Posts Tagged ‘trumpeters’
Posted by glennled on March 5, 2013
What does it mean when you cry in Act I of Puccini’s opera, La Boheme, and not when Mimi dies at the end of Act IV? Well, it must have a little to do with the fact that this is the second time my wife and I have seen La Boheme at the Seattle Opera. And it must have a lot to do with the singers and the music itself—there are a couple of outstandingly beautiful arias and a duet in Act I, sung by the lead soprano (Jennifer Black) and tenor (Michael Fabiano) when we attended on 24 February. And finally, it must have something to do with me, myself, and I.
Two trumpeters lead the parade by Cafe Momus in Act II. Photo by Elise Bakketun.
In Act I, young Mimi and Rodolfo fall in love. Mimi is a seamstress and courtesan, and Rodolfo is a poor poet, living in the same cheap apartment house in Paris. She is ill, but their love is strong. Their future brims with hope and promise. Who does not remember an intense, dreamy, romantic love in one’s youth? A tear sneaks down from the corner of my right eye.
They nearly break up in Act III. and then in the climax of Act IV, Mimi passes away after a long bout with consumption. Rodolfo is the last in the room to realize that she is dead. And out in seat E-2, a pair of dry eyes watch. Whazat? Most people cry in all the right places. Not me, not this time. Surprise.
Love is born—tears. Love is lost—no tears. I’ve seen it before—I know this love will die. But we never let tragic love stories, beautifully told, die. This great opera should always remain one of the world’s most popular. It premiered 117 years ago at Teatro Regio in Turin, northern Italy on 1 February 1896. The opera is “about young people caught in a difficult economic situation in desperate and conflicted love,” writes Speight Jenkins, General Director of the Seattle Opera. “There is no opera that so immediately speaks to everyone’s youth, even to those very young.”
Please click on any photo to enlarge it.
-
-
Mimi (Jennifer Black) and Rodolfo (Michael Fabiano). Photo by Elise Bakketun.
-
-
Musetta (Jennifer Zetlan) and Marcello (Keith Phares). Photo by Elise Bakketun.
-
-
Rodolfo (Michael Fabiano), Colline (Arthur Woodley), Benoit (Tony Dillon), Schaunard (Andrew Garland), and Marcello (Keith Phares). Photo by Elise Bakketun.
-
-
Colline (Arthur Woodley), Schaunard (Andrew Garland), Mimi (Jennifer Black), Rodolfo (Michael Fabiano), Marcello (Keith Phares), and Musetta (Jennifer Zetlan). Photo by Elise Bakketun.
Posted in Professional Concerts | Tagged: arias, duet, Jennifer Black, La Boheme, Michael Fabiano, Puccini, Seattle Opera, Speight Jenkins, trumpeters | Leave a Comment »
Posted by glennled on February 4, 2013
Trumpeters! Want to become your best? Want a quick study on playing the trumpet? Feel like you’re stuck on something and just not getting any better at it, no matter what? Want to hear how advanced, professional trumpeters do things and what they’ve learned through their years of experience? Want to ask them a question about something?
Here’s your chance on Sunday, 3 March—attend the Trumpet Arts Festival being held at Seattle Pacific University (SPU) in Queen Anne. Please see http://trumpetarts.com/NW_Trumpet_Arts_Festival/Welcome.html.
The following trumpeters are featured this year: Peter Bond, Metropolitan Opera Orchestra, NYC; Anthony Di Lorenzo, soloist; Chad McCullough, jazz soloist; Judson Scott, University of Puget Sound; and Brian Chin, SPU. To learn more about them, please see http://trumpetarts.com/NW_Trumpet_Arts_Festival/Artists.html.
It’s a full program:
- At 2 p.m., the Masterclass: “Practicing Fundamentals”
- At 3:30 p.m., the Masterclass: “Practicing Improvisation”
- At 4:30 p.m., Student Concert open to the public
- At 7:00 p.m., Artists’ Concert open to the public
- At 9:00 p.m., After-hours Jazz Jam at Thai Fusion, 15 Nickerson St
If you like, you can bring your horn and piano music and play for the Artists. They will give you written comments on your performance. This is supportive, professional, expert feedback, not a contest. Bring your own pianist/accompanist, or rehearse for a half hour and perform with the pianist furnished by the Festival. An extra $40 fee covers the cost. For details, please see http://trumpetarts.com/NW_Trumpet_Arts_Festival/Students.html.
The location is the E.E. Bach Theater, SPU, 3307 Third Avenue West, Seattle. The cost is $25 tuition for the day and $10 for the evening concert only. Come learn more about yourself and your horn and hear some great music!
