Posts Tagged ‘ensemble’
Posted by glennled on June 18, 2014
Aaron Copland, composer, teacher, writer, conductor, 1900-1990
On Sunday, 25 May, I played trumpet in the Brass Ensemble, conducted by Linda Collins, at Alderwood Community Church in Lynnwood. During the worship service, recognition was given to Memorial Day, which was to be celebrated across the nation the next day.
Our featured piece was the thrilling Fanfare for the Common Man by Aaron Copland, written in 1942 and first performed in 1943 during World War II. It’s powerful and brings dignity to every event at which it is played. In America, regardless of status, we are all common—“All men are created equal,” and it’s “One man, one vote.”
Here are some videos of performances by others which pay tribute to the USA and its military men and women: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pXytluK9QVk and http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GGu5Iz_h7Yo.
In the gallery of caricatures below, credit is given where the artist is known to me. Please click on any image to enlarge it.
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Copland by Lenoard Bernstein (1936)
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Copland by Leonard Bernstein (1943)
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Copland by Al Hirschfeld
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Copland by John Minnion
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Copland
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Copland
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Copland
Posted in Ceremonies & Celebrations, Church Music | Tagged: Aaron Copland, Alderwood Community Church, brass, composer, conductor, ensemble, Fanfare for the Common Man, Leonard Bernstein, Linda Collins, trumpet | 2 Comments »
Posted by glennled on May 31, 2014
On 19 December 2013, the music program presented its “Sounds of Winter” concert in the Inglemoor High School Gymnasium. The Orchestra, Symphonic Band, Jazz Band, Concert Choir, Belle Voci, Chamber Choir, Mass Choir, and Wind Ensemble all performed for the large crowd. There are 8 trumpeters in the Wind Ensemble and 7 in the Symphonic Band. The Wind Ensemble is directed by Ted Christensen, who also is the Northshore School District Music Coordinator. Jim Rice directs the Symphonic Band and Jazz Band. At this concert several pieces were conducted by Megan Webster, Student Intern, Central Washington University.
The 45-member Symphonic Band performed “On This Day Earth Shall Ring,” “Wishing You a Merry Christmas,” and “The Bells of Christmas.” The Wind Ensemble (66 members) performed “Stars,” “Jesus, Jesus Rest Your Head,” and “Christmas Festival.” The Orchestra performed “Dances from the Nutcracker.” The music program enjoys the support of the Inglemoor High School Music Boosters.
Posted in Inglemoor High School, School Concerts | Tagged: band, ensemble, Inglemoor High School, music, Music Boosters, Northshore School District, orchestra, symphonic, wind | Leave a Comment »
Posted by glennled on May 31, 2013
It started in 1984, when Eric Lucas was a senior in high school—a concert called “Northshore Jazz Night” that features the high school jazz bands within the Northshore School District. Mr. Lucas is now Director of Instrumental Music and Performing Arts Department Chair at Woodinville High School. “So often,” he said, “when we play at jazz competitions and individual school concerts, we never get the chance to hear each other play. This is a fun event, usually about the first week of May, just for the entertainment of ourselves, parents, relatives, and friends.”
And on 30 April at Inglemoor High School in Kenmore, we heard five bands from Woodinville, Bothell, and Inglemoor high schools. I got photos of almost every band, but my camera’s battery died just before the Inglemoor Jazz Ensemble took the stage. The lead trumpeter in the Woodinville Jazz Ensemble is my former student. Please click on any photo to enlarge it.
