ITEA Journal Volume 35:1 Fall 2007

ITEA News
Lloyd Bone, Associate Editor (Lloyd.Bone@glenville.edu)

To the Edge of Space
CD recording featuring United States Air Force Band of Mid-America

The ITEA Journal extends great appreciation to the USAF Band of Mid-America for providing this CD for our ITEA members. The recording also features the Four Star Brass tuba-euphonium ensemble in the recording’s title track, To the Edge of Space composed by Patrick Sheridan and Sam Pilafian.

The following are program notes provided by Patrick Sheridan. To the Edge of Space was commissioned by Captain Donald Schofield and the USAF Band of Mid-America in May 2005. Imagine our surprise when asked to write a“concerto grosso” for the Four Star Brass tuba-euphonium ensemble and band…in thefunk style!?! A few minutes later the curtain parted and our mind movie started to unfold. The USAF is constantly pushing the envelope of human potential and technology in asearch for the edge of space. Equally adventuresome is the task given to the Four StarBrass as they are propelled to the frontier of what is possible for low clef dwellers. The Edge? The Fringe? A low brass section turned into a FUNK MONSTER! In a tempo reminiscent of the great James Brown and His Fabulous Flames.’ “In a Cold Sweat,” the Four Star Brass is catapulted into the “funkosphere” as the world’s largest five-string bass guitar. They trade riffs, breaks, and solos in a collective cadenza that represents a “funkified” sound map of the Milky Way. ~ Patrick Sheridan

Calling All News Items!

It’s that time of year: a new school year, new concert season, etc. All of us are busy and up to great things. However, the great things many of you are doing go unknown and that is a crying shame! We want to hear from as many of you as possible as the tuba and euphonium world is highly vast and diverse. So, please send your information regarding masterclasses, workshops, clinics, guest artist appearances, new music, new recordings, concert tours, new appointments, competition winners, new tuba and euphonium related materials, etc. Send them to Lloyd Bone at Lloyd.Bone@glenville.edu. Thanks for your time and consideration.

NEW APPOINTMENTS AND COMPETITIONS

Congratulations to Zach Collins, newly appointed tuba professor at the University of Indiana-Pennyslvania. Zach is a DMA student of Jim Self’s at the University of Southern California, and he also frequently performs in the movie studios and is a regular sub for Self.

New Zealand-born Tuba player Thomas Allely has been permanently appointed as Principal Tuba of The Queensland Orchestra in Brisbane Australia. He won the audition after a tightly contested final round in March this year, and after outstanding performances of Bydlo and Bruckner 7, the panel voted unanimously to appoint him to a permanent position, ending his trial 2 months early. Thomas has studied with Floyd Cooley (USA), Andrew Jarvis (NZSO), and Ken Young (NZSO).

Thomas Allely

Euphoniumist Bryce Edwards was recently appointed to The United States Navy Band in Washington, D.C. Mr. Edwards holds degrees from Tennessee Technological University and the University of Indiana. Mr. Edwards most recently was performing as euphonium soloist with the Mr. Jack Daniel’s Original Silver Cornet Band. Congratulations on this most prestigious accomplishment! 

Congratulations to tubist Kent Eshelman as he was recently hired as Visiting Instructor of Tuba and Euphonium at Western Kentucky University for the 2007–2008 school year. Mr. Eshelman recently won first place in the tuba division of the 4th Jeju International Brass Competition and was a DMA student at Michigan State University.

Congratulations to New Zealand tubist and Willson performing artist Ryan Peni as he recently won the principal tuba of the National Youth Orchestra of New Zealand.

Ryan Peni

Congratulations to 17 year old tubist Brandon Davis as he was the first place tuba solo winner of the Washington Music Education Association’s State Solo Competition, 2007. Davis, a junior at Bellevue Christian School in Washington, was recently accepted at The Colburn School Conservatory of Music in Los Angeles. For the last five years, Brandon has studied the tuba with Ryan Schultz, Principal Tubist of the Pacific Northwest Ballet Orchestra, at Music Works Northwest in Bellevue. Brandon has played with the Seattle Youth Symphony Orchestra organization for four years and started with Symphonette Orchestra at the age of 13.

Brandon Davis

NEW RECORDINGS

Original Tennessee Tech Tuba Ensemble Recordings Released

The ORIGINAL six LPs that were produced of the Tennessee Tech Tuba Ensemble (TTTE) have now been released on CD.

