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McMaster Low Brass Workshops

Finally got the review done. I hope someone is still interested.

Dave.

McMaster Low Brass Workshops

Hamilton, Ontario, Canada

April 9 and 10, 1999

The addition of U.M.I. and Long and McQuade Music as sponsors along with
the continuing
support of Yamaha Canada and Lakeshore Music of Burlington has broadened
the scope of the workshops, giving a more varied display of instruments
and also giving access to different clinicians. We must thank Yamaha for
their participation in this event for the first five years of its
existence and for their willingness to give up their name in the title.
This kind of co-operation is a good omen for the continuing success of
the workshops as they enter their second five years.

Clinicians this year included John Marcellus, a Benge trombone artist,
who brought along the entire Eastman Trombone Choir; Don Harry, a Yamaha
tuba artist, the tuba player of the Buffalo Philharmonic and tuba
teacher at Eastman; Alastair Kay, a King trombone artist and the
Director of Brass at Humber College as well as lead trombone in the Boss
Brass; Jerry Johnson, a Yamaha bass trombone artist and the bass bone in
the Boss Brass and the Hannaford Street Silver Band; Robert Miller,
euphonium with the Salvation Army Canadian Staff Band and the Intrada
Brass; and Marc Donatelle, principal trombone with the New Hamilton
Orchestra.

Throughout the day on Saturday they provided an outstanding series of
clinics and workshops beginning at 9:00 AM with warmups led by Al Kay
and concluding at 5:00 PM with three trombone choirs and a tuba
euphonium choir so everyone got a chance to try out what they had
learned throughout the day. The mock audition clinic proved to be one of
the highlights of the day. Three volunteers, 2 tubas and a trombone,
along with three conscripted trombones from Eastman played for a panel
composed of Don Harry, John Marcellus, Jerry Johnson and Marc Donatelle.
The wisdom imparted by the panel was priceless and useful for all in
attendance, whatever their playing level. Al Kay assisted by John
Marcellus, Rob Somerville, Jerry Johnson and a few others demonstrated
their jazz skills and entertained everyone through the lunch hour. Jerry
Johnson in his
trombone choir managed in only one hour to introduce a bunch of
tied-to-the-notes  players to the beginnings of improvisation, give us
an ear training exercise and provide some ensemble playing practice.
Other clinics for all the low brass instruments focused on many and
varied aspects of playing, practising and performing.

The workshops began with the Antal Dvorak Trombone Soloist Competition
on Friday afternoon. The winner was Brad Ritson, a student of Frank
Harmantas at the University of Toronto with Alex Eddington coming
second. Brad received his prize of a Yamaha Silent Brass System at the
evening concert and played the Guilmant "Morceau Symphonique" with which
he had won the contest.

The Friday evening concert also featured Don Harry as tuba soloist along
with the Eastman Trombone Choir. Don astounded the audience with his
artistry in the Bach "Cello Suite  No. 5" and, accompanied by the
trombone choir, the Vaughan Williams "Tuba Concerto". The Eastman gang
began the evening with "Four Preludes" by Shostakovich and, after
intermission played "Mood Indigo" honouring the year of the Duke, the
Saint-Saens "Adagio" and Grieg's "Landerkennug, opus 31". A good start
to the workshop demonstrating both outstanding solo playing and great
ensemble work.

The Saturday evening Gala Concert featured John Marcellus and Alastair
Kay as soloists, the Slide Rule Trombone Ensemble and The Hamilton
Symphonic Brass. Marcellus, an American playing in Canada gave the
program an international flavour when, using the piano accompaniment of
a Brit recorded on a CD by Warwick Music, he played a composition by the
Frenchman Ferdinand David, "Concertino for Trombone". Not a bad four
nation parley. John switched to his jazz mode in the second half with
Michael Davis' "Code Red", also using CD accompaniment. Al Kay,
accompanied by the Hamilton Symphonic Brass conducted by David Buckley,
played the delightful ballad "Laura" in the first half and Pryor's "Air
Varie" after intermission. All solo items were very well
received by the near capacity audience. 

the Slide Rule Trombone Ensemble, a group of sixteen pros, semi pros and
students from the Golden Horseshoe area who played their first concert
in Toronto last December, played the "Pilgrim's Chorus" from Tannhauser,
Bach's "Passacaglia in C Minor", Elizabeth Raum's "Processional Fanfare"
and the "Double Fugue" from Mozart's Requiem. This group, conducted by
young conductor Misha Rohac, showed a high level of artistry and skill
along with great chops.

Slide Rule joined with members of the Brass Choir to end the first half
with Gabrielli's "Sonata XX a 22" arranged for five antiphonal choirs by
Marc Donatelle. With one choir on stage, two choirs at either side of
the auditorium and two in the balcony, the glorious sounds filled the
room and surrounded the audience. The sixteen trombones also joined the
brass to play the chorale in Michael Allen's arrangement of "Jesu, Joy
of Man's Desiring".

The Hamilton Symphonic Brass, all working professionals from the Golden
Horseshoe region, opened the evening with the Arrival of the Queen of
Sheba and closed the program with Pictures at an Exhibition, a tour de
force when played by a brass choir. These two Michael Allen arrangements
gave the brass players a chance to play familiar music with a fresh
face. The players enjoyed the challenge and the audience enjoyed the
music.

Comments were very positive with the most common being a request for
dates for next year. It looks as though this event is well on the way to
becoming a part of the musical scene in this area for many years.

David W. Buckley


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