Posted in Festivals & Competitions | Tagged: Anthony Di Lorenzo, arts, Bach Theater, Brian Chin, Chad McCullough, concert, festival, horn, jam, jazz, Judson Scott, Metropolitan Opera Orchestra, Peter Bond, piano, Seattle Pacific University, SPU, Thai Fusion, trumpet, trumpeters, University of Puget Sound | 2 Comments »
Posted by glennled on January 17, 2013
Lately, I’ve been listening again to Dire Straits, a British rock band led by Mark Knopfler. Their biggest selling album, Brothers in Arms, has sold over 30 million copies, and their worldwide album sales exceed 120 million. The band’s career spanned a combined total of 15 years (1977-1988, 1991-1995). Their most popular songs include “Sultans of Swing,” “Money for Nothing,” “Walk of Life,” “Brothers in Arms,” “Lady Writer,” “Romeo and Juliet,” “Tunnel of Love,” “Private Investigations,” “So Far Away,” and “Your Latest Trick.”
In the “Sultans of Swing” song, a crowd of young boys in the honky tonk, “dressed in their best brown baggies and their platform soles,” are drunk as they listen to a band called the Sultans of Swing. Two lines, sung with dripping disdain, catch my ear: “They don’t give a damn about any trumpet playing band, It ain’t what they call rock and roll…”
Well, now, wait just a minute! You can’t dismiss all us horns. Those boys obviously don’t know their jazz music history and don’t even care about learning it either. No, even though the Sultans of Swing may play some swing music on their rock and roll instruments (guitars, keyboards, synthesizer, and percussion), that’s not the swing music of the great Swing Band Era, ~1936-1944. And all those big bands did feature trumpeters—and some great ones, too!
Want to hear some swing trumpeters from a time long gone by? Try these, for seven of the best:
Yeah, that was then, way back when I was a boy. Today, I also love the “Sultans of Swing” by Dire Straits even though they trash us trumpeters. But someday, they, too, will be bye-gones, like brown baggies and platform shoes. 😉
Please click on any image to enlarge it.
-
-
Louis Armstrong
-
-
-
-
Ziggy Elman
-
-
Harry “Sweets” Edison
-
-
Bobby Hackett
-
-
Oran “Hot Lips” Page
Posted in Selected Trumpet Music | Tagged: band, big, Bobby Hackett, Dire Straits, Harry Edison, Harry James, horns, instruments, Louis Armstrong, Mark Knopfler, music, Oran Page, rock and roll, Roy Eldridge, Sultans of Swing, swing, trumpet, trumpeters, Ziggy Elman | 4 Comments »
Posted by glennled on December 24, 2012
Symphonic Band, Hamilton International Middle School, Seattle
“The music program at Hamilton is thriving,” said Daniel Rowe, Music Director of Bands, “and we’re making beautiful music!” The standing-room only audience responded in loud applause as the Symphonic Band from Hamilton International Middle School (HIMS) prepared to play the concluding, ever-popular piece, “Sleigh Ride,” by Leroy Anderson. The two-hour Winter All Bands Concert was held on 13 December in Lincoln High School Auditorium in Wallingford in Seattle.
Concert Finale: Leroy Anderson’s “Sleigh Ride”
The total membership of the four bands at Hamilton is 295 student musicians: the Beginning Band has 58 members, Cadet (86), Concert (75) and Symphonic (76). That’s almost one-third of the entire student body of about 1,000. The growth that’s underway is exceptional. Mr. Rowe recalled that the Concert Band had 31 members only three years ago. Some 600 students are involved in the bands, orchestras, jazz ensembles, and choir. The music program is supported by the non-profit organization, The Friends of Music at Hamilton International (FOMAHI)—see www.fomahi.org, which coordinated arrangements for this concert. This year, Hamilton musicians will perform in almost 40 concerts. Before Mr. Rowe came to Hamilton, he taught in the highly successful music program at Eckstein Middle School (see my post of 14 December 2011).
Six trumpeters in the Cadet Band, HIMS
I went to hear one of my trumpet students, a 6th grader, perform in the Cadet Band. On top of that, I got an unexpected surprise—my very first cornet student also performed in the Symphonic Band (see my post of 14 August 2009). He’s now an 7th grader, and he switched to tuba last year. Both these students had made the Seattle Public Schools’ All-City Honors Elementary Band (see my posts of 10 April 2011 and 2 April 2012). It was a thrill to me to see and hear them both perform on the same stage on the same night! Both come from great families, and it was fun to see the relatives there, too.
