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MASLANKA: Concerto for Trombone and Wind Ensemble. Symphony
No. 8 (2008). SHOSTAKOVICH: Film Music: The Gadfly. Pirigov. Hamlet. King Lear. Five
Days, Five Nights. Michurin. The Fall of Berlin. The Golden Mountains. GLAZUNOV: Symphony No. 1 in E "Slavyanskaya." Symphony No. 2 in F sharp
minor, Op. 16. Symphony No. 3 in D, Op. 33. Symphony No. 9 in D "Unfinished." NAULAIS: Etoile des profondeurs (1999). LYS: Vertiges (2000).
EWAZEN: Bass Trombone Concerto (1995/1999). STECKAR: Deux Marches d'´Ecart
(1999) The disk of music by David Maslanka is remarkable. We have his trombone concerto written as a memorial for his friend, flutist Christine Nield Capote. The 37-minute work is scored for an orchestra of winds, piano, double bass, percussion and one solo cello (representing Christine's cellist husband, Manny. The three sections are Requiem, Beloved, and Be Content, Be Calm. It is a touching, reflective work that ends softly, an emotional, and rewarding experience for the listener. Symphony No. 8, composed in 2008, is, according to the composer, "a celebration of life." Its three movements include chorales and hymns, and it ends in a blaze of percussion. Maslanka is a master orchestrator and there are many touching introspective interludes. The performances are perfection. The Illinois State University Wind Symphony is in spectacular form under the inspired direction of Stephen K. Steele. Recordings were made in the University's Performing Arts Concert Hall, and engineer Jeff Harrison did a magnificent job of capturing these marvelous performances. Don't miss this one! Conductor José Serebrier has two major multi-disk releases on Warner Classics. The first is a 3 disk set of his previously released fine recordings of film music of Shostakovich issued now at a lower price. The second, a 2-CD set that sells for the price of one, is the final issue in his series of the symphonies of Glazunov. Serebrier's readings of Glazunov are equal to any others and he has the advantage of warmer sound than the Naxos CDs with the Moscow Symphony directed by Alexander Anissimov. Admirers of Glazunov surely will wish to have the Svetlanov versions with the USSR State Symphony available at mid-price in a 6-disk set on Boheme Svetlanov. The bass trombone is an important part of the symphony orchestra but there are few solo works for it. Yves Bauer, well established as a virtuoso of his instrument, is soloist on this recording. Fortunately he was able to convince the Nord pas de Calais Music Federation to commission new works for the bass trombone, some of which are heard on this spectacular Naxos issue. Jérome Naulais' Etoile des profondeurs (Star of the Deep) is a dazzling display piece for the bass trombone, with traces of jazz and ending with an extended cadenza. Mark Lys wrote Vertiges (Dizziness) in the form of a theme and variations which include such provocative titles as Impulses, Pursuit, Voodoo, Samba and Bossa groove. Eric Ewazen's Bass Trombone Concerto began life as a sonata for bass trombone (or tuba) and piano, then it was a concerto for low brass students at Juilliard School. Virginia Allen then made the arrangement heard on the CD for bass trombone and wind band. It is a terrific piece! Marc Steckar's delightful Deux marches décart (Two steps away) is a play on his own name and focuses on those spectacular low notes of the instrument. Bauer's performances are unbelievable, and the French Air Force Band is a virtuoso group by any standards. This is a totally enjoyable CD, with sonics that beautifully convey the stunning performances. Don't miss it! R.E.B. (October 2009)
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