Sousa’s trombone soloist Arthur Pryor is celebrated in a new recording by British trombonist Ian Bousfield. The Vienna Philharmonic Orchestra principal trombonist plays a selection of the American’s virtuoso solo compositions from the turn-of-the-century. Ian presented a couple of small tasters of this project at the ITF2006 in Birmingham to tease the audience and judging by the manner in which his live performances were received, this CD should be flying off the shelves and selling like hotcakes. The world famous Black Dyke Band accompanies Ian and is conducted by Nicholas Childs.

Track listing:

1. Arthur Pryor - Blue Bells of Scotland
2. Arthur Pryor arr. Bram Gay - La Petite Suzanne
3. Stephen Adams arr. Robert Childs - The Holy City
4. Arthur Pryor - Thoughts of Love
5. Arthur Pryor arr. Peter Roberts - The Patriot
6. Arthur Pryor arr. Peter Meechan - Starlight
7. Arthur Pryor - Love’s Enchantment
8. T. Mattel arr. Peter Roberts - Non E Ver
9. Arthur Pryor arr. Keith Wilkinson - Fantastic Polka
10. Arthur Pryor arr. Peter Roberts - The Little Chief
11. Teresa Del Riego arr. Philip Wilby & Matthew Robinson - Oh Dry Those Tears
12. Arthur Pryor arr. Keith Wilkinson - Annie Laurie

The recording is available from Warwick Music.

Kevin Morgan has recently released a solo album featuring a number of his own compositions. The music ranges from “sultry echoes of cool jazz to pulsating rhythms borrowed from around the globe” and shows another side to Kevin’s playing, who has made his name as Principal Trombone in the Bournemouth Symphony Orchestra for the last twenty years.

Kevin performs solo trombone on all tracks, with accompaniment from keyboards, percussion and in Arkadienn Rhythm he is also joined by guitar and flute.

A full track-listing and sound clips are available from Kevin’s website, www.trombonemusic.co.uk.

Tomorrow sees John Kenny perform a lunchtime concert at Edinburgh University. Entitled ‘The Mouthpiece of the Gods’, John will perform on the world’s only Celtic war horn, the carynx. Tracing the roots of brass instruments back 1000’s of years, John’s lecture-recitals on this subject have included demonstrations of instruments from all over the ancient world including didgeridoo, Polynesian conch horn, bronze age Irish horns, the carnyx, Tibetan trumpet and Alphorn.

He is then off to South Germany for a week of recitals with pianist Paul Flush and poet Grantly Marshall.

Friday, December 01, 2006, 12.30pm
Zero Degrees, Students’ Union, Heriot-Watt University, Edinburgh Campus, Scotland
Full details on the Heriot-Watt University website.

Next week, Christian Lindberg will be performing two trombone concertos with the Royal Liverpool Philharmonic, as well as a public masterclass at the Royal Northern College of Music.

In Liverpool next Thursday, Lindberg will perform the staple romantic German concerto by Ferdinand David as well his Mandrake in the Corner concerto, which receives its first UK performance in this version for trombone and orchestra.

The following evening, the international virtuoso will give a masterclass at the RNCM in Manchester.

Concert

Thursday 7 December 2006, 7.30pm
Philharmonic Hall, Liverpool

Nielsen - Suite Aladdin
Ferdinand David - Trombone Concerto
Christian Lindberg - Mandrake in the Corner (trombone concerto) UK première
Rimsky-Korsakov - Scheherazade

Kristjan Järvi conductor
Christian Lindberg trombone
Royal Liverpool Philharmonic
Tickets £9-£18. Full details on the Royal Liverpool Philharmonic Orchestra website.

Masterclass

Friday 8 December, 7.30pm
Haden Freeman Concert Hall, Royal Northern College of Music, Manchester

World famous virtuoso trombonist, composer and conductor Christian Lindberg visits the RNCM to work with selected students from the School of Wind and Percussion.

Tickets £7.50
Concessions available

The Taunton Symphony Orchestra present soloist Nick Hudson in a performance of Derek Bourgeois’ Trombone Concerto on Saturday 2 December 2006 in the King’s Hall, Taunton.

The programme also includes Haydn’s Nelson Mass, Puccini’s Missa de Gloria and A Taunton Overture by Emerson.

Bones Apart have just announced the release of their third CD, Enigma. Recorded in August 2006 on World of Brass’ Egon label, it features pieces from their current recital repertoire. They provide their versions of the classic Beethoven Equali and Bruckner motets, the Vivaldi suite which was received so warmly at the ITF, as well as classy arrangements by Helen Vollam of a raft of classical favourites by Tchaikovsky, Rossini, Bizet etc.

1. Rossini - Overture to The Barber of Seville
2. Beethoven - Drei Equali
3. Vivaldi - Suite from L’estro armonico
4. Bruckner - Three Motets
5. Bizet - Carmen Suite
6. Tchaikovsky/Delibes/Gounod - Four Ballet Scenes
7. Humperdinck - Abendsegen from Hänsel und Gretel
8. Kabalevsky - Comedian’s Gallop

Available now from Warwick Music.