Each band had its highlights, and I’ll mention only a few. The Cadet Band featured its 15 trumpeters in “Trumpets of Symphony Hall” by Don Brubaker. Among the four pieces played by the Concert Band, “The Hunger Games,” arranged by Jay Bocook, was very impressive. The clarinet soloist, Sadie Morriss, accompanied by the Symphonic Band, drew a standing ovation for her performance of “Viktor’s Tale” by John Williams. And the Symphonic Band demonstrated its high skill level by performing the superb “My Neighbor Totoro” by Joe Hisaishi, arranged by Yo Goto.
Please click on any photo to enlarge it.
-
-
Beginning Band, HIMS
-
-
Student Guest Conductor, “March Miniature”
-
-
Cadet Band, HIMS
-
-
Five trumpeters, Cadet Band, HIMS
-
-
More trumpets, Cadet Band, HIMS
-
-
Cadet Band trumpeters rise to play “Trumpets of Symphony Hall” by Don Brubaker
-
-
15 trumpeters (standing), Cadet Band, HIMS
-
-
Daniel Rowe, Director (L), and Alicia Edgar, President, FOMAHI Board of Directors (R)
-
-
Two of 9 trumpeters in the Concert Band, HIMS
-
-
Daniel Rowe conducts Symphoic Band, HIMS
-
-
Clarinet soloist, Symphonic Band, HIMS
-
-
Symphonic Band and clarinet soloist conclude “Viktor’s Tale” by John Williams
-
-
Five of 11 trumpeters in the Symphonic Band, HIMS
Posted in School Concerts | Tagged: All-City Honors Elementary, band, beginning, cadet, concert, Daniel Rowe, Don Brubaker, FOMHI, Friends of Music at Hamilton International, Hamilton International Middle School, HIMS, Jay Bocook, Joe Hisaishi, John Williams, Leroy Anderson, My Neighbor Totoro, Sleigh Ride, symphonic, trumpet, trumpeters, Trumpets of Symphony Hall | 4 Comments »
Posted by glennled on December 20, 2012
Please click on any of the 32 photos to enlarge it.
-
-
7th-Grade Band, SJH
-
-
Six trumpets, four trombones, one baritone
-
-
Two French Horns
-
-
8th-9th Grade Band, SJH, entertains orchestra (upper right), 7th grade band (middle right), and full-house audience
-
-
The Brassy side of the band
-
-
The Woodwinds side
-
-
Trumpets (lead on left)
-
-
More trumpets…
-
-
And more trumpets…
-
-
And even more trumpets…
-
-
Hit it!
-
-
Who’s playing? Saxes, tuba, baritones and French horns
-
-
Muted trumpets
-
-
Front and center
-
-
Full orchestra
-
-
Advanced orchestra
-
-
Mr. Shawn McGinn, SJH Director of Instrumental Music
-
-
Jazz 1 Band, SJH
-
-
The Four trumpets
-
-
Trumpet solo 1 (lead)
-
-
Trumpet solo 2
-
-
Trumpet solo 3
-
-
Trumpet solo 4
-
-
Alto sax solo
-
-
Tenor sax solo
-
-
Baritone sax solo
-
-
Piano solo
-
-
Mr. Shawn McGinn conducts
-
-
Jazz 2 Band
-
-
Four trumpets
-
-
The Four Trumpeters
-
-
Dawn Mark, SJH Principal, congratulates Shawn McGinn on the concert and the music program
Posted in School Concerts, Skyview Junior High | Tagged: band, concert, Dawn Mark, instrumental, jazz, music, muted, orchestra, Shawn McGinn, Skyview Jr. High, solo, trumpet, trumpeters | 6 Comments »
Posted by glennled on October 16, 2012
Victory celebration!
Everyone knows that while Husky Stadium is now being rebuilt for next year, the football team is playing its home games in downtown Seattle at Century Link Field, home of the Seattle Seahawks and Seattle Sounders. Everyone sees the UW Husky Varsity Marching Band on the stadium steps at the north entrance prior to the game, in the south stands during the game, and on the field for pre-game and half-time shows. But who knows whether the Husky Alumni Band is even there—and if so, where are they?
Well, yes, we were there Thursday night (27 September) to see the Huskies upset the 8th-ranked Stanford Cardinal, 17-13. We were seated in the SW quadrant of the stadium—high up in Section 327!—cheering as loudly as everyone else.
