I'm really happy to present the new CD Hosanna and the Steven Mead Euphonium Song Book. Vol.1

 

Hosanna CD

Sonata in Bb Major - Alessandro Besozzi **

1.                     Andante                                                                       2:07

2.                     Allegro                                                                         2:03

3.                     Larghetto                                                                      2:10

4.                     Allegretto                                                                     1:38

5.         Duet for Trombone and Organ - Gustav Holst                           9.08

6.         Ave Maria - Franz Schubert                                                      4.22     

7.         Chants Russes - Eduoard Lalo                                                  5.09

8.         Lacrimae Lacrimae - Jan Sandström                                           4.33

9.         Romance Op. 36 - Camille Saint-Saëns                                      3.44

10.        Concerto for Oboe in D Minor, Op.9 no.2, Tomaso Albinoni **   3.40

                                  1^st Movement

11.        Sicilienne - Maria Theresia Paradis                                            3.11

12.        Invocation  Op.135 - Gardner Read                                           7.23

13.        Poem - Zdenek Fibich                                                              2.39

Sonata in A Major - Francesco Geminiani  **

14.                    Andante                                                                       2.16

15.                    Allegro                                                                         1.52

16.                    Andante                                                                       1.00

17.                    Allegro                                                                                     2.03

18.        Pie Jesu - Andrew Lloyd Webber +                                           3.10

19.        Hosanna - Franz Liszt                                                           4.48

20.        Ave Maria - Guilio Caccini  +                                                   4.15

TOTAL:   74'.37''

+ duet with Misa Akahoshi

 

Recorded in France in Laon Cathedral, and the Church of St.Pierre, Guignicourt ** , 28th-30th August 2013.

Producer and Sound engineer: Richard Scott

Co-producer : Steven Mead

Artwork: GK Klaucke design

Bocchino music: BOCC 121

About the CD

A chance meeting with the wonderful Polish organist Lidia Książkiewicz in France some nine months ago awakened my curiosity of how it would be to record an album with euphonium and organ. I have made many recordings over the years, variously with brass band, piano, brass quintet, brass ensembles and multitrack for example, and with each of these the outcomes were all quite predictable, and in many cases the repertoire quite bountiful.

 

In my head I could imagine the rich sound of the euphonium set against the resonant sound of a cathedral organ, two mighty voices playing in harmony!

I set about looking for suitable repertoire and spent a few weeks searching music libraries and online resources. It immediately became clear that there was almost no original literature for this combination and not put off by this,  I sought out a balance of other works for brass and organ, classical arrangements and songs that might create not only a musical balance, but would allow a chance to show off the potential of this combination. During a very brief visit to the Strasbourg Conservatory where Lidia is also a professional piano accompanist, we took the occasion to try out some of the repertoire. We recognised instantly that this combination had so much potential. The CD project therefore became inevitable.

The logistics were quite quickly worked out and Lidia made enquiries whether we could use Laon Cathedral for the recording. Lidia is the resident organist there knew the full potential of this great organ. As we discussed the repertoire we also were discussing some Baroque works and perhaps using a second organ that was more suitable for this music. About 25 km from Laon is the town of Guignicourt and the organ there was absolutely suitable for a couple of pieces from all that. All the other pieces of jigsaw felt together relatively easily in place.

 

The Steven Mead Euphonium Song Book Vol.1

A brand new collection of 25 great lyrical works, The Steven Mead Euphonium Song Book, Volume 1.

This beautifully produced book with solo parts in TC (Bb), BC (C) and BC (Bb), with full piano accompaniments, is essential for all brass musicians.

Here is the full list of works contained in the album:

1. Air - Johann Mattheson

2. Ave Maria - Max Bruch

3. Banks of Doon - Scottish traditional

4. Cantilena - Henri Vieuxtemps

5. Caruso - Lucio Dalla

6. Cavatina - Joachim Raff

7. Chants Russes - Edouard Lalo

8. Wexford Carol - Irish traditional

9. Elégie - Gabriel Fauré

10. Doretta's Song - Giacomo Puccini

11. Vissi d'Arte - Giacomo Puccini

12. Your tiny hand is frozen - Giacomo Puccini

13. Lejos de ti (Far From You)- Manuel Ponce

14. Melodie - Pijotr Ilych Tchaikovsky

15. Nocturne - Piotr Ilych Tchaikovsky

16. Non ti scordar di me - Ernesto De Curtis

17. Panis Angelicus - César Franck

18. Pièce - Gabriel Fauré

19. Pieta Signore - Alessandro Stradella

20. Poem - Zdenko Fibich

21. Romance - Carl Maria von Weber

22. Romance - Reinhold Glière

23. Romance orientale - Alexander Glazunov

24. Sérénade - Ruggero Leoncavallo

25. The Turtle Dove - English traditonal

The pieces last in duration anywhere from 2 minutes to 10 minutes!!

Enjoy this wonderful album.

Luc Vertommen in collaboration with Steve, has done a fabulous job choosing and editing these works. Steve has provided an introduction to the book and given some performancer notes.