Notes and Editorial Reviews
URBAN REQUIEM
•
Stephen L. Gage, cond; Kathryn Thomas Umble (fl);
1
Robert Fitzer (cl);
1
James Umble (sax);
2
Allen Cordingley (sax);
2
Kent Engelhardt (sax);
2
Joseph Carey (sax);
2
Youngstown St Univ Symphonic Wind Ens
•
NAXOS
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8.570946 (64:06)
LINDROTH
Spin Cycle.
SAINT-SAËNS
(arr. Brooks)
Introduction and Rondo capriccioso.
1
WHITACRE
October.
COLGRASS
Urban Requiem.
2
SHOSTAKOVICH
(arr. Duker)
Overture on Russian and Kyrgyz Folk Themes.
SOUSA
Nobles of the Mystic Shrine
A most rewarding disc encompassing a large stylistic array of repertoire ranging from Eric Whitacre’s (b. 1970) nostalgically Coplanesque, hymn inspired and ultra Americanish
October
to Michael Colgrass’s brilliant, moody, and stylistically eclectic
Urban Requiem
. Along the way one encounters Scott Lindroth’s (b. 1968) frothily inventive
Spin Cycle
, arrangements of Saint-Saëns’s
Rondo capriccio
, and Shostakovich’s all-too-neglected
Overture on Russian and Kyrgyz Folk Themes
. I didn’t think that effective arrangements of those last two pieces were possible. Given my personal evaluation of their sonic and affective demands, tampering with the originals would have resulted in diminishment. Arrangers Lee Brooks and Guy Duker, however, rose to the task, providing arrangements that are not merely faithful to the originals, but also provide fresh insights. Special kudos to flutist Kathryn Thomas Umble and clarinetist Robert Fitzer whose subtlety of phrasing and tone production grace the Saint-Saëns effort, and to saxophonists James Umble, Allen Cordingley, Kent Engelhardt, and Joseph Carey who traverse the multiple and mercurially shifting sound worlds of Colgrass’s
Urban Requiem
with illuminating surefootedness and grace.
Listening to this offering, I found myself increasingly disbelieving that the Youngstown State University’s Symphonic Wind Ensemble is a student organization. Granted, it drafts the best of the current best, and has had in-residence relationships with some of the most outstanding composers of our age, including Michael Colgrass, Joseph Schwantner, Karel Husa, Samuel Adler, and Eric Ewazen, to give a woefully incomplete list, but I still find the fit and finish of their performances astonishing.
The sound on this disc, like the efforts of all those chronicled by it, is fully up to the task.
FANFARE: William Zagorski
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Works on This Recording
1.
Spin Cycle by Scott Lindroth
Conductor:
Stephen L. Gage
Orchestra/Ensemble:
Youngstown State University Wind Ensemble
Period: 20th Century
Written: 2001; USA
Length: 6 Minutes 11 Secs.
2.
Introduction and Rondo capriccioso for Violin and Orchestra in A minor, Op. 28 by Camille Saint-Saëns
Performer:
Robert Fitzer (Clarinet),
Kathryn Thomas Umble (Flute)
Conductor:
Stephen L. Gage
Orchestra/Ensemble:
Youngstown State University Wind Ensemble
Period: Romantic
Written: 1863; France
Length: 10 Minutes 9 Secs.
3.
October by Eric Whitacre
Conductor:
Stephen L. Gage
Orchestra/Ensemble:
Youngstown State University Wind Ensemble
Period: 20th Century
Written: USA
Length: 7 Minutes 30 Secs.
4.
Urban Requiem by Michael Colgrass
Performer:
James Umble (Saxophone),
Allen Cordingley (Saxophone),
Kent Engelhardt (Saxophone),
Joseph Carey (Saxophone)
Conductor:
Stephen L. Gage
Orchestra/Ensemble:
Youngstown State University Wind Ensemble
Period: 20th Century
Written: 1996; USA
Length: 27 Minutes 20 Secs.
5.
Overture on Russian and Kirghiz Folk Themes, Op. 115 by Dmitri Shostakovich
Conductor:
Stephen L. Gage
Orchestra/Ensemble:
Youngstown State University Wind Ensemble
Period: 20th Century
Written: 1963; USSR
Length: 9 Minutes 40 Secs.
Notes: Arranger: Guy Duker.
6.
Nobles of the Mystic Shrine by John Philip Sousa
Conductor:
Stephen L. Gage
Orchestra/Ensemble:
Youngstown State University Wind Ensemble
Period: Romantic
Written: 1923; USA
Length: 3 Minutes 11 Secs.
Sound Samples
Introduction et rondo capriccioso in A minor, Op. 28 (arr. for flute, clarinet and wind orchestra)
Overture on Russian and Kyrgyz Folk Themes, Op. 115 (arr. for wind ensemble)
Nobles of the Mystic Shrine
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