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TRANSCRIPT
The Brassroots
INSIDER
Vol. 7, Issue 2 • Winter 2012
“South Western Ontario’s Favourite Brass Ensemble”
Newsletter design and layout by Nikki Attwell Communications • www.nikkiattwell.ca
From our music directorBram GregsonWhat a Wonderful start we had to our 2011–12 sea-son! The 25th Anniversary concert on November 12 was simply outstanding. We are grateful to the Ontario Arts Council and London Arts Council for grants that were so helpful in the organization of this Gala Concert. With two excellent choirs—London Pro Musica and Primus male voice choir—and our favorite guests, Denise Pelley, Jeff Christmas, Stephen Holowitz and Mitchell Tyler, several thought that this was the best concert they had attended in London in many years. Four hundred and fifty people experienced this celebration in St. James Westminster Anglican Church, a rare treat for Brassroots who had not seen an audience of this size for a self-presented con-cert. Musicians love to perform for capacity audiences; it brings out the best!
This was followed by a memorable Christmas concert with St. James Anglican choir and music director Stephen Holowitz. Our relationship with the church is most cordial and we want our readers to know how much we appreciate the cooperation of the church personnel: Stephen, Becky Graham, Sarah Mills and Harold Ford. Weren’t those treats after our two concerts a delight? Another bonus in this new relationship will be our ability to combine brass with organ. Stephen and I are already discussing ideas.
Those who attended our 25th Anniversary Gala concert received a gift of our CD Brassroots 25. We have since received requests for this CD. However, we ordered only 500 copies and only five are left! This easy-listening disc features some of the most popular songs of all time and shows four of our soloists in fine form. News about the CD has travelled! Late on Christmas Eve, Murray Lee of Thorndale drove to London to get one for his girlfriend! But there’s good news. Within a couple of months this CD as well as two other Brassroots’ CDs will be available on iTunes and cdbaby. Our CD Cocktails is already avail-able on these download sites. This unique CD features the music of Jeff Christmas. You can buy a single song or as many as you like. So how about it folks? Download a song and carry it around with you! And importantly, every song purchased adds a few much-needed cents to Brassroots’ bank account!
We hope that you can come to our concert on February 25. Bring a friend. It is a must for anyone who is a movie
aficionado. And the kids will enjoy it too when they hear some great toons from the cartoons! Turn to page four for a brief account of sound in the movies and a mention of the music we will perform. And there will be quiz. We will play short extracts of music from three famous films. You will have to identify the music and the movie. The first prize will be two complimentary tickets to our final concert of the season and the second a complimentary CD.
Bram
troMBones
(le f t to r ight)
david davidson
susan fol lows
John Monkhouse
James edwards
Percussion
(below)
rob inch
Bryan Mal i to
truMPets (above le f t)
(le f t to r ight)
Gw yn Beynon
Jul ia Vaughan
Kevin swinden
Paul stevenson
horn and tuBa (above)
tony snyder, Mike Medeiros
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The brassrooTs insider • WinTer 2012
Thank you to our donorsSeveral donations were received from per-sons who have supported us for many years.
Some suggested that we use their donation to buy some new music.Five charts have been added to our library:
“an american in Paris” by George GershwinCole Porter’s “Be a clown”
“don Juan in hell,” a scherzo macabre for tuba soloist“Pavanne for a dead Princess,” an adaption of Ravel’s piano classic“concerto de camera” by Jacques Ibert (originally a saxo-phone solo)
The Board of Directors and musicians appreciate the generosity of all those who support us.And talking of finances, we are about to apply to London Arts Council for a grant to support our operations for the 2012-13 season. Last year we received $7250.00. It is true that we could not survive without the support of the City of London and the Arts Council. We need three letters of support. Would you help?
Good reviews for CocktailsBrassroots & Jeff Christmas’s music
The Music Times: “An eclectic and dynamic recording that could well be the musical ‘match made in heaven’ that both so richly deserve... As with everything else on this album, Brassroots’ supple precision, intuitive dynamic expression, silken blend and rhythmic verve serve up a consistent great taste without the potential disadvantage of actually imbibing.”