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Woodinville Jazz II
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Six trumpeters, Woodinville Jazz II
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First trumpet soloist, Woodinville Jazz II
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Next trumpet soloist, Woodinville Jazz II
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Trombone soloist, Woodinville Jazz II
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Inglemoor Jazz II
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Saxophone section, Inglemoor Jazz II
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Trumpet soloist, Inglemoor Jazz II
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Trumpeters, Inglemoor Jazz II
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Saxophone soloist, Woodinville Jazz Ensemble
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Trumpet section, Woodinville Jazz Ensemble
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Vocalist, Woodinville Jazz Ensemble
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Eric Lucas, Director of Instrumental Music, Woodinville Jazz Ensemble
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Lead trumpeter, Woodinville Jazz Ensemble
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Trumpeter friends, Woodinville Jazz Ensemble
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Trumpet soloist, Bothell Jazz Ensemble
Posted in School Concerts | Tagged: band, Bothell, ensemble, high school, Inglemoor, jazz, Kenmore, Northshore School District, trumpeter, Woodinville | Leave a Comment »
Posted by glennled on March 12, 2013
Doc Severinson with the Stiletto Brass Quintet
If you’re attending in the 22nd Annual National Trumpet Competition this week, you’re probably already in Arlington, Virginia where it begins this Thursday on the campus of George Mason University. If not, like me, then you might want to check it out at http://www.nationaltrumpetcomp.org/.
The competition is comprised of six divisions: junior, high school, undergraduate, graduate, jazz, and ensemble. In the junior division, there are six competitors; high school, 33; undergraduate, 41; graduate, 36; jazz, 12; and ensemble, 30. Two ensembles are from Central Washington University in Ellensburg, Washington.
The U.S. Navy Band opens the event with a concert, also featuring Tromba Mundi and others, on Thursday, and the Stiletto Brass Quintet (five women, including Amy Gilreath and Cathy Leach on trumpet) plays a two-hour concert featuring Doc Severinson on Friday. That evening, Tom Harrell and his Jazz Quintet appear in concert at Harris Hall, free admission.
Trumpeters conducting clinics and master classes include Charles Lazarus, Vince DiMartino, Joey Tartell, Chris Moore, and Etienne Charles.
For more information, please see:
Posted in Festivals & Competitions | Tagged: Amy Gilreath, Cathy Leach, Central Washington University, Charles Lazarus, Chris Moore, Doc Severinson, ensemble, Etienne Charles, George Mason University, Joey Tartell, National Trumpet Competition, Stiletto Brass Quintet, Tom Harrell, Tromba Mundi, trumpet, U.S. Navy Band, Vince DiMartino | Leave a Comment »
Posted by glennled on March 29, 2012
Grandfather and grandsons form the Brass Trio, playing "The Victors" march
Every four years, there’s a presidential election. Every four years, there is a Community Band Concert at Kamiakin Jr. High in Kirkland. Ward Brannman, Director of Bands, says he started these special concerts in 1986, as a means of involving his band students with musicians in their own families, school alumni, and the local community.
The concert opened with The Washover Fans, a folk music quartet, and closed with Curb Appeal, a 6-member rock and roll band. Kamiakin’s speech pathologist, plays in the former, and Kamiakin’s registrar, plays and sings in the latter. See www.thewashoverfans.com and www.wearecurbappeal.com.
The school’s Jazz Ensemble and three bands performed: Concert Band (7th grade), Symphonic Band (8th grade), and Wind Ensemble (9th grade). In between their performances, four other groups played and sang, including the Zydeco Trio (“It’s So Hard to Stop”) and Brass Trio (“The Victors”).
Two audience members join Zydeco Trio and Ward Brannman in playing "It's So Hard to Stop"
Trumpeters were featured in the Jazz Ensemble (“Take Me Out to the Ball Game”), Symphonic Band (“Overture on a Shaker Tune”), and Brass Trio (two trumpets, one trombone). Mr. Brannman said the Zydeco Trio and Brass Trio epitomize the purpose of this concert. Two members of the Zydeco Trio are fathers of band members. One trumpeter in the Brass Trio plays in the Wind Ensemble, and his younger brother, the trombonist, plays in the Beginning Band. The second trumpeter is their grandfather!
One of my trumpet students was the featured soloist in the Shaker tune overture! She is the principal of the trumpet section, and Mr. Brannman awarded her a Certificate of Achievement for the 3rd quarter of this school year (see photos). Incidentally, he also received an award this year: he was named Middle School/Junior High Music Educator of the Year by the Washington Music Educators Association (WMEA) at its annual state conference in February.
