This work is a 5 to 6 minute mostly lyrical work that captures a strong Asian flavor and the beauty of the euphonium. At the same time, it provides some moments of lyrical agility and great power. This is a welcome addition to the repertoire.
An award winning new work for tuba quartet (ensemble) from the pen of young composer, Ben Hackett. The work was named a FINALIST in the 2010 Harvey Phillips Awards for Excellence in Composition. A wonderful honor.
The first movement, which is called "Quick and Heavy," is divided into two ideas: (1) the quick trade-off between arpeggios in the 2nd tuba with parallel minor triads in the upper three parts and (2) the seemingly slow yet energetic chorale sections. This movement is a challenge to blend since the voices are often close together in the middle and low parts of the bass clef staff.
The second movement is a slow chorale that features the two euphoniums trading a melody back and forth over steady, open chords in the tuba parts. The harmonic movement is slow and not very complicated but the trading melodies and the appearance and resolution of dissonances show the beauty and blend of the instruments.
The third movement, titled "Fast and Loud," begins with a simple two note rhythmic motive in the three lower parts. This rhythmic motive is present in different forms throughout most of the movement. This movement brings back ideas from previous movements like the quick trading of melodies and a slower yet energetic chorale in the middle. Hopefully, this movement is a fun, exciting finish to the piece.
A fun and challenging work for euphonium quartet (a tuba could be used for the low part) written in 3 movements. Sample: PDF Parts: BC only Notes from the Composer: The story that I hear, which may not be the best story, is that of a typical superhero movie. The first movement introduces the hero as he (or she) is in the midst of a battle. I’m not sure that any one of the euphonium parts represents the hero; but musically, the parts all work against each other, almost mockingly, throughout the piece. The different parts step in with the main motive and then move out very quickly; like bad guys standing in a circle around a superhero, waiting for their chance to move in and take their beating. POW! The second movement portrays the love life of the superhero which, in any good superhero story, is tragic. The hero can’t be in a relationship with their love interest because they fear for their safety and blah blah blah…. The movement is about the negative feelings that are brought into the story as a result of the main character’s pining for a love that he (or she) can’t have. What do superheroes do with their free time? They PARTY. Maybe this side of the superhero isn’t well documented in the movies, but in my mind, anyone who spends their nights beating up villains deserves a good party. The last movement is just fun and rhythmic with lots of hemiola, the heart of any good “drum-setless” rock song.
Beyond the Horizon - Volume 2 continues the series dedicated to highlighting new repertoire for the euphonium. Ranging from William Brusick's powerful and triumphant Concerto for Euphonium to the sublime lyrical writing of Jiro Censhu's duet The Windows Open to the Ocean to the Mahlerian influences and turmoil in James Stephenson's Sonata for Euphonium, Beyond the Horizon - Volume 2 highlights the diverse style and abilities of the euphonium. Also included are pieces influenced by the Salvation Army traditions: a classic fantasy by Philip Catelinet, Call of the Seasons, and young composer Martin Mikles with the charming work, The Journey Home. Featured last is great friend of the euphonium, Scott Stewart on saxophone in Barbara York's Conversations for Saxophone, Euphonium, and Piano. International pianist and accompanist, Michael Fennelly brings the various works alive whether performing as a "mini wind or brass band" in the Brusick and Catelinet, a spirited partner in the Stephenson, or a refined tonal palette in the Censhu and Mikles. I hope this is another fine addition to the growing repertoire and enlightens audiences around the world to the great new music for the euphonium." -- Adam Frey
Point of Ayr Brass Band - Wales, UK Adam plays Principal Euphonium and is soloist on Fantasie Originale (piano version available) [link to AMP-01 Description] and also features a number of world premiere recordings among its varied program. This CD is great for brass players that want to experience a brass band with a newer repertoire. The Sparke and Sinatra are both great works showing off many of the great players of the band. The band has been awarded 3rd Prize at the European Championships and won the Welsh Championships on numerous occasions.
Selections - Philip Sparke Pantomime; Rachmaninov Vocalise; Yasuhide Ito Fantasy Variations; Puccini Nessun Dorma; Vladimir Cosma Euphonium Concerto; Faure Elegie in C minor; Korsakov Flight of the Bumble Bee; Ponce Estrellita; Ermano Picchi Fantaisie Originale. "Beauty, energy, diversity, and listening enjoyment were always present in my mind when I choose the music for "Listen to THIS!!" Give the audience what they want: exquisite melodies, exciting virtuosity, and a unique performance experience. I present a multinational buffet for the ears to feast upon with musical cuisine from Great Britain, France, Italy, Russia, Japan, and Mexico. I hope this recording communicates the fun and enjoyment that I experienced making it." - Adam Frey
Adam Frey and Scott Hartman combine talents with the Metropolitan Wind Symphony and Larry Isaacson to bring listeners a great collection of masterworks, programmatic compositions, opera favorites, and virtuoso show pieces...and then the infamous Duelin' Banjos with a 4 and 1/2 octave twist!! Selections - Euphonium Solos - Martin Ellerby - Euphonium Concerto; Alfred Reed - Seascape; John Hartmann - Rule Britannia; Giacomo Puccini - Un Bel Di; Trombone Solos - Tony DiLorenzo - Little Buckaroo; Meredith Willson 76 Trombones; Duets - Delibus - Flower Song from Lakme; Arthur Smith - Duelin' Banjos
Adam Frey and the incredible New Zealand Symphony Orchestra!! What an amazing combination in this first entire CD recording of euphonium and a major symphony orchestra!!