UW Husky Varsity Marching Band
We played at three pep rallies prior to the game, one with the Chinese Dragon at Hing Hay Park in the International District, one in the north parking lot of the stadium, and one in Occidental Street on the west side of the stadium. That earned us free tickets into this big game. Recall that there was a time when it was questionable whether the Husky Alumni Band would have a role to play at the home games this year (see my post of 18 November 2011), but that was settled. We’re there, helping raise money for HMBAA scholarships, and we’re very happy. It’s such fun, and I love playing trumpet. Some of us even joined the massive crowd on the field after the game to celebrate the victory. Go Huskies!
Photos are by Louis Figueroa and Gary Nakayama, courtesy of the UW Husky Varsity Marching Band conducted by Dr. Brad McDavid, Director. Please click on any photo to enlarge it.
-
-
-
-
Dr. Brad McDavid, Director, UW Husky Marching Band
-
-
UW Husky Marching Band, pre-game
-
-
-
-
Giant “W,” pre-game show
-
-
Giant “W” reverses itself, pre-game show
-
-
Inverted Giant “W,” pre-game show
-
-
“Huskies Spell-out” – 1
-
-
“Huskies Spell-Out” – 2
-
-
“Huskies Spell-Out” – 3
-
-
“Huskies Spell-Out” – 4
-
-
UW Trumpeters
-
-
UW Majorette
-
-
UW Trumpeters
-
-
UW Majorette
-
-
U.S. Flag-1
-
-
U.S. Flag-2
-
-
U.S. Flag-3
-
-
-
National Anthem sung by Melvyn Poll, operatic tenor
-
-
UW Men Cheerleaders
-
-
-
-
UW Husky Varsity Marching Band
-
-
Dr. Brad McDavid, Director, UW Husky Marching Band
-
-
-
UW Husky Marching Band, half-time performance
-
-
-
UW Husky Marching Band, half-time performance
-
-
UW Cheerleaders, Pre-Game, Century Link Field
-
-
UW Cheerleaders, Pre-Game, Century Link Field
-
-
UW Cheerleaders
-
-
UW Cheerleaders
-
-
UW Cheerleader
-
-
UW Cheerleaders
-
-
UW Cheerleaders
-
-
UW Cheerleaders
-
-
UW Cheerleaders
-
-
UW Cheerleader
-
-
UW Cheerleaders
-
-
UW Cheerleaders
-
-
Upset victory!
-
-
Leaping for the joy of victory!
-
-
Hey, we did it!
-
-
“Cel-e-bra-tion!”
-
-
UW Cheerleaders celebrate upset victory
-
-
Victory!
-
-
“Victory for Washington”
-
-
UW Cheerleaders
-
-
Thousands of happy fans
-
-
Overflowing jubilation!
-
-
Victory celebration!
Posted in HMBAA - Husky Alumni Band | Tagged: alumni, band, Century Link Field, cheerleaders, Dr. Brad McDavid, Huskies, Husky, marching, Melvyn Poll, pep rallies, Stanford Cardinal, trumpet, trumpeters, University, UW, Varsity, Washington | Leave a Comment »
Posted by glennled on April 2, 2012
2012 Seattle All-City Honors Elementary Band
Last Saturday, another of my trumpet students played in the annual concert performed by the Seattle Public Schools’ All-City Honors Elementary Band and Orchestra. This year it was held at Chief Sealth International High School in West Seattle. He’s now a 5th-grader at Lawton Elementary School where Lindsey Dustin is band director (see my blog posts of 17 February 2012 and 14 November 2010). Next fall, he plans to attend Hamilton International Middle School in Wallingford.
The 123-member band representing 41 schools packed the large stage, and the auditorium was almost full, too, with parents, relatives, friends and a few tutors like me. He was one of only 18 trumpet players in the 2012 honors band. Think of that—one of the best 5th grade trumpeters in Seattle Public Schools—that’s impressive! The band’s guest conductor was Marcus Pimpleton, a 2002 graduate of the University of Washington who now serves as music department head at Denny International Middle School, Chief Sealth International High School, and the Seattle Schools All-City Marching Band. Mr. Pimpleton was a drum major with the UW Husky Marching Band (see http://www.huskymarchingband.com/). He now has a Master’s in Theology and a Doctorate in Religious Education from Bishop A.L. Hardy Academy of Theology in Seattle.
Part of the 18-member trumpet section
The talented honors band sounded very solid when playing three pieces: “Oxford Overture,” “I’m An Old Cowhand,” and “A Little Cha-Cha Music.” The Honors Orchestra was conducted by Heather Shaffer, who is Director of Orchestras at Denny and Sealth. They played “Hunter’s Chorus,” “Jamaican Spice,” and “Legend of Dark Mountain.” At this level, the orchestra is comprised solely of strings. There were 88 students representing 32 schools—a great honor, indeed!