These recordings were produced between 1975 and 1986. Two Golden Crest recordings, two KM Publications recordings, and two Mark Recordings LPs are represented in these three CDs. The VINTAGE CD is from the two original Golden Crest recordings and the TTTE and All That Jazz and Heavy Metal represent a compilation of “jazz/pop” pieces and “serious” pieces from the next four LPs they released. Winston Morris said, “It is amazing how well these reissues sound considering the original tapes for the Golden Crest material is over 30 years old.” Check out the “Recordings” section (http://orgs.tntech.edu/tuba/default.asp?page=recordings ) on the TTTE website for complete information and a couple of sound files for each release. With the upcoming release of LEGACY (the TTTE 40th Anniversary All Star Alumni Ensemble recording of the nine major commissions composed for the 40th birthday), the TTTE is responsible for 23 recordings in the past 40 years. By this fall the TTTE will have 12 CDs available, which will contain 90% of everything they ever recorded.

In the meantime, check out the three new CD reissues. All funds from the sales of these recordings (and their mutes, etc.) go 100% to support the continuing activities of the TTTE.

INDUSTRY NEWS

Øystein Baadsvik Live Video Broadcast

Øystein Baadsvik is the only tuba virtuoso to have carved out a career exclusively as a soloist, rather than becoming a member of an orchestra or accepting a teaching post. His multi-faceted musical career as a soloist, chamber musician, and recording artist has taken him all over the world. The unique virtuosity and musicality Mr. Baadsvik brings to the tuba has established him as the exemplar of the instrument. He will perform on October 21 live at the University of South Florida.

Logon to http://www.banddirector.com/ and the live video player window should automatically launch, and the broadcast will automatically play at the beginning of each scheduled performance. For more information please contact Dave Knox at banddirector.com (586-992-2251). For further information concerning Mr. Baadsvik go to http://www.baadsvik.com/.

Velvet Brown at the University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point

Velvet Brown traveled to the University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point (UWSP) for a successful residency on March 1 and 2, hosted by UWSP low brass professor Brian Martz. The two days were packed. On Thursday she spoke to the composition class (one of her undergraduate majors was composition!), taught lessons to the tuba and euphonium students, and presented an excellent talk about her career, followed by questions from the students and faculty in attendance. She emphasized the importance of having a good work ethic and a good daily routine and also described various practice strategies and other useful tidbits. On Friday she taught a wonderful master class in the morning, played an open rehearsal of the Vaughan Williams Concerto with the UWSP Wind Ensemble, conducted by Brendan Caldwell, in the afternoon, and gave an inspiring performance that evening. Her down-to-earth personality was a hit with students and faculty alike, and her teaching was excellent. Her great sound, wonderful musicianship, and real virtuosity were in evidence every time she played, and especially in her performance of the Vaughan Williams. All in all is was a great time!

Velvet Brown Master Class Participants at the University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point. L-R: UWSP Low Brass Professor Brian Martz, Scott Hein, Michael Srnka, David Stangel, Velvet Brown, Chelsee Niedfeldt, and Marcus Lewis.

2007 Brass in Frankenwald

Brass is fun. The brass wind ensemble Rekkenze Brass and the tuba player Øystein Baadsvik have proven that with a rousing concert in Lichtenberg in upper Franconia. The concert was the conclusion of the one-week course for brass-ensemble “Brass in Franconia Forrest,” to which the five musicians of Rekkenze Brass had invited to the International Music Meeting place Haus Marteau of the Bezirk Oberfranken. Since 2001 this festival for brass wind players is regularly being performed. The festival includes a one-week course for brass ensemble and a master class under the direction of the guest soloist and the other lecturers, the one-day workshop “Brass is fun,” and the concert at the end of the week. Year by year there is another instrument set into the focus of attention. This year it was the tuba and for that the tuba virtuoso Øystein Baadsvik was invited.

