MUSIC FOR THE EUPHONIUM
WHITE, Donald H., Lyric Suite, G. Schirmer, Inc. , New York, 1972.
This piece, a favorite of mine, has been on the market for a few years,
but is just now gaining the recognition it deserves. Definitely a major opus,
its technical demands and length place it in the more advanced category of
recital material.
The range is from E to b', but difficulty in coordinating the accompaniment
with the solo part proves to be the time consuming quality of this piece.
The first movement is marked "Adagio Cantabile" with a slower
section in the middle. Those are only guides, and the movement should be played
with some rubato.
The second movement, "Allegro Guisto", is the most difficult to
put together with the accompaniment, due to trying licks in both parts and
polyrhythms halfway through the movement. This movement has a tendency to rush,
and should be practiced with a metronome to gain stability in the performance.
The third movement, "Andante Sostenuto", is a spot where a mute
can be used effeetively, though not marked in the score. I suggest the mute
be used from "D" to "G", and again from "J" to
the end of the movement.
Movement four, "Allegro Emergico", gathers all of the ideas of the
previous movements for a final dash to the end. Again, the rather tough accompaniment
requires much practice together.
Although there are no recordings of this piece commercially available at this
time, it is a very significant piece of music a and I hope we will soon see
it recorded.
[Purchase Lyric
Suite here...]
by Lee Dummer, associate editor.
Editor's note: The fine article on the White Lyric Suite was done this month
by EUPHONIA'S new associate editor, Mrs Lee Dummer. Lee recently arrived in
the U.S. Army Band, "Pershing's Own", at Fort Myer, Virginia. A graduate
of Gustavus Adolphus College In Saint Peter, Minnesota, Lee was midway through
his Masters in performance at the Eastman School of Music when the position
at the Army Band came up, and Lee traded In his position of first‑chair
Euphoniumist with the Eastman Wind Ensemble for his current job in "Pershing's
Own".
So. here's a warm welcome to Lear well be looking forward to more fine articles
in the future.
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