Please click on any photo to enlarge it.
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
Dr. Marcus J. Pimpleton
-
-
2012 Seattle All-City Honors Elementary Orchestra, Heather Shaffer, Guest Conductor
-
-
-
-
2012 Seattle All-City Honors Elementary Band, Dr. Marcus Pimpleton, Guest Conductor
-
-
Part of the Honor Band’s 18-member trumpet section
Posted in School Concerts, Student Competitions, Honors & Awards | Tagged: band, concert, drum major, elementary, Heather Shaffer, honors, Husky, Lawton, marching, Marcus Pimpleton, orchestra, trumpet, trumpeters, University of Washington, UW | 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.
-
-
Sarah D., principal of trumpet section, Symphonic Band, solos in “Overture on a Shaker Tune”
-
-
Sarah D. receives Certificate of Achievement from Ward Brannman, band director
-
-
-
I.J., Junior All-State Band member, solos in “Take Me Out to the Ball Game” played by Jazz Ensemble
-
-
Jazz Ensemble accents
-
-
Jazz Ensemble finishes
-
-
Ward Brannman plays spoons and washboard with Zydeco Trio
-
-
Jammin’
-
-
Concert Band, 46 members, features Tool Kit Quartet on “Tool Time Tango”
-
-
Kamiakin teachers comprise Tool Kit Quartet
-
-
Concert Band plays “I Just Can’t Stop Loving You”
-
-
-
Symphonic Band, 47 members
-
-
Trumpet section, Symphonic Band
-
-
-
Ward S. Brannman, Director of Bands
-
-
Wind Ensemble, 44 members
-
-
Trumpet Section, Wind Ensemble
-
-
The Washover Fans
-
-
Curb Appeal
-
-
Grandfather and grandsons form the Brass Trio, playing “The Victors” march
-
-
Two audience members join Zydeco Trio and Ward Brannman in playing “It’s So Hard to Stop”
-
-
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 January 28, 2012
Trumpeters! Want to become your best? Want a quick study on playing the trumpet? Feel like you’re stuck on something and just not getting any better at it, no matter what? Want to hear how advanced, professional trumpeters do things and what they’ve learned through their years of experience? Want to ask them a question about something?
Here’s your chance on Sunday, 29 January—attend the Trumpet Arts Festival being held adjacent to the campus of Seattle Pacific University (SPU).
It’s a full program featuring the following trumpeters: Christopher Smith, Assistant Principal, Seattle Symphony; Bryan Appleby-Wineberg, Rowan University; Vince Green, Western Washington University; and Brian Chin, Seattle Pacific University.
- At 2 p.m., attend the Masterclass: “Practicing Fundamentals”
- At 3 p.m., the Masterclass is on “Practicing Jazz Improvisation”
- At 4 p.m., Bob Malone will conduct the Masterclass, “Finding a Great Horn”
That’s followed at 5 p.m. with a student concert (open to the public). Then the main concert event starts at 7 p.m. The festival ends with an afterhours jam session at 9 p.m. Come hear some great music!
The location is the First Free Methodist Church, 3200 Third Avenue West, Seattle. The cost is $25 tuition and $10 for the evening concert only. Learn more about the featured trumpeters on their websites:
Posted in Festivals & Competitions | Tagged: Bob Malone, Brian Chin, Bryan Appleby-Wineberg, Christopher Smith, concert, festival, jazz, music, Rowan University, Seattle Pacific University, Seattle Symphony, SPU, trumpet, trumpeters, Vince Green, Western Washington University | Leave a Comment »
Posted by glennled on September 30, 2011
Posted in HMBAA - Husky Alumni Band | Tagged: band, cheerleaders, Huskies, Husky Alumni, trumpeter, trumpeters, UH, University of Hawaii, University of Washington, UW, Warriors | Leave a Comment »
What does it mean when you cry in Act I of Puccini’s opera, La Boheme, and not when Mimi dies at the end of Act IV? Well, it must have a little to do with the fact that this is the second time my wife and I have seen La Boheme at the Seattle Opera. And it must have a lot to do with the singers and the music itself—there are a couple of outstandingly beautiful arias and a duet in Act I, sung by the lead soprano (Jennifer Black) and tenor (Michael Fabiano) when we attended on 24 February. And finally, it must have something to do with me, myself, and I.
Glenn's Trumpet Notes 