Adam Frey and the New Zealand Symphony Orchestra present a disc of outstanding transcriptions and the much heralded and award winning Concerto for Euphonium: Swimming the Mountain by Allen Feinstein - WINNER of the 2006 ITEA Harvey Phillips Composition Contest. This recording pairs itself nicely with Majestic Journey This was a joy to record in the Michael Fowler Centre in Wellington, New Zealand and I had some outstanding moments with the orchestra and Maestro Bruce Hangen, Principal Guest Conductor of the Boston Pops.
Finally available in a wonderfully clear typeset piano score and solo part in both Bass clef and Treble Clef. One of the GREAT euphonium solos from the traditional brass band genre, Call of the Seasons combines dramatic lines, introspective melody, jovial character, and exciting technique to showcase the soloist all wrapped into a fine theme of the changes of the seasons. HIGHLY RECOMMENDED.
Program Notes:
Philip Bramwell Catelinet was born in Guernsey in the United Kingdom in 1910. At a young age, he was immersed in music and grew to be an accomplished pianist, composer, arranger, euphoniumist, and tubist. Catelinet was a dedicated Salvation Army member and occupied a number of positions for the Army during his life including becoming an officer and working in the Music Editorial Department, bandmaster at Battersea, euphoniumist with the International Staff Band, and later as a music consultant to the Salvation Army in Pittsburgh, PA. As a tubist, his name is synonymous with the world premiere of the Vaughn Williams Tuba Concerto with the London Symphony Orchestra in 1954. As a composer, Catelinet amassed a large body of repertoire including 15 orchestral works, 30+ works for wind band, 50+ works for brass band, a vast number of arrangements and compositions for brass soloists and brass chamber groups, and an astounding 200+ works for the Salvation Army. He and his family immigrated to the US in 1956 to the Pittsburgh area and one of his last teaching posts was at Carnegie Mellon University. Philip Catelinet died in 1995 and on a personal level was known as a kind and gentle man.1
Written as a theme and variations that captures the moods of the four seasons of the year, Call of the Seasons captures the tradition of the euphonium soloist and brass band exquisitely. The style of the solo part and accompaniment typify the color and character of the brass band (even when performed with the piano reduction). The excellent lyrical and technical writing results in listening enjoyment for the audience and performers. The melodic opening captures a somber mood before turning more optimistic with a quicker tempo and various counter-melodies. Variation 1 captures a more upbeat feeling with sixteenth note, diatonic runs before Variation 2 in 9/8 highlights a wonderful ascending melody that allows the euphonium to demonstrate wonderful phrasing. The finale, written as a Vivace 6/8, contains the most technical writing with a jovial melody. One fun exercise for players and audience involves determining which sections of the piece represent the various seasons.
This wonderful duet combines a lush impressionistic piano setting with a very lovely and lyrical duet line paying homage to Asian cultures. Both parts are not overly demanding, but the first does contain a high c. This work is highly recommended and very appropriate for many performance venues.
One of the best known opera duets, the Flower Song from Lakme features a very lovely pairing of melodic lines for the two soloists alongside a very lovely accompaniment. A fantastic selection with tremendous versatility. HIGHLY RECOMMENDED.
This edition contains a variety of parts so that the duet can be performed with a number of different combinations…not just euphoniums: a B-flat treble clef (euphonium, trumpet, tenor sax, and clarinet); a bass clef (bassoon, trombone, and euphonium); and a C treble clef (flute).
Another Baroque transcription worthy of performance. Prepared like the Marcello Sonata in F Major, this edition comes with both an ornamented part and an ornament-free part so that the performer can choose the particular editings preferred. This solo is more lengthy than the Marcello and requires greater flexibility in the extended ranges because the part is taken directly from the bassoon text.
Drawing influence from the paintings of French Romanticists and Impressionists, Gabriel Fauré never completely recognized his appeal to audiences. Combining his personal harmonies and hauntingly memorable melodies yielded his Elegié in C Minor, Op. 24. An expansive and beautiful work, it was originally written for violoncello and piano. This adaptation tries to bring the demands of the piece within the grasp of the euphonium player. A beautiful work that will challenge all and contains numerous ossias for adjusting to various playing levels.
The composer has created an excellent work with a wonderful programmatic theme. The solo part will challenge advanced college students. This was recorded with the New Zealand Symphony Orchestra in 2006.
From the Composer: The concerto is loosely programmatic. In the first movement the euphonium is Zeus, surveying, enjoying, and commanding his realm. The second movement depicts the eclipse, the emergence of stars in the darkness, and then the return of the sun. The third movement playfully explores musical possibilities and impossibilities, featuring interactions between the euphonium and the piccolo, timpani, and violin. The concerto is performed without a break between movements.
