New Kerry Turner Piece in OML
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"Cortejo" for brass quintet by Kerry Turner has been added to the IHS Online Music Library.
The word "cortejo" means cortege or funeral procession in Spanish. A passacaglia is a musical form that originated in early seventeenth-century Spain and is still used by contemporary composers. It is usually of a serious character and is often, but not always, based on a bass-ostinato. It was however in contemplating the meaning of the word "passacaglia"- pasar (to walk) and calle (street), that the composer drew upon the idea to incorporate the old U.S. Western folksong "Cowboys Lament" or "As I walked out on the streets of Laredo."
The story of this folksong is about a young and handsome cowboy in the old Texas-Mexican border town of Laredo, who after a night of wild living and drunkenness, gets shot in the chest, and wrapped in white linen, is paraded through the streets. The locals would have called it a "Cortejo" (pronounced korteho.)
The piece begins with a characteristically tragic passacaglia theme, which is heard in some shape or form almost throughout the entire work. The "Cowboys Lament" is subtly introduced in the stopped horn. The secondary theme arrives after the fourth repetition of the passacaglia theme, and is declamatory in nature. This sets the stage for the adventurous third section of the piece marked "allegro vivo." At this point in the work, the listener may draw on his or her imagination to create the scenario, which leads to the cowboy's death. The various themes and motives are woven together to create a sort of narrative, the climax of which is the dramatic and bitter cortege- cortejo.
"As I walked out on the streets of Laredo. As I walked out in Laredo one day, I spied a young cowboy, so young and so handsome, wrapped up in white linen and cold as the grave." (first verse of "The Cowboy's Lament".)
"Cortejo" was commissioned by the Ni Ensemble, with a grant from the Ministry of Culture of the Grand Duchy of Luxembourg, and was composed in September 2011.
International Horn Symposium 44 Update
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Gunther Schuller realized recently that he had double-booked himself for the week of the Symposium – the annual meeting of the