Øystein Baadsvik at the 2007 Brass in Frankenwald Festival

Twenty-three musicians took part in the course for brass ensemble this year, amongst which there were two ensembles from the USA. The span of age was wide and also the musical background very different, for every stage of capability was admitted. Some of the participants come to Lichtenberg repeatedly, since they appreciate the intensive and concentrated work in a relaxed atmosphere. So, the ambitioned amateur-musician is seated next to the professional and both take profit from each other. This is the attraction, as René Jampen of Rekkenze Brass stated, “We want to destruct restraints and offer amateur musicians the opportunity to play in one concert with world-class musicians.” The conclusion is a common concert of all course participants, the sequence of which, however, would not be decided at the beginning of the working week. This will be developed in the course of the days. The only thing that is for sure is that all course participants are being taught by professional lecturers and will perform in concert with them

The 2008 Brass in Franconia Forrest Festival with Rekkenze Brass will be sponsored by the Bezirk Oberfranken. From  August 5–9, 2008 brass players of all ages and capabilities are invited to improve their skills in Lichtenberg.

Tuba Celebration at Cumberlands

Ten of the southeast region’s top professional tuba and euphonium artists converged on Williamsburg, Kentucky for a concert August 25, 2007. Hosted by Sean Greene and the University of the Cumberlands Tuba-Euphonium Ensemble, the group played large and small chamber works for multiple tubas in the university’s Moore Recital Hall. Works performed included compositions and arrangements by Sean Greene, John Elliott, John T. Martin, Neil Hefti, Henry Fillmore, and Rossini.

Performers in the Cumberlands Tuba Celebration hosted by Sean Greene

Performers included Dr. Stacy Baker from Morehead State University, Daryl Johnson from the Louisville Orchestra, Paige Lush, a freelance euphoniumist from Lexington, Kentucky, George Palton from Marshall University, Todd Cranson from the University of Illinois at Springfield, Rose Schweikhart from tubanews.com, Lisa Muth from Columbus, Ohio, and Amy Merritt from Knoxville, Tennessee. Everyone had a great time playing some fantastic music and, in true ITEA fashion, reconvened after the concert at Buckner’s Pub for some more serious reflection on the evening’s events!

Tubby the Tuba Lives Again

“Tubby the Tuba” tells of a tuba in the orchestra who gets no respect until a bullfrog teaches him a splendid, soaring melody, that he starts to play at the very moment a new conductor, Signor Pizzicato, calls the orchestra to attention. Even though Tubby’s interrupted, as the violins snap “That wretched tuba!” and the trombone sticks out his tongue, the conductor, who’s never heard a tuba play a tune before, asks him to continue.

In this performance in Boston in May, the part of Tubby is played by Mike Roylance, principal tuba in the Boston Symphony Orchestra. The narrator is David Tripp, whose father Paul wrote the story, collaborated with composer George Kleinsinger, and performed on the celebrated 1946 recording. Supporting Tubby here is the Cupcake Philharmonic Orchestra, with Tubby’s friend Peepo, the Piccolo played by Carolyn Newberger, Amanda Roylance, trumpet, Mark Churchill, cello, Marylou Churchill, violin (the Churchills, like Mike, also teach at New England Conservatory of Music), and Eli Newberger on piano and synthesizer. Go to http://www.elinewberger.com/videos.html to see more about the performance and for video clips. This website also features other very interesting tuba related information.

Charley Brighton Performs for Sold Out Concert

Charley Brighton, U.K. Euphonium Soloist and Willson Performing Artist, recently soloed at the Chapel of the Royal Holloway University in Surrey, England to a sold out audience. He performed his arrangement of Handel’s Air and Gigue, “Sunrise and Sunset” from Fiddler on the Roof (originally for flute and especially adapted with Adam Gorb’s permission), and Czardas by Vittorrio Monti. Also, in August Mr. Brighton gave the U.K. premiere of Little Suite for Euphonium by Ohio composer Elaine Fine. There are 3 short movements, a “Preludio,” very much in the classical style, a passionate “Reverie,” and finally a humorous “Puppet Dance.” The work was written for American euphonium soloist Chris Dickey.

Charley Brighton

Euphonium Soloist Opens for Charlie Daniels

Jimmie Self, euphoniumist, professor of low brass at East Tennessee State University and trombonist with The Symphony of the Mountains, performed with Charlie Daniels at Kingsport, Tennessee’s annual Funfest event. Mr. Self was the featured soloist in the warm-up concert before Charlie Daniels performed. Mr. Self performed “Georgia on My Mind” with orchestra accompaniment in a stadium filled with approximately 15,000 people and approximately 30,000 outside the stadium. Charlie Daniels had nearly a dozen arrangements of his tunes with full orchestra or brass accompaniment. Mr. Self said, “It was a great time and Charlie Daniels brought down the house with his enthusiasm, wit, and stage presence.”