Scene Magazine: “From the rousing themes of “Fanfare Regalis to the emotional restraint of Half Mast, the ensem-ble brings a vital energy to their performance that borders on the ecstatic…”
Support a local ChoirLondon—a great Canadian choral centre
22nd annual amabile Festivalat First St. Andrews United Church, LondonGuest conductor: Dr. Henry Leck.March 4, 2012 2:30 pm & 7:30 pm (www.amabile.com)
Prima and Primus in Concert at Aeolian Hall, Dundas Street, LondonEnjoy the artistic excellence of the Amabile adult choirs.March 31, 2012, 7:30 pm
London Pro Musica presents A Bouquet of the Arts from IndiaAt Gateway Church, 890 Sarnia Road, Londonsaturday May 5, 2012 (www.londonpromusica.org)
under the headinG “staff lines,” this is a feature included
in the neWsletters of the President’s oWn united states
Marine Band.We thouGht it Was a Good Way of GettinG to
KnoW Brassroots’ Musicians. a Good idea is Worth coPyinG!
Getting to know you
Julia VaughanHometown
Goderich, Ontario
married
To Brad, for almost 9 years
Pets
Two cats, Molly and Decker. Future plans for a Springer spaniel.
education
BMusEd ‘90 (UWO), BEd ‘91 (UWO)
occuPation
Teacher of developmentally challenged children.
aGe at wHicH you started PlayinG trumPet?
Nine, at The Salvation Army in Goderich
a Book at Bedside
Murder–Mystery
Favorite movie
La Vita e Bella (Life is Beautiful)
Favorite Foods
Cheese and Chocolate
HoBBies
Music (trumpet, piano, singing); Sports (hockey, ball hockey, cycling, mountain biking, running); Reading
your First car
Triumph TR6
Place you would most like to Be stranded
On a holiday... anywhere!
most inFluential trumPet/music teacHers
James Ford, Eric Schultz, Bram Gregson
your idea oF luxury
Free time
Favorite tyPes oF music
Jazz Ballads, movie soundtracks, smooth jazz (especially Chris Botti)
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The brassrooTs insider • WinTer 2012
Upcoming Concertsall concerts at st. James Westminster anglican Church115 askin street, London
#3 — saturday February 25, 2012 7:30 pm
Reel time great movie themesOften we listen passively while we are engrossed in a movie. Even silent movies needed music to heighten tension, create excitement and tranquility.
This is a concert for the whole family; cartoon favourites, memo-rable original film music and some classics too. see page four of this newsletter for details.
#4 — saturday april 28, 2012 7:30 pm
Horns for Spring featuring our soloistsIn addition to our soloists, the trombones will be featured in a Tommy Dorsey arrangement by Angus Armstrong, a fel-low trombonist in Ottawa. Also, we will perform one of the great works for brass, Hans Werner Henze’s Ragtimes and Habaneras. We will also give our first performance of Thomas Merriman’s Theme and Variations for Brass Choir and a transcription of an organ classic based on a tune that even the kids will know.
Tickets: $20, Seniors/Students $15Children twelve and under free with an adult at all concertsTickets for all concerts available from
Belle Air Music (all London stores)
Centennial Hall Box OfficeTuckey Home Hardware (on Wortley Road — just around the corner from the church)
Two Brassroots’ players tour China with the Ontario Festival Symphony OrchestraPaul steVenson and susan folloWs (principal trumpet and bass trombone, respectively) visited China with the Ontario Festival Symphony Orchestra, conducted by Jerome Summers. Between December 26 and January 8 they performed in Beijing, Suzou, Yancheng, Changsu, Nanjing, Shanghai and Hangzhou. The orchestra played in large concert halls and the concert on New Year’s Eve was broadcast live on television. Susan notes that the orchestra was a hit with Chinese audiences. Some of the
highlights were experiencing the Great Wall, Tiananmen Square, Forbidden City, Buddhist Temples, a silk fac-tory and the nightlife in Shanghai. They learned how to bargain in the markets, sampled local food specialties and applauded their bus driver regularly for negotiating hectic city traffic!