Kids and adults dance to "Don't Stop Believing" played by Curb Appeal
Seth Kuhns, Kamiakin alum, attended the concert to hear the premier performance of his composition, “Like Yesterday,” by the Wind Ensemble. It was commissioned by last year’s Wind Ensemble.
The concert closed with kids and adults dancing in a massive huddle on the gym floor as Curb Appeal played the ever-popular song, “Don’t Stop Believing.”
Please click on any photo to enlarge it.
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Sarah D., principal of trumpet section, Symphonic Band, solos in “Overture on a Shaker Tune”
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Sarah D. receives Certificate of Achievement from Ward Brannman, band director
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I.J., Junior All-State Band member, solos in “Take Me Out to the Ball Game” played by Jazz Ensemble
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Jazz Ensemble accents
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Jazz Ensemble finishes
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Ward Brannman plays spoons and washboard with Zydeco Trio
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Jammin’
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Concert Band, 46 members, features Tool Kit Quartet on “Tool Time Tango”
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Kamiakin teachers comprise Tool Kit Quartet
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Concert Band plays “I Just Can’t Stop Loving You”
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Symphonic Band, 47 members
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Trumpet section, Symphonic Band
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Ward S. Brannman, Director of Bands
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Wind Ensemble, 44 members
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Trumpet Section, Wind Ensemble
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The Washover Fans
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Curb Appeal
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Grandfather and grandsons form the Brass Trio, playing “The Victors” march
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Two audience members join Zydeco Trio and Ward Brannman in playing “It’s So Hard to Stop”
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Kids and adults dance to “Don’t Stop Believing” played by Curb Appeal
Posted in School Concerts | Tagged: band, community, concert, Curb Appeal, Don't Stop Believing, ensemble, folk, jazz, Kamiakin, Overture, rock and roll, Shaker, symphonic, trumpet, trumpeters, tune, Ward Brannman, Washover Fans, wind | 6 Comments »
Posted by glennled on December 14, 2011
Eckstein Wind Ensemble
At Eckstein Middle School in northeast Seattle on 8 December, more than one-quarter of the entire student body performed in one of four bands at the winter concert. These bands are comprised of 341 musicians out of the student body of 1280 students–that’s 27% and that’s success! You simply can’t argue about the superiority of this music program when you look at all the trophies in the hallway outside the auditorium, which was packed with parents, relatives and friends like me.
The Beginning Band (31 students) conducted by Chris Boscole played three pieces. Next was the Junior Concert Band (109 students) conducted by Cuauhtemoc Escobedo (aka “Mr. E” or “Moc”), Director of Bands at the school. The Junior Band played five pieces, finishing with Leroy Anderson’s “A Trumpeter’s Lullaby,” featuring three trumpet soloists. After that, Mr. Escobedo conducted the Intermediate Concert Band (107) in another five pieces, one of which featured another trumpeter. Finally, Mr. Escobedo conducted the Wind Ensemble (94) in yet another five pieces. Soloists included two clarinetists and five flutists.
Flute soloist in Eckstein Wind Ensemble performs "Gemeinhardt Suite" by Robert W. Smith
The music, including some Bach and Mozart, was challenging for the students—there was no effort to “play it safe” with easy compositions—and the students were up to the challenge! It was very impressive and enjoyable.
Two of my trumpet students performed—see my blog posts of 18 November 2009, and 19 April 2010. One is in the Wind Ensemble, and the other is in the Junior Concert Band. I was very proud of and happy for them.
Please click on any photo to enlarge it.
Thus ends "Sheherazade" by Nikolai Rimsky-Korsakov
Students don Santa hats for the finale, "Sleigh Ride," by Leroy Anderson
Three trumpeters accept the applause from the Eckstein Junior Band (standing) and the audience after soloing in "A Trumpeter's Lullaby" by Leroy Anderson
Posted in School Concerts | Tagged: A Trumpeter"s Lullaby, band, concert, Cuauhtemoc Escobedo, Eckstein Middle School, ensemble, Leroy Anderson, Rimsky-Korsakov, Sheherazade, Sleigh Ride, trumpet | Leave a Comment »
Posted by glennled on April 7, 2011
Nine masked trumpeters from the Concert Band (7th grade) perform "Phantom Trumpets"
If you were required by state law to attend one band concert this year at a junior high school in Western Washington, you would have to consider going to Kirkland to hear the bands directed by Ward S. Brannman. He runs a top-notch program, and the music produced by his young musicians at a concert last Tuesday was proof.