2008 Euphonium Institute

The 2008 International Euphonium Institute is set for June 15–22, 2008. This will be the 5th Anniversary! Guests Artists will include international guests Øystein Baadsvik (Norway) and Jukka Myllys (Finland). A special discount will be available for those attending both IEI and ITEC the week following. This will be a great opportunity for International members to take part in the fabulous IEI experience by combining the IEI and ITEC trip. Students will benefit greatly from intense preparation for competitions at ITEC and Falcone. For more information contact Adam Frey at www.euphonium.com.

Euphonium and Flute and Saxophone

On August 24 in Glenville, West Virginia Dr. David Stern (Music Professor, Anderson University), euphonium, and Dr. Donna Maher (Music Professor, Glenville State College), flute and saxophone, performed a recital featuring works with the unique combination of euphonium, flute, and saxophone. Five Dances by Charles Booker is a very fun, entertaining and lively five-movement work that features the euphonium in combination with the flute and saxophone. Mr. Booker is the chair of the music department and band director at the University of Arkansas, Fort Smith. Information about this work can be found on Mr. Booker’s website, charlesbooker.com. Next they performed the world premiere of At A Carnival (Oil On Canvas) by Gary Belshaw, which features the euphonium in combination with flute and piccolo. This work is a set of eight short untitled musical compositions that are programmatic in nature. While performing the composition they had a slide show presentation of various artistic works that visually depicted the music. Information about this work can be found at garybelshawmusic.com.

GENERAL NEWS

Nordic Instrumental Music for Colleges and Universities has been updated

The catalogue of works selected by Mark Lammers and published in 1991 from work he did from 1987 through 1990 has been updated. The Nordic Cultural Fund sponsored the update, which was completed in August and September of 2006. The 2,206 items in the catalogue include works for band, orchestra, and the instruments of those ensembles in solo and small group forms. The catalogue is open to all at WASBE.com, then click on Resources. There are 68 listings for tuba, 14 for euphonium as well as 168 for various brass ensembles. For more information contact Mark Lammers, Ph.D., 13500 N. Rancho Vistoso Blvd. #401, Tucson, Arizona 85755 (520-818-1962).

INTERNET PICK OF THE QUARTER

Music of Ken Friedrich

Ken Friedrich has a fine tuba and euphonium music website that many people unfortunately do not know about. The site features music composed by Mr. Friedrich. Mr. Friedrich was born in 1965 in Mission, Texas. He started writing music in 1976 for his church. He graduated from Lovington, New Mexico and attended New Mexico State University in1983 where he was first exposed to the tuba ensemble experience under Dr. KennethSingleton. Friedrich’s first solo for euphonium, Evening Star Suite, was written andperformed at NMSU in 1983, and first work for tuba ensemble, Winds of Spring, wasperformed that same year. His writing encouraged other students and professors to writefor the group.

Today, Mr. Friedrich has a body of over 100 pieces, most written especially for euphonium and tuba, with nearly 50 solos written for euphonium alone. His first concerto for euphonium and wind symphony was premiered in the U.K. in January 2007. In 2004, Rommel Cordova commissioned him to write a tuba concerto. The piano version was premiered in San Marcos in November 2005. Mr. Friedrich currently resides in Austin, Texas with wife, Johanna, and children Lauren, and Karlten. He teaches beginning band at numerous private schools in the city. His music is both self-published and published by Cimarron Music Press.

Mr. Friedrich’s website features a wide variety of music for euphonium and piano, euphonium duets, and euphonium with large ensemble. The site also features tuba solos and a wide variety of tuba and euphonium ensemble arrangements. To visit his website go to www.kfsbrasschamber.com or contact Mr. Friedrich at knuxie35@yahoo.com.

John Griffiths (1948–2007)

John Griffiths was the ultimate tuba guy. If you knew him, if you heard him, or if you simply had a chance to just be around him, you would know exactly why. Plans on underway to pay tribute to one of our greatest in the upcoming winter issue of the ITEA Journal. If you would like to pass along your tribute, please do not hesitate and contact Tom McCaslin as soon as possible at mccaslint@ecu.edu.