The Ni Ensemble has won the International Brass Ensemble Competition in Passau. The brass quintet includes trombonist Leon Ni, who now plays for the Orchestre Philharmonique du Luxembourg and has lived in Britain for several years. Until three years ago he was Principal Trombone at Scottish Opera and before that in 1999/2000 he studied at the Royal Academy of Music in London, where he originally established the ensemble.

Ni Ensemble with Passau cultural attache Dr. Max Brunner (l) and head judge Frigyes Hidas (r)

The jury headed by Hungarian composer Frigyes Hidas, awarded the quintet not only first prize in the professional section, but also a special prize for best interpretation of an original piece for brass ensemble for Victor Ewald’s Quintet No. 2. The rest of their programme included Lutoslawki’s Mini Overture, Kerry Turner’s Ricochet, and Handel’s Arrival of the Queen of Sheba. Second place went to the Extreme Trombone Quartet from Hungary and third place went to L’Or Notes Brass Quintet from Paris.

The ensemble is comprised of Heather Madeira Ni (trumpet), Isabelle Marois (trumpet with the Orchestre Philharmonique du Luxembourg), Kristina Mascher (solo horn with the Flemish Radio Orchestra), Leon Ni (solo trombone with the Orchestre Philharmonique du Luxembourg) and David Polkinhorn (solo tuba with the Saarbrücken Radio Orchestra). Each of these players lives either in or near Luxembourg and, while none is Luxembourgeois, the group includes three Americans, one Canadian, and one Englishman - each very happy to be residing in this small, but culturally wealthy, country. The group wanted to thank Kerry Turner in public for his support, advice, and music during preparation for the competition.

BTS News caught up with Leon Ni to find out how thing have been going for him personally in Luxembourg since leaving Scotland.

I’ve been doing well, thanks, and the Orchestre Philharmonique du Luxembourg has been a really nice job. I’ve really enjoyed the international flavour of the orchestra as we have musicians from all over Europe, the Americas, and Asia. The trombone section itself is half French and half American. The mix of nationalities gives the orchestra a really unique and interesting sound.

Since my arrival here, we’ve got a new musical director, Emmanuel Krivine, and a beautiful new concert hall. I have to say that I’m quite happy here. The orchestra plays at a high level and is filled with wonderful, talented, and sympathetic colleagues.

I think the hardest thing to adapt to here is the languages. Over the years, I will have the learn the three official languages of the country: French, German and Luxembourgeois. I’ve reached a conversational level in French and am just starting to study a little bit of German. I am probably a good five or six years off being able to have conversations in all three! Luckily for my children, they probably will adapt much faster as they can already speak Luxembourgeois at a good level.

Don Lusher will be honoured by the Royal Marines in Portsmouth tonight in a memorial concert. With a host of classics from the big band era in tribute to the trombonist and teacher who died in July, aged 82. Lusher was a particular influence on the Marines in Portsmouth during his time as trombone professor there. He taught at the Royal Marines School of Music (HMS Nelson) between 1996 and 2004.

Conducting the tribute, in the second half of the concert, will be Gordon Campbell, who worked with Mr Lusher and succeeded him as trombone tutor.
The concert starts at 7.30pm.

Thursday, 16th November 2006, 7.30pm
St Mary’s Church, Fratton, Portsmouth, UK

The Royal Academy of Music presents Mark Nightingale in a lunchtime concert with the Royal Academy of Music Trombone Choir, conducted by Bob Hughes, on 30 November 2006.

Thursday 30 November 2006, 1.00pm
Duke’s Hall, Royal Academy of Music, London
Free, no tickets required

Academy Trombone Choir
Bob Hughes director
Mark Nightingale jazz trombone

Programme to include music by Mark Nightingale including the UK première of Turning Back the Clock for solo jazz trombone and trombone octet.
Mark Nightingale is one of the busiest session musicians on the London scene and is also a highly sought-after jazz trombone soloist. His rich and varied musical life has heard him playing on countless film soundtracks and television shows, writing educational books and playing in the orchestras of Henry Mancini, Michel Legrand and Frank Sinatra. Mark also leads his own quartet and Big Band.

Trombonists dominated the prizes in this weekend’s British Open Solo and Quartet Championships 2006 held in Dunkinfield, Greater Manchester.

Although the top prize was one by baritone player Katrina Marzella, trombonists Philip Dias and Gregor Stewart came second and third in the Senior Solo Final.

Philip Dias, who was the overall winner last year and is now a post-graduate student at the Royal College of Music having completed studies at the Royal Northern College of Music, collected £250 and the Association of Band Tarders Shield.

The Margaret Mortimer trophy for Best Trombone in the preliminary round was awarded to Gregor Stewart who plays for Bo’ness & Carriden Band in Scotland. For his third place overall he received the Bill Gaskell Shield and £150.

In the Intermediate Slow Melody Contest, Aldbourne Band trombonist Stephen Sykes won and took away with him the David Brunsden Trophy and £300 worth of tuition. Third place went to trombonist Chris Mansfield of Innovate Skelmanthorpe Band and Chethams, who received the William Halliwell Trophy and £100 worth of tuition.

And in the Junior Slow Melody Contest, the winner was a trombonist: Peter Moore from Wingates Band, who retains his title from last year, including the NWCBBA Trophy and £300 worth of tuition.