Steven's sensational 2nd multi-track CD
Repetoire
- What’s This? Elfman/Robertson
- Finale of 5th Symphony Beethoven/Bale
- Waltz Op.64 no.2 F.Chopin/ Bale
- Processional to the Minster Wagner/Ito
- Euphoniums Parfait (Suite for 4 Euphoniums) Yasuhide Ito
- Fruits Parfait
- Milonga di Malone
- Cioccolata d’amore
- Gelato con Café - Ase’s Death (from Peer Gynt Op.23) Grieg/Harris
- When You Wish Upon a Star Harline/Robertson
- Take Five Desmond/Luis
- Shenandoah Trad./Olcott
- The Simpsons Elfman/Harris
- Come Sunday Ellington/Paul
- A la Romanesc Thomas Dos
- And Soon It Will Be Blossom Time Andresen
- Entrance and Polka of the Euphonium Players Fucik/Carrol/Maldonado
- Rosamunde Vejvoda/Zelch
Buy now from:
http://justforbrass.com/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=66_80&products_id=195
Additional Info
- New reviews for this CD from Brass Band World, British Bandsman, Tubanews.com and a Japanese website
- Program notes
- Play list
- Number of parts
- Special thanks
 |
Due to the overwhelming success of the original Euphonium Magic CD, Steve Mead has conjured up a follow-up album that again should have lovers of brass music entranced by the sound of his multi-tracked euphonium. Many have asked for the secret ingredients to this tasty yet sonorous musical recipe. Well, it’s very simple; find some great arrangements, an engineer with supreme skill and patience and a player who can play all day for a week with an imagination and no little skill. The striving for perfection is the hallmark of any great artist and to make music breathe, stretch and play in rhythmic perfection with one’s self is indeed a challenge. But the thrill of hearing multi-part music with virtually identical articulation, great tuning and tone colour is shared equally between the creator and his audience. In Vol.2 the theme is Music of Life; music drawn from across historic and stylistic barriers that reflect in turn heroic, turbulent, sad and reflective moods, capturing the effervescence of youth and simple folkloristic pleasures. This album takes us immediately from the question posed by Danny Elfman in ‘What’s This?’ to the finale of one the greatest ever symphonic works, Beethoven’s Fifth Symphony in an abridged arrangement from star arranger Maurice Bale, with a band of 16 Mead’s (the biggest score on this disc). Several quartets are featured, amongst them two originals, the suite ‘Euphoniums Parfait’ from the Japanese composer/pianist Yasuhide Ito and the charming ‘And Soon It Will be Blossom Time’ by Danish composer/trombonist Morgens Andresen. |
Great classic music is further represented by a well known piano waltz by Chopin, Wagner’s mighty ‘Procession to the Minster’ and Grieg’s moving ‘Ase’s Death’ from the Peer Gynt Suite.
The latter part of the disc moves to a lighter vein and several short pieces representing the ‘Music of Life’ theme complete the disc, showing off the amazing stylistic potential of the euphonium in the hands of the one of the instruments’ greatest ever exponents.
Jazz greats Duke Ellington and Dave Brubeck are represented by ‘Come Sunday’ (in a arrangement from Mnozil Brass) and popular ‘Take Five’. The theme tune to the TV cartoon ‘The Simpsons’ is arranged by euphonium player Emily Harris and the performance here is dedicated to Steve’s children James and Alicia. James Olcott arranged his version of Shenandoah for nine trumpets and this transposed version works wonderfully for euphonium choir.
Virtuosity comes to the fore in the amazing ‘A La Romanesc’, an original by the leading Austrian composer Thomas Dos, with its driving gypsy style. This five-part work is a real tour de force. Several years ago the late American euphonium player Luis Maldonado made an arrangement of a jolly piece for bassoonists and gave it to Steve Mead who now brings the ‘Entrance and Polka of the Euphonium Players’ to life. Its closing Austrian ‘Clarinet Polka’ section prepares the way for the final item, a joyous version of the famous Rosamunde (orig.‘Skoda Lásky’). You may know it as the ‘Beer Barrel Polka’ but the real German words to the song are evident in the trio. It is about 28 years since Steve sang in public, never mind recorded and so here is one for posterity! This is dedicated to all the wonderful ‘low brass’ musicians Steve has met in Austria in recent years.
Music of Life: the wonderfully sonorous ‘human’ voice of the euphonium can portray all of life’s human emotions and we hope you will enjoy a little more Euphonium Magic.
Play list - click to hear MP3 sound clips!
- What’s This? Danny Elfman/Gail Robertson 1.53
- Finale of 5th Symphony L.v.Beethoven/Maurice Bale 4.13
- Waltz Op.64 no.2 F.Chopin/Maurice Bale 3.47
- Processional to the Minster R.Wagner/Akihito Ito 5.02
- Euphoniums Parfait (Suite for 4 Euphoniums) Yasuhide Ito
- Fruits Parfait 1.09
- Milonga di Malone 2.38
- Cioccolata d’amore 2.39
- Gelato con Café 2.44 - Ase’s Death (from Peer Gynt Op.23) E.Grieg/Emily Harris 3.36
- When You Wish Upon a Star Leigh Harline/Gail Robertson 1.58
- Take Five Paul Desmond/Ingo Luis 4.13
- Shenandoah Trad./JamesOlcott 2.51
- The Simpsons Danny Elfman/Emily Harris 1.18
- Come Sunday Duke Ellington/Leon Paul 2.30
- A la Romanesc Thomas Dos 5.02
- And Soon It Will Be Blossom Time Morgens Andresen 3.30
- Entrance and Polka of the Euphonium Players Fucik & anon/D.H.Carrol/L.Maldonado 1.40
- Rosamunde Jaromir Vejvoda/Wilhelm Zelch 2.27
 Mike Moor and Steven Mead in the studio. |
total playing time: 54’.25”
Publishers: 1.10.GAR Music 2.3.Godiva Music 4.Musica Euphoria 5.6.7.8.Ito Music Made in the UK Produced by Steven Mead |
CDs produced by FairPlay Replication
CD Artwork by Jack Jackson
© Bocchino Music P Bocchino Music
10 Old Forge Road, Fenny Drayton,
Warks CV13 6BD, UK
Tel/fax: ++44 1827 712484
Email: bocchinomusic@euphonium.net
Number of parts:
4: Waltz Op.64 no.2, Fruits Parfait, Take Five, And Soon it Will Be Blossom Time, When You Wish, Entrance and Polka of the Euphonium Players
5: A la Romanesc
6: What’s This?, The Simpsons, Ase’s Death
7: Come Sunday
9: Processional to the Minster, Shenandoah
11: Rosamunde
16: Finale of 5th Symphony
Special thanks:
- To all my family for their love and support
- To Mike Moor for his skill and enthusiasm for what he does
- To everyone who has encouraged me to make a Euphonium Magic Vol.2, euphonium players the world over