Four Contemporary Trumpet Sonatas
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Four Contemporary Trumpet Sonatas: A Recording Project and Performer’s Guide by Garrett L. Klein A Research Paper Presented in Partial Fulfillment of the Requirements for the Degree Doctor of Musical Arts Approved April 2019 by the Graduate Supervisory Committee: David R. Hickman, Chair Gary Hill Amy Holbrook ARIZONA STATE UNIVERSITY May 2019 ABSTRACT This document accompanies new recordings of four recent sonatas for trumpet and piano. The project’s objective is to promote these works, while providing a comprehensive resource for potential performers. The four sonatas were selected based on their appeal to modern audiences. Composers Brendan Collins, Luis Engelke, William Rowson, and Christoph Nils Thompson each represents a different country, and they offer significant contributions to the trumpet repertoire. Each sonata expertly features the trumpet by highlighting its lyricism, virtuosity, and ability to cross genres. The accompanying document draws upon interviews with the four composers, which reveal insights into the compositional process and provide details that performers will find useful. This document also offers in-depth musical descriptions, allowing performers to enhance their understanding of each sonata. The principal component of the document is the performer’s guide: Advice is presented directly to the trumpet player that has been garnered from the composers’ interviews, study of the music, and the author’s thoughts on preparing the music. To help other young musicians better comprehend the recording process, the author’s own experience is detailed. Ultimately, this document provides a window into the lifespan of the four sonatas; from their initial composition through the various stages of studying and rehearsing, culminating with the experience of recording these works for the first time. i ACKNOWLEDGMENTS I am extremely grateful to Professor David Hickman, who provided vital assistance on this recording project and accompanying document. Professor Hickman’s willingness to share his knowledge and experience, his countless hours of editing, and four years of invaluable trumpet instruction are all greatly appreciated. A note of thanks also must go to Dr. Miriam Hickman, whose efforts contributed to a delightful process of discussing, rehearsing, and recording the four sonatas. To the other members of my committee, Dr. Amy Holbrook and Professor Gary Hill: Your encouragement and instruction have been pivotal not only in the completion of this project, but also throughout my time at Arizona State University. I will take the lessons I learned from you with me through my entire career. This project centers around the composers themselves, and the significance of their participation cannot be overstated. I owe a huge debt of gratitude to Brendan Collins, Luis Engelke, William Rowson, and Christoph Thompson. They were each extraordinarily gracious by trusting me to be the first to record their works. They also contributed a great gift by taking the time to answer interview questions. Thank you, all! Clarke Rigsby, the recording engineer, also played an indispensable role in this project, and I thank him for his expertise and good humor. Lastly, I would like to thank my family for their support, encouragement, and unconditional love throughout my education. I’d like to specifically acknowledge my wife, Mara Klein, for her patience, kindness, and trust in me as I went through this process. I could not have done this without her support, and I am eternally grateful to her. ii TABLE OF CONTENTS Page LIST OF FIGURES .......................................................................................................... vii CHAPTER I INTRODUCTION ................................................................................................... 1 Selection Process ................................................................................................. 4 Pre-Recording Process ......................................................................................... 5 Musical Description ............................................................................................. 6 Composer Interviews ........................................................................................... 7 II REVIEW OF MAJOR TRUMPET SONATAS ..................................................... 9 Influential Twentieth-Century Trumpet Sonatas ............................................... 11 Karl Pilss .................................................................................................. 11 Paul Hindemith ......................................................................................... 12 Peter Maxwell-Davies .............................................................................. 13 Kent Kennan ............................................................................................ 14 Halsey Stevens ......................................................................................... 16 Norman Dello Joio ................................................................................... 17 Eric Ewazen ............................................................................................. 18 Summary ............................................................................................................ 19 III SONATA FOR TRUMPET AND PIANO BY BRENDAN COLLINS ....................... 21 Biographical Sketch ........................................................................................... 21 Background Information on the Sonata ............................................................. 23 iii CHAPTER Page Performance History .......................................................................................... 24 Description of the Music .................................................................................... 25 Movement One: Chorale-Presto ............................................................... 26 Movements Two and Three: Romp and Ethereal ...................................... 30 Performer’s Guide ............................................................................................. 31 Movement One: Chorale-Presto .............................................................. 32 Movement Two: Romp ............................................................................. 33 Movement Three: Ethereal ...................................................................... 34 IV SONATA FOR TRUMPET AND PIANO BY LUIS ENGELKE .......................... 36 Biographical Sketch .......................................................................................... 36 Background Information on the Sonata ............................................................ 39 Performance History ......................................................................................... 40 Description of the Music ................................................................................... 40 Movement One: Intrada ........................................................................... 41 Movement Two: Elegy ............................................................................. 45 Movement Three: Toccata Festiva ........................................................... 46 Performer’s Guide ............................................................................................. 49 Movement One: Intrada ........................................................................... 49 Movement Two: Elegy ............................................................................. 50 Movement Three: Toccata Festiva ........................................................... 51 V SONATA FOR TRUMPET AND PIANO BY WILLIAM ROWSON ................... 53 Biographical Sketch ........................................................................................... 53 iv CHAPTER Page Background Information on the Sonata ............................................................ 54 Description of the Music ................................................................................... 55 Movement One: Allegro moderato ........................................................... 56 Movement Two: Andante ......................................................................... 59 Movement Three: Allegro spiritoso ......................................................... 61 Performer’s Guide ............................................................................................. 63 Intonation ................................................................................................. 63 Negotiating Large Interval Leaps ............................................................ 64 Endurance ................................................................................................ 65 Trumpet/Piano Balance ........................................................................... 66 VI SONATA FOR E-FLAT TRUMPET AND PIANO BY CHRISTOPH THOMPSON ................................................................................................................ 67 Biographical Sketch .......................................................................................... 67 Background Information on the Sonata ............................................................ 68 Description of the Music ................................................................................... 70 Movement One: Allegro molto ................................................................ 70 Movement Two: Ricercare .....................................................................