Article published Apr 9,
2004
From both sides of the hall, like medieval heralds of old, came an advance
party of trumpeters tooting early ceremonial airs. The ranks and volume swelled
as they were joined by the remainder of the Solid Brass troupe. Their
instruments glistening, they came marching down the main aisle of
Talk about arriving in style. All that was lacking was for Robin Hood, sword in
hand, to come swinging down from the rafters.
Among the 10-member ensemble were trombones, a tuba, a tambourine, a
percussionist, and a French horn player.
Douglas Haislip, trumpeter and managing director, was guide and narrator for
much of the program. It began with the "Sonata Pian'e
Forte," (soft and loud) by 16th century composer and teacher Giovanni Gabrieli, a musical heir to the Italian Renaissance. From
this sojourn in the distant past, Solid Brass swung into a "Suite from the
An especially familiar piece from the suite was "
Yet another operatic sequence, but nowhere as well-loved, was Richard Wagner's
"Procession to the Cathedral" from "Lohengrin."
From percussionist Adrienne Ostrander's amusing account of the plot and the
lengthy pace of the selection, it would seem that heroine Elsa and the White
Knight were in no tearing hurry to tie the knot.
Handel's "Fireworks Music" got the second half's proceedings off to a
blazing start. But with "Three Preludes" by George Gershwin -- piano
pieces arranged for brass by Doug Haislip -- the audience was, in the
vernacular, "really groovin."
Like a painter, Gershwin creates images suggesting the alternately vivid or
drab colors of the city, its rushing crowds and taxis. Later, he brings to mind
nocturnal wayfarers staggering down deserted streets. The instruments
alternately growl or become muted when the rush and clamor subside and the
trombones seem to sigh in loneliness. Each of the three preludes -- Allegro,
Andante, and another Allegro -- bear "Ritimato"
(rhythmically) as part of their names, which translate as directions as to the
mode and tempo in which they should be played. They are superb and the ensemble
did them justice.
The "Turn of the Century Suite" featured Scott Joplin's jaunty
"The Entertainer," made memorable as the score for the movie
"The Sting," starring Paul Newman and Robert Redford. Less familiar
but almost equally jolly were Henry Filmore's "Lassus Trombone" and a surprising "Rialto
Ripples," by George Gershwin, obviously one of his early works.
Probably the most effective segment of the concert was the "Big Band
Memories." Here, some of the band's other talents, especially arranger and
trumpeter Jeff Holmes, trombonists Hans Muhler and
his cohort Carl Della Peruti (also an arranger)
shone. Benny Goodman's "Stompin' at the
This season's Tuesday Tradition of the Englewood Performing Arts Series ends
April 13 at both 1:30 p.m. and 7 p.m. performances with the 21st consecutive
concert for the series by the Florida West Coast Chamber Orchestra. This time
they will offer "Into the Woods" with Assistant Conductor Oscar Bustillo at the helm.