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Here is my entire recital in one video! Notes are below the video:
This recital is dedicated to the memory of Henry Charles Smith (1931-2021)
Henry was well-known to me as I began my professional life. 
His recordings represented the epitome of what I wanted to from my own playing
- a performance that always puts the needs of the music first. During my career I was blessed to hear him from the audience as he performed on euphonium and also as he conducted the Minnesota Orchestra. He was also generous with his time as he gave me lessons whenever I could be in the Minneapolis area. Each lesson would end with me sight-reading
songs while he accompanied me on piano. This helped to increase my appreciation for the simple art of performing songs.
In 2019 he asked me to help get the Forsberg Serenade published with the orchestra accompaniment as well as with a newly-created piano accompaniment. He was quite excited about this project, feeling that the Serenade was playable by college players and advanced high school players. Its public availability would enable players to work on quality music that did not demand a virtuoso player.
“Hacia Belén va una burra” (Spanish folk song)
This song is often heard around Christmas and has a subtitle of "A Donkey Is Going to Bethlehem." I first heard it on a Christmas album by the French singer Mireille Mathieu. It has such joyous energy that I have wanted to arrange it for some time. This book seemed like the perfect place for it to live.
“Theme from Sonata in A Major” (D.959) by Schubert
This is one of Schubert's last works before his death. The theme here is from the final movement (Rondo). It is an attractive melody, which gained the attention of the crew creating the sitcom "Wings" in 1990. They based the introduction to the show on this theme. The piano part in my arrangement is excerpted from the original without many changes. The triplet section of the piano sonata adds a nice bit of extra interest beneath the second theme statement in the euphonium part, leaving the euphoniumist free to focus on the lovely melody.
“Homing” by Teresa Del Riego
Ms. Riego was born in London and wrote this song in 1917. I am not sure how to categorize my initial impressions of the song, but it was very appealing to me. While not difficult technically, it offers a great deal of opportunity for expression and dynamic range. This song, and the previous two songs, are part of my new “International Songbook for Euphonium” (19 songs from 7 countries).
“Serenade for Euphonium” (Opus 21) by Charles Forsberg
As I mentioned, this piece fits the concept expressed by Mr. Smith. It was commissioned and performed by him. I recorded from radio Mr. Smith’s 1979 premier with the Minnesota Orchestra. I used it as a model in preparing for this recital (even though our playing styles are different and there are a few differences in the solo and accompaniment). This is the PREMIER of the piano version. The movements are: I. Poetica Expressivo, II. Nocturne, III. Allegro Agitato - Andante Sostenuto Cantabile, and IV. Allegro Assai Spiritoso.
This Serenade is available from Cimarron as well: https://www.cimarronmusic.com/99g-1
This recital is dedicated to the memory of Henry Charles Smith (1931-2021)
- a performance that always puts the needs of the music first. During my career I was blessed to hear him from the audience as he performed on euphonium and also as he conducted the Minnesota Orchestra. He was also generous with his time as he gave me lessons whenever I could be in the Minneapolis area. Each lesson would end with me sight-reading
songs while he accompanied me on piano. This helped to increase my appreciation for the simple art of performing songs.
In 2019 he asked me to help get the Forsberg Serenade published with the orchestra accompaniment as well as with a newly-created piano accompaniment. He was quite excited about this project, feeling that the Serenade was playable by college players and advanced high school players. Its public availability would enable players to work on quality music that did not demand a virtuoso player.
“Hacia Belén va una burra” (Spanish folk song)
This song is often heard around Christmas and has a subtitle of "A Donkey Is Going to Bethlehem." I first heard it on a Christmas album by the French singer Mireille Mathieu. It has such joyous energy that I have wanted to arrange it for some time. This book seemed like the perfect place for it to live.
“Theme from Sonata in A Major” (D.959) by Schubert
This is one of Schubert's last works before his death. The theme here is from the final movement (Rondo). It is an attractive melody, which gained the attention of the crew creating the sitcom "Wings" in 1990. They based the introduction to the show on this theme. The piano part in my arrangement is excerpted from the original without many changes. The triplet section of the piano sonata adds a nice bit of extra interest beneath the second theme statement in the euphonium part, leaving the euphoniumist free to focus on the lovely melody.
“Homing” by Teresa Del Riego
Ms. Riego was born in London and wrote this song in 1917. I am not sure how to categorize my initial impressions of the song, but it was very appealing to me. While not difficult technically, it offers a great deal of opportunity for expression and dynamic range. This song, and the previous two songs, are part of my new “International Songbook for Euphonium” (19 songs from 7 countries).
“Serenade for Euphonium” (Opus 21) by Charles Forsberg
As I mentioned, this piece fits the concept expressed by Mr. Smith. It was commissioned and performed by him. I recorded from radio Mr. Smith’s 1979 premier with the Minnesota Orchestra. I used it as a model in preparing for this recital (even though our playing styles are different and there are a few differences in the solo and accompaniment). This is the PREMIER of the piano version. The movements are: I. Poetica Expressivo, II. Nocturne, III. Allegro Agitato - Andante Sostenuto Cantabile, and IV. Allegro Assai Spiritoso.
This Serenade is available from Cimarron as well: https://www.cimarronmusic.com/99g-1
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