Leading off the concert was the Kamiakin Jazz Ensemble playing, among other charts, “Night and Day” by Cole Porter. Next, the Concert (7th Grade) Band performed three pieces: “Dance of the Witches,” “Irish Festival,” and “Phantom Trumpets.” In the latter, nine trumpeters wore masks and came to the front to play (see photo). One of them is a student of mine. I was very proud.
50-member Wind Ensemble
“Dance of the Witches” is a theme (in 6/8 time) written by John Williams for the 1987 movie, The Witches of Eastwick.Third was the Symphonic (8th Grade) Band, playing “Overture in C Minor” by Eric Osterling and “El Camino” by Jerry Nowak. Again, the trumpet section was featured in a mariachi section of “El Camino.” Finally, the Wind Ensemble performed Vaclav Nelhybel’s “Lyrical March,” featuring a flute solo and a trumpet duet. Five selections from Les Miserables, arranged by Warren Barket, concluded this special concert. The stage production of this popular musical debuted 25 years ago. Trumpet solos were featured in two of the selections.
Mr. Ward S. Brannman, Director
I know from tutoring one of his trumpet players that Mr. Brannman is diligent about setting high goals for his students and then encouraging, expecting, and rewarding excellence. At the same time, he mixes lots of fun, excitement, and recognition into his music program. This is the second concert of his which I’ve attended (see my post of 19 February 2010).
At this concert, for example, the teachers of Helen Keller Elementary School and the Quest Program of the Lake Washington School District were honored. Many band students read testimonials thanking
48-member Concert Band (7th grade)
their favorite teachers for good learning experiences in elementary school. Mr. Brannman also passed out several awards to various band members. And finally, he selected music that featured some of his best musicians. He builds pride and self-esteem through superior performance. Go hear his bands when you have the opportunity, whether or not it’s required by law!
55-member Symphonic Band (8th grade)
27-member Kamiakin Jazz Ensemble
Posted in School Concerts | Tagged: bands, Cole Porter, Dance of the Witches, ensemble, Eric Osterling, Helen Keller Elementary, jazz, John Williams, junior high, Kamiakin, Kirkland, Lake Washington School District, Les Miserables, Overture, Phantom Trumpets, Quest Program, The Witches of Eastwick, trumpet, trumpeters, Ward Brannman, Warren Barket, wind | 4 Comments »
Posted by glennled on May 12, 2010
Last night I went to hear one of my trumpet students play in the spring music concert at his elementary school. In his introduction, the principal alluded to the 1st place finish by Garfield High School’s jazz band in the Essentially Ellington jazz competition in New York City on Monday. It was their second victory in two years and their fourth (a record) in the 15-year history of this nationwide competition. He endorsed music education and wished his elementary students success in their music endeavors.
Six groups performed: Beginning Strings, Advanced Orchestra, Beginning Brass, Beginning Winds, Beginning Clarinets, and Advanced Band. He’s in Beginning Brass, along with four other trumpeters and one trombonist. The band director commented that they were going to play some Christmas music. It was a typically cool night on an overcast day in Seattle, but Christmas in May?! Yes, we heard the brass ensemble play “Good King Wenceslas” and “Jolly Old St. Nicholas,” as well as “Crusaders March” and “Frere Jacques,” in the school cafeteria with the stage. My student and another played lead trumpet, and I could clearly distinguish his strong, confident tone and clean articulation. Way to go!
Posted in School Concerts | Tagged: articulation, band, brass, Christmas, concert, director, education, elementary, ensemble, Essentially Ellington, Garfield, high, jazz, music, New York City, school, Seattle, spring, tone, trombonist, trumpet, trumpeters | Leave a Comment »
Glenn's Trumpet Notes 
