UK Euphonium Recital no.48

[highams]

Saturday, November 17th. 2012

Willson UK Euphonium Artist Charley Brighton, with Malcolm Stowell, piano & organ
St. Mary's Parish Church, Church Street, Slough, Berkshire UK SL1 1PJ
12 noon admission free.

Programme of Music; (Willson 2900 Euphonium)

Euphoria (2012), Alwyn Green

Ballade Op.31, Carl Matys (1835-1908)
originally for cello

Folk Tune (from 5 Short Pieces) Percy Whitlock (1903-1946)
arranged by Elizabreth Bryan & John Belcher with organ accompaniment

Demelza, Hugh Nash (Goff Richards)

Dance of the Comedians (from The Bartered Bride) Bedrich Smetana (1824-1884)
arranged by Rafael Mendez

There will be a display of vintage Euphoniums which will also be used in the recital

http://www.euphonium.webspace.virgin...m/recitals.htm

[davewerden]

An interesting program, as always! I wish I could be there to hear it. The Dance of the Comedians is one I have worked on but never performed. I'll be curious to learn how it goes on euphonium (fast notes downs low can be hard to play with clarity). There are a couple other pieces I've not heard, but I'm hoping you'll post recordings after the gig.

Good luck!

[highams]

Thanks Dave,

The first 2 pieces feature the Willson 2900 Euphonium;
Euphoria is a brand new original work (Spring 2012) from Alwyn Green, trombonist (euph) with the Birmingham Symphony Orchestra in the UK and who comes from a Salvation Army family where his father was a fine euphonium player.

Ballade was composed for cello & piano and transcribes beautifully for euphonium over a wide range. Matys wrote many works for cello & other chamber groups.

Folk Tune is an original work for organ, adapted for cello & organ in a soloists album for strings. I'll be using the 1980 Imperial Euphonium on this one, it has a nice long tuning slide to get down to the pitch of the organ at St. Mary's, built at A=432!

Demelza was written for E flat tenor horn & brass band/piano. It's popularity warranted a version in B flat for euphonium or cornet. The name means 'house on the hill' in Cornish (where Goff Richards was born) but probably relates to the beautiful Demelza who was a character in the UK TV series 'Poldark' set in the same county.
It's an ideal melody to feature one of my oldest instruments, the Highams 5v Euphonium, originally built in C in 1891 (euphs were available in A, B flat & C in those days), converted to B flat but in high pitch (A=452), lowered to low pitch finally!

Back onto the Willson for the finale which is just such great fun!

CB