Announcements/News

BLAST OF BRASS
BLAST OF BRASS is a summer chamber music program for brass students in Middle School, High School, and College, which will be held July 8 – 14, 2012.  Our Featured Artist is Thomas Hooten, principal trumpet of the Los Angeles Philharmonic.  Guest Artists include John Kitzman, principal trombone of the Dallas Symphony Orchestra, the Tuba & Euphonium Quartet of the Dallas Wind Symphony, the Dallas Horn Octet, and the BLAST OF BRASS Ensemble.  Classes include a daily warm-up, large and small ensembles, individual instrument choirs, master classes, recitals, intro to jazz improvisation, and an orchestra excerpt class.  We provide dormitory housing, recreational activities, and a meal plan.
Visit our website at www.blastofbrass.com for more information and to register.
Location: Texas A&M University – Commerce, TX
Contact: Keith Meek, conference director at office@blastofbrass.com

The 38th Brass Chamber Music Workshop

Humboldt State University (July 22-27/July 29-Aug 3, 2012)

The Brass Chamber Music Workshop at Humboldt State University welcomes brass instrumentalists to a unique one- or two-week musical experience. The workshop setting provides opportunities to play in a variety of ensembles, ranging from trios to dectets, with coaching from professional brass chamber musicians from across the United States.

Scholarships are available.

Dates:

Week 1: July 22-27, 2012

Week 2: July 29-August 3, 2012

Applications available: www.humboldt.edu/brass

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CD REVIEW
God’s Trombones

The University of Texas at Austin Trombone Choir

Dr. Nathaniel Brickens, Director

Dr. Gloria Quinlan, soprano

Longhorn Music CD LHM2009001

Distributed by Naxos

Price will vary depending on Reseller

 

From an 18th century engraving is found this inscription:

Trombone 

I am searching for glory in every place,

In antiquity, as well as in effect,

One can see what I can do in both Testaments,

I destroy walls when spoken to in a proper manner,

No offering or feast could be properly conducted without me,

And nowadays I adorn a large instrumental choir.

     In the 20th century, author James Weldon Johnson used the following words to describe the words of a preacher in his collection of sermons entitled “God’s Trombones”: “The preacher brought into play the full gamut of his wonderful voice, a voice-what shall I say?-not of an organ or a trumpet, but rather of a trombone, the instrument possessing above all others the power to express the wide and varied emotions encompassed by the human voice-and with greater amplitude.”

Throughout the years, The UT Austin Trombone Choir has continued the sacred music traditions of early trombonists, having performed in churches in Austin, the state of Texas, across the United States, and in Brazil. The goal of this disc was to fulfill requests from parishioners for a recording of church music by this ensemble.

With many arrangements from the pen of Gary Slechta, this incredible recording begins with a brilliant and forceful rendition of A Mighty Fortress is Our God and proceeds through fourteen hymns and tunes related to church music.  These include Salvation is Created by Pavel Tschesnokoff (as arranged by member Jackson Wilds); a beautiful setting by Royce Lumpkin of the Franz Xaver Biebel Ave Maria (recorded and made famous by the vocal ensemble, Chanticleer); the elegant and rich Bruckner Etude written and arranged by Enrique Crespo; and Achieved is the Glorious Work by Franz Joseph Haydn from his oratorio The Creation (from arranger Ralph Sauer).

This disc is reminiscent of the work of the great Ralph Carmichael from many years ago on Word Records.  He contributed some of the most beautiful arrangements of sacred music for brass choir with some of Hollywood’s and Los Angeles’ top studio brass players.

In my opinion, The UT Austin Trombone Choir must rank as one of the finest of its kind. Rich deep tone and expert technique along with superb musicianship earmark this ensemble. Their intonation is solid and the use of the contra bass trombone adds a depth not usually heard in most trombone choirs.

The quality of work of Dr. Brickens and Dr. Quinlan could not be better.  Dr. Quinlan’s voice soars over the trombones in a glorious wave of beauty. This is a fine recording and one that all trombonists will listen to with delight and wonder. It is a must have disc and it has my strongest recommendation.

 

Barton Cummings
Composer, Arranger,
Benicia, CA 94510

heavenly-descants-trumpetHeavenly Descants for Trumpet on 118 Hymn Tunes by Susan Sievert Messersmith is the newest release from Heavenly Descants Publications. The book is available in both C Trumpet and B-flat Trumpet editions.

These original trumpet descants have been cross-referenced with the harmonies from 5 different hymnals (primarily Episcopal, Lutheran and Methodist) with some references to a few other hymnals. Each descant has the various hymn numbers listed at the bottom of the page; no testing necessary!

This is the most comprehensive trumpet descant book on the market, and will pay for itself the first time you use it. It will be the “go-to” book in every trumpet player’s music bag for church service gigs, as well as weddings.

Endorsed by trumpet players of the Cleveland Orchestra and Los Angeles Philharmonic, as well as organists and composers, Heavenly Descants is a “must-have” in every serious freelance player’s bag. Makes a great gift for trumpet players of all levels or for your church music director, and is available in both C trumpet and B-flat trumpet editions.

For more information and to purchase your copy please visit HeavenlyDescants.com