's always a privilege to work with him…” Many of Huug’s musical heroes are still the brass band players he admired as a young cornet player - James Shepherd, James Scott and Derek Garside. As a tribute to his childhood musical hero James Shepherd, Huug has composed and included on this CD a cornet solo ‘Chanson Pastorale’. In 2001 when he and The Hague Residentie Orkest were performing at the Leeds Town Hall he had the privilege of meeting James and presenting with the music for this solo. In addition, he now also includes amongst his musical heroes his former private tutor the late international Principal Trumpet Pierre Thibaud of the Paris Opera. Another trumpet player for whom Huug has the highest regard, and considers him one of his closest friends is Peter Masseurs, the Principal Trumpet with the Royal Concertgebouw Orchestra, Amsterdam. Huug was pleased when his friend and such a highly respected internationally known trumpet player agreed to play two tracks on this CD – ‘Shining Waters’ and ‘Loves End’. Masseurs adds: “…Huug is a very remarkable person, bursting with talent both as a composer and as a trumpet and cornet player with his own recognisable style of playing. He has a singing trumpet sound and is someone who is very dependable in his role as a trumpet soloist in the Residentie Orchestra. Huug has a very creative mind: there’s always music in his head. He works it out and the outcome is what you hear on this CD – every composition comes from his hand. I would like to take the opportunity to thank Huug for the invitation to join him on his CD and the lovely accompaniment of the Hepworth (Persimmon Homes) Band under its magnificent leader Marc Bentham…” Having made numerous recordings, performed on the radio many times and travelled the world with the orchestra, some of his favourite performances were with some friends who formed the Belgian Brass Quintet. This quintet was formed in 1987 when a group of fellow musicians who all held principal positions in Belgium Orchestras got together. Although from Holland the group invited Huug to join them – this was what could only be described as ‘a labour of love’ – travelling 2000 kilometres to rehearsals every week was very tiring. The ensemble took their playing very seriously and with Huug arranging all the pieces and performing 25 concerts each season for 12 years this part of his musical life was at times very exhausting. Looking back to when he was 18 and finding his feet on the musical ladder his ambitions were simple and direct – to play the big trumpet solos in front of a large audience in the largest concert halls. Having now achieved all his youthful ambitions he is now looking to extend those experiences. The new CD project has been one of those planned new experiences and is now looking forward to doing more recording projects in the future. This first recording project with Hepworth (Persimmon Homes) Band has been special and has been rarely done before – where the brass soloist has written all the music as well. It is new music and having such a good band to accompany the solos was in itself a wonderful experience. Over the next few years Huug wants to return to his roots by writing new music for brass bands and carrying out more recordings. CD track listing Most tracks are Huug Steketee (Cornet) with the Hepworth (Persimmon Homes) Band, other soloists as listed
The CD is available from Kirklees Music, 609 Bradford Road, Brighouse, HD6 4DN, England. Telephone: +44 (0)1484 722855. E-mail: sales@kirkleesmusic.co.uk For further information about the CD or Huug please contact Chris Helme at cdhelme3539.brighouse@zen.co.uk Website:
|
||||||
|
|