A four movement work commissioned by the 2009 Euphonium Foundation Consortium aimed at college and adult students looking for a challenging musical work. The work was inspired by 4 sketches that daVinci made himself (see the PDF below) and how they translate into instrumental music. There are many charming moments and superb melodic lines for the euphonium.
Commissioned by the 2009 Euphonium Foundation Consortium
Bruce Fraser (b.1947) has a vast experience as a professional performer on Trombone and also as a composer, conductor and adjudicator. He has composed a large number of titles for Brass and Concert Band and has titles with about 17 publishers throughout Europe and US. Important recent commissions include a Trumpet Concerto for John Wallace and a Tuba Concerto for James Gourlay. With his wife, he runs Lomond Music.
"I met Adam Frey at the International Tuba and Euphonium Conference in Cincinnati 2008. He invited me to write a work for him aimed at a particular level of student. The resulting work is a Euphonium Fantasy which uses musical letters from his name to form melodic cells. The basic form of the piece is a slow first half and fast second. The opening section allows for freedom of expression as well as showing off control and range in performance. The fast section is like a fast Spanish dance with lots of opportunities to show off technique. It was a pleasure to write for Adam and the recording is an absolute delight." - Bruce Fraser
A superb arrangement of the extremely well know tune from The Red Poppy. Scored for four euphoniums and three tubas, this work will prove a concert gem. Mr. Weaver, a graduate of the University of Georgia, captures the mood and style of the original magnificently with very idiomatic writing for all parts. This work deserves a place in any tuba-euphonium ensembles' library.
A superb addition to the Baroque transcription repertoire for players of all levels. This work includes trill explanations and program notes and features 4 movements that offer the soloist a wide scope of interpretation.
A fabulous theme and variations in the style of Arban, but with a Brittish twist. This is a fine selection from the turn-of-the-century reperotire and the tmepos can be modified to suit just about any ability level. It can have a nice relaxed feeling or played at very brisk tempos to leave the audience in awe. Enjoy.
A very substantial work for euphonium and piano that utilizes folk song coupled with great virtuosity for both the euphonium and piano.
SELECTED AS A FINALIST IN THE 2006 ITEA HARVEY PHILIPS EUPHONIUM COMPOSITION COMPETITION
The Gaelic Sonata was composed for Adam Frey in late 2002. Premiered in February 2003, the composer says the following about the work: “Folk song has proved a rich seam from which generations of composers have mined lustrous gems. Perhaps no source sparkles with quite the gleaming brilliance of Gaelic melody. The Gaelic Sonata is in three standard movements: sonata-allegro, song form, and rondo.
The sonata also tells a story of sorts: I - A Youth, possessed of restless dreams of accomplishment, purposes to seek Adventure Afar, despite the admonitions of Age and Experience and the entreaties of the girl next door (who secretly loves him dearly). II - He leaves nonetheless, only to discover that “adventure” includes spells of loneliness, doubt, and regret –even in the midst of boisterous comrades. III - With mind and heart improved, the enlightened youth returns to find that much his heart had sought elsewhere was in truth waiting for him at home.
One of the standards in the Baroque transcription repertoire for the euphonium. This edition includes both an ornament-free solo part and one with the ornaments used by the editor. This will allow the performer to see how a Baroque piece may be ornamented while having the option to compose their own ornaments and make use of the ones in the ornamented part. One of the best aspects of this piece is that it can easily be adapted for a wide range of playing levels by altering the amount of ornamentation.
A beautiful and lovely melodic work that really features the strong points of the euphonium. Mikles is a young composer and this work is superb. Program notes below as well as a full live recording by a student performer.
Program Notes:
A young composer and arranger, Martin primarily performs on trombone and euphonium. As an undertaking for his course study at Georgia State University, he composed The Journey Home, a musical depiction of the parable of the Prodigal Son, for a final project.
The story of the Prodigal Son is found in Luke 15:11-32. Jesus tells the story of a man who has two sons. The younger son demands his share of his inheritance while his father is still living, and goes off to a far away country where he "wastes his substance with riotous living." He eventually has to take work as a swine herder, which is a very form of employment as swine are not kosher in Judaism). While enduring this work, he becomes aware of his wasted time and decides to return home. There, he throws himself on his father's mercy. But when he arrives, his father greets him warmly and barely allows him to tell his tales of troubled times and express his repentance; the father even kills a "fatted calf" to celebrate his return (this was a sign of great celebration). The story continues with the older brother becoming jealous at the favored treatment of his faithless brother and upset at the lack of reward for his own faithfulness. Martin is an avid brass band enthusiast and participates regularly in brass bands of The Salvation Army.
David Morgan's Shapes of the Morning for Euphonium and Piano explores the lyrical side of the euphonium. A plaintive melody in the euphonium is accompanied by impressionistic harmony in the piano part.
The great turn-of-the-century solo as arranged by Simone Mantia. A grand theme and variations with a choice of cadenzas from Arthur Lehamn or Simone Mantia. An incredible tour-de-force with numerous ossias for the more daring soloists!!
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