The President's Corner
September 2002
Once again, greetings from Manchester, UK, to anyone who passes through this part of the web. I am moving house in two weeks time, and this is leading to a rapid re-appraisal of storage space for hundreds of tapes, catalogues, books, compact discs and scores. Once again, I am amazed at the energy of the world of wind bands and its potential, and am spending many happy hours while my wife packs, listening to wind band music from round the world.
FISSURE by Chen Qin
Take a CD called "Fissure" for instance, a recording of three works by CHEN Qin, played by the Military Band of the P.L.A of China. Chen was born in 1962, studied composition at the Sichuan Conservatory of Music. On graduating, he became a composer of the Military Band of the Chinese People's Liberation Army, and this disc includes three works:
"Fissure" Concerto for Trumpet and Band
"Exploits" Symphonic Overture for Band
Symphony no 1 for Band
This is exciting virtuosic music, contemporary, quite tonal but very strongly characterised with elements of traditional Chinese music, quite unlike anything else I know. The CD is HUGO HRP7183-2; more information from the website www.hugocd.com or email <hugo@hugocd.com>
OCTET FOR FLUTES by Kjetil Hvoslev
This was introduced to me by Odd Terje Lysebo and Craig Kirchhoff, and shows a really terrific use of flute ensemble, again brilliant and original sounds, with great energy and originality. This was written in 1978, and so I wonder what his "Vind" for flute, winds and percussion of 1983 is like - information from the Norwegian Music Information Centre.
FESTIVAL OVERTURE no 2 op 24a by Egil Hovland
Another Norwegian composer whose work is well worth exploring is Egil Hovland who has studied at Tanglewood with Copland and in Italy with Dallapiccola. He is unique in having written two works for wind band, later transcribing them for symphony orchestra, this overture and the Fanfare and Chorale op 54a.
ENTRANCE; CAROUSING; EMBARCATION by Robin Holloway
The British composer, Robin Holloway, will celebrate his sixtieth birthday in 2003, and this will perhaps give some of us a chance to re- assess this major work for wind band, written in 1990 and premiered in 1992 in a BBC live broadcast. It was good to get back to this score, and find that my initial feelings of a decade ago have not changed. This is I believe a major addition to the repertoire, unjustly neglected; it is published by Boosey and Hawkes.
CONFERENCE NEWS
In my musings for August 2002, now filed under The President's Archive, you will find some details about the next Conference, with an outline schedule of daily events, a skeleton programme of the sessions and concerts, and ideas on travel in Europe during July.
Rhinoceros as Guest Conductor and Soloist
Follow the links to our Artist in Residence, Christian Lindberg, for information on what he will be up to between now and the Conference. On his official website we read:
Originally a Beatles fanatic, Lindberg was active in basketball and Dixieland jazz before entering into previously unchartered territory and becoming the first full-time trombone soloist in history. Today, he is father of 4 teenagers, and has just started to smell a career as conductor and composer. "Only my two hobbies so far," he says with the same earnestness as a rhinoceros despite being remarkably successful in his first attempts in these fields.
News from Canada is that Christian Lindberg, playing Leopold Mozart and Berio, attracted the Toronto Symphony Orchestra's biggest audience for the season.
The Toronto Globe and Mail wrote (under the headline Trombone Soloist Steals The Show), "If you can name another international trombone virtuoso, you have my respect. However, with a player as powerful and as musical as Lindberg on the scene, one trombone virtuoso may be enough."
POST WASBE TRAVELS
SWEDEN - AUSTRIA - ITALY?
July 8 - 13, 2003
Mid-Europe
Having made the investment in time and money to come to WASBE in Sweden, why not stay around in Europe for the summer? Spend some time on the website to plan the rest of July and August. WASBE finishes on Saturday 5th July, and you have time to get down to Austria and visit the Mid-Europe Conference in Schladming. Travel has never been simpler in Europe than now, with the Euro reigning supreme and accepted everywhere, even in Sweden and Switzerland (though not in England). You could make the whole journey leisurely by rail via stopovers in Hamburg, Amsterdam and Munich, or fly down to Munich and catch the excellent 1525 Zagreb train to Salzburg, arrive 1713 - time for another wonderful stop-over, or go on to Bischofshofen, change to a local train arriving in Schladming at 1845.
Mid-Europe Office, Johann Moesenbichler
Secretary Christine Wagner
Email <mid.Europe@aon.at>
<j.moesnbichler@aon.at>
www.mideurope.com
Mid-July - Late August
Accademia Chigiana
One of the greatest summer schools in Europe is that at the old mediaeval city of Siena in Tuscany. Although we do not have details of timings for conducting couses in 2003, this was the pattern for 2002 at the Accademia Musicale Chigiana, and we can expect a similar calendar.
Courses in orchestral conducting in 2002:
15 July - 30 July Lothar Zagrosek and Camerata Strumentale
31 July - 24 August Yuri Ahronovitch and Festival Orchestra of Sofia
Clarinet with Anthony Pay
Flute with Patrick Gallois
Composition with Mauricio Kagel
Email <accademia.chigiana@chigiana.it>
www.chigiana.it
July 9 - 13, 2003
World Saxophone Congress XIII
Following on our Conference is the World Saxophone Congress, held this year in Minneapolis in the great new Music School. If you are not sated by WASBE, move on to Minneapolis or Schladming.
www.worldsax.com
<mail@worldsax.com>
We hope that many of you will come to Sweden next year, though you may prefer to save for Singapore in 2005. July and August is a great time for re-charging the musical batteries, and I think our bands and artists are developing a great programme for you. More news on the web as soon as it is available.
See you all in Chicago or Jonkoping, Minneapolis or Siena.
Best wishes,
Tim Reynish