Could this be the hardest piece I've ever played live? Well ..it's coming, next weekend, in Laureana di Borrello (Calabria), Italy. And, it's definitely on, as air space is open, and flights are flying !!
Giovanni Orsomando ( Casapulla , 29 December 1895 - Rome , 26 September 1988 ) was a composer and Italian band director, among the best artists and writers of pieces for the band movement in Italy.
As a child he was encouraged by his father to study the clarinet , becoming a virtuoso. He was the clarinet soloist in the band of Italian infantry . He graduated in 1922 in composition and orchestration at the Conservatorio San Pietro a Majella in Naples. He spent most of his life in Caserta, directing bands, teaching and composing. He was director of the band of the Province of Rome at the end of life and moved to live in the capital.
Among his music (more than 120 compositions), many remain in the repertoire of important Italian bands. He was known as the Godfather of Italian band music !
His Alla Czardas is the most technical 6.5 minute solo I've ever played (next saturday!) with a wind orchestra.
Here is the schedule for my work there:
April 24th, 9:30 a.m.: Workshop for the young brass Ensemble;
April 24th, 3:30 p. m.: Master Class with 8 students
April 24th, 9:30 p.m.: Concert of the young brass Ensemble
April 25th, 10:00 a.m.: Rehearsal of the Youth Wind Orchestra
April 25th, 9:00 p.m.: Concert with the Youth Wind Orchestra
solo repertoire:
• CARO MIO BEN di Giuseppe Giordani (arr. Antonella Bona);
• AULD LANG SYNE ( arrangement by M. Managò)
• C'ERA UNA VOLTA IL WEST ( Ennio Morricone)
• MEMORY ( Rob Ares)
• ALLA CZARDAS (by Giovanni Orsomando - arr. By Fulvio Creux)
• OH MIO BAMBINO CARO by Giacomo Puccini (arrangement by Angelo De Paola).
The Alla Czardas was recorded on my Bella Italia CD, but I have never played it live (despite frequent requests!) before now. Perhaps when you see the sheet music, free to download here, you will understand !! Please enjoy.
And now you can download the mp3 of this piece for free . Click here. Play along....if you dare :)
If you are in Calabria 24,25th April please come along. Follow the solo with the music if you like, but please don't sit on the front row !!
If you want to buy the whole CD, you can download it from iTunes or get the actual CD with beautiful artwork and booklet from www.euphoniumstore.net (on special sale price of £9.75) or www.justforbrass.com Click on these links.