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Trevor Groom - Symphonic Rhapsody by Gregson
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Category: Euphonium
Artist: Trevor Groom
Title: Symphonic Rhapsody by Gregson
Edward Gregson composed "Symphonic Rhapsody for Euphonium and Band" in various sketch forms in 1962 at age 17.Then it was put aside because Gregson had "to do other things plus didn't know how to continue it." [It was originally written with Gregson's brother Bram, a euphonium player also in the Salvation Army, in mind.] The sketches were not composed into the final form until 1972 when "a friend who was in the Salvation Army asked if |I| had something and I remembered the earlier sketches and this time knew how to finish it." [Gregson left the Salvation Army in 1966.] It was not published until 1976.
The basis of the work is the hymn tune "The Gospel Chariot" with the words 'So we'll roll the gospel chariot along, Yes we'll roll the gospel chariot along, Oh we'll roll the gospel chariot along, And we won't lag on behind.' The tune is heard shortly after the introduction as a kind of 'second subject', although all of the symphonic elements of the work are drawn from its melodic and harmonic shape. Gregson was drawn to the song "because of its simplicity."
Although the work is in one movement, its symphonic design can be discerned via a 'First Movement' containing the opening and 'Gospel Chariot'. Then follows a 'Second Movement' in 5/4 time - a kind of off-kilter waltz. Then follows a beautiful slow 'Third Movement' with plenty of rhapsodizing for the soloist including a brief cadenza. The Finale is a virtuosic dance leading to a second cadenza that in turn leads to a brief recapitulation of the introduction and 'Gospel Chariot' closing in a brilliant coda. In essence the work is a miniature youthful symphony in a single sonata-form span. Along with the Euphonium Concerto by Joseph Horovitz, also 1972, this Symphonic Rhapsody is one of the earliest building-blocks of the euphoniums vastly expanding repertoire.
It only exists in published form with brass band accompaniment, although a private arrangement with wind/concert band accompaniment [arranged by Ray Farr] has been recorded by the Flanders Ambassador Symphonic Band Wind Orchestra, conductor Geert Verschaeve [available on i-Tunes]. A published piano accompaniment [by Brian Bowen] from the Salvation Army is reputedly imminent as of February 2010.
The recording on this video is of the premiere recording and possibly first performance, made in 1976 by legendary English euphonium soloist Trevor Groom and the Kettering Citadel Band directed by Donald Manning. This recording is extremely rare [there are only 2 known copies in existence]. It is important because, along with Trevor Groom's premiering and recording of the Horovitz Concerto [in 1972 with the GUS Band under Stanley Boddington] it represented the emergence of a new kind of serious music for the euphonium. Equally important are Brian Bowen's 'Euphonium Music' [written in June 1978 and first performed and recorded by Trevor Groom on BBC Radio 3, 24 May 1984 with the GUS Band under Keith Wilkinson], and Lyndon Baglin's premiere of Derek Bourgeois' 'Euphoria' [with the Sun Life Stanshawe Band under the composer] in the early 1980s [not forgetting the Gordon Jacob 'Fantasia' and Philip Sparke 'Fantasy' spanning the 1970s].
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