Saturday, March 25, 2006
Update from Manchester!
After a couple of weeks I thought it time to post another update about my activities...I'm also thrilled that another blogger (Les Neish) has joined brass-forum (so you won't be bored to death with only my escapades from now on!) Although I don't know Les personally, I do remember being amazed at his playing on TV in the BBC Young Musician competition some years ago. Judging by his diary and competition succeses he must be one of the busiest tuba players around!
I recently recevied my modified Yamaha Xeno C back from brass-forum contributor Will Spencer, who added the new leadpipe and tuning slide which I had been previously testing. What a difference! I can't speak too highly of Will for his knowledge, expertise and efficiency - a really top notch job! Future engagements include several 'lunchtime concerts' at Chets, concerts in Symphony Hall and the Barbican with the NYO and Gianandrea Noseda, and a quartet gig in Oxford. I'm also applying to take the LRSM in May, playing a programme of Haydn Concerto, Martinu Sonatine, Takemtisu Paths and Arban Variations on Norma. Regarding preparations for BBC, at the moment I'm trying to get lessons from as many different teachers as possible, in order to gain an insight into various styles and interpretations. If I'm lucky I might also get a lesson with Hakan Hardenberger before the final in May! Well, best go, I've got a BBC recorded concert tomorrow with chamber orchestra in the Bridgewater Hall so I need to practice!
Posted by Huw Morgan
Sunday, March 12, 2006
The Trials of Organising a Programme!
Now the dust has finally settled after my BBC success, I've been getting down to the hard graft of not only preparing the Tomasi Concerto for the final in May, but also organising a suitable programme for my Wigmore Hall debut this autumn. Having to fill a 1 hour programme with a mixture of original compositions, transcriptions, arrangements, music from different periods etc. has been far harder than I originally thought, although after much discussion with my two teachers at Chets I feel I am finally approaching a suitable conclusion! It will come as no surprise that my main difficulty has been the question of stamina vs challenging pieces, and the usage of different instruments (starting on piccolo, then C trumpet, then Bb). For the opening piece, I have decided to make my own arrangement of Debussy's 'Girl with the Flaxen Hair' for the piccolo, having heard Jens Lindemann perform his own version at the 2005 ITG Conference in Thailand. I will also premiere a work for trumpet and piano written by a friend from Chethams, Luke Burke, who recently won the BBC PROMS Young Composer award.
Having got to the BBC final, I've also been taking some time thinking about what the future holds in store, and in particular the great question of whether to attempt the solo trumpeter or orchestral trumpeter route. In an ideal world, I would certainly like to do both, although increasingly I feel that neither really complements the other - certain basic attributes don't fit both styles of playing. It is something I will probably be considering for the next five years...in the meantime I am trying to strike a balance between both solo and ensemble gigs, and giving myself plently of time to refresh and refine my playing inbetween. If any brass-forum users have any suggestions or ideas, your views would be much appreciated!
Finally, as a first study pianist as well at Chethams, I am currently preparing a programme of British music for concerts in late March/April. I'm also bracing myself for a day of BBC filming at Chets, which should be fun...lets just hope they don't follow me to the pub!!
Posted by Huw Morgan
Friday, March 03, 2006
BBC News!
Firstly, my apologies for not having posted sooner, but things have been seriously busy. Some of you might know already as reported on brass-forum.co.uk that I won the Brass Final of the BBC Young Musician Competition 2006, which was held last week in The Sage, Gateshead. Needless to say I am absolutely over the moon, and I hope this will be a really important step in my musical career. After two days of being trailed by a camera crew, several interviews and photo shoots (although I'm no model!) I was thrilled to progress, and privileged to be chosen by the distinguished adjudicatory panel of Paul Archibald, Richard Watkins and Ewan Easton. I'll now have the opportunity of performing the Tomasi concerto with the Northern Sinfonia and Yan Pascal Tortelier in The Sage on May 20th, which I'm looking foward to immensely. You can catch several programmes about the competition (including the Brass Final) on BBC 4 the week preceeding the final, and the complete concerto final broadcast on May 20th on BBC 2. Im now looking foward to purchasing a new Schilke Eb/D with my winnings, but most of all the chance of representation by YCAT and a Wigmore Hall debut in the autumn! For a 15 minute recital, that's not a bad result!
On March 1st (St. David's Day!) I also performed as piccolo trumpet with the National Youth Symphonic Brass of Wales, under the direction of James Watson, for the opening of the new Senedd building in the Welsh Assembly, in the presence of HM The Queen and HRH The Prince of Wales. Playing a specially composed fanfare, as well as Bernstein's On the Town, West Side Story, and a Bach Fugue (all arranged by Eric Crees) I realised what hard work brass ensemble playing acutally is! I think it's safe to say I failed to adopt the 'non-pressure approach!'
Having just arrived back at Chets, the events of the last few days really haven't set in, but I've now got a backlog of academic work to finish (O joy!) if I'm ever going to get the grades to take up my place at Oxford! I do, however, promise to update my blog more regularly!
Posted by Huw Morgan
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