Search - Bruce Broughton, Eric Ewazen, James M. III Stephenson :: Born to Be Mild: Works for Trumpet

A Kinder, Gentler Trumpet

J Scott Morrison | Middlebury VT, USA | 11/21/2004

(4 out of 5 stars)

"Richard Stoelzel, the trumpeter on this disc, says that he decided to put out a CD that would 'exploit the lyrical and "mild" side of the trumpet' and indeed he has done that. The selections play to one of his real strengths -- he has a lovely, liquid, lyrical tone and can, unlike some trumpet players, weave a beautiful legato pianissimo line. The music is all by contemporary tonal composers, foremost of whom is Eric Ewazen, who has written some of the most lovable and memorable music for brass instruments in the last twenty-five years. His 'Ballade,' 'Pastorale,' 'Prayer and Praise,' and 'Grand Valley Fanfare,' the latter played by a brass quintet, Avatar Brass, of which Stoelzel is a member, are all tuneful and harmonically interesting. Ewazen's 'Pastoral' is actually a duet for trumpet and trombone (here played by Randall Hawes) with piano accompaniment. It features some nicely managed widely-separated contrapuntal lines --the trombone in its very lowest range, the trumpet in its highest. The piano accompaniment here is done sensitively, as in all the accompanied works, by Tianshu Wang. (And speaking of Eric Ewazen, I strongly recommend a disc of his concerti, also on the Albany label, performed by the terrific International Sejong Soloists, available here at Amazon; its ASIN number is B00008YJEF.)



Other works include Bruce Broughton's Coplandesque 'Oliver's Birthday,' a neoclassic cowboy piece with frequently changing meters, and his 'Folksong,' a simple and lovely ABA piece that sounds like a real folk-song but we're told the melody is an original. James Stephenson, himself a trumpeter, is represented by his 'Trumpet Sonata,' written for Stoelzel. Its three movements include a declamatory maestoso first movement, a songlike lento middle movement, and a jaunty vivo finale. (Speaking as a pianist, I have to comment that for a trumpeter, Stephenson writes pretty darned idiomatically for the piano accompanist as well.) Lewis Stewart's three-minute 'Folk-Music' is based on 'He's Gone Away,' ('I'm goin' away for to stay a little while / But I'm comin' back if I go ten thousand miles') and features a somewhat agitated middle section before returning to the lilting first melody.



Joseph Turrin's 'Intrada' is probably the most dramatic work here. It is a five-minute single-movement work that moves through many moods, from an opening fanfare motif, to bluesy muted sections and some vigorous scatting. It ends abruptly on a phrase that ascends to thrilling high trumpet C#.



Stoelzel, a professor a Michigan's Grand Valley State University, has had a varied career that included playing solo cornet with the United States Coast Guard Band, acting as a visiting professor at a Chinese university, and playing in the New Orleans Symphony (precursor of the current Louisiana Philharmonic), among other things. He has recorded a lovely CD here and, although this disc will probably appeal mostly to brass players, trumpeters in particular, the music and performances represented here probably should have a wider audience. I can certainly think of worse ways to spend an hour!



Scott Morrison"

Take a walk on the mild side!

M. Petersen | 03/08/2009

(5 out of 5 stars)

"This has it all! High notes, Low notes, and those in between, ALL with a Glorious sound. Articulations and Attacks are appropriate for each number, whether crisp and staccato or a nice soft legato. However, what really wins me over in this recording is the musicality, Stoelzel's beautiful lyricism and brilliant dynamic contrast.



I was listening to my Ipod on shuffle the other day and confused Stoelzel's "Oliver's Birthday" for the one that Phil Smith recorded on his "Contest Solos for Young Trumpeters" CD.



Very tuneful selection of music, some pieces actually have been written for the man himself!



If you play trumpet, whether serious or fun, BUY THIS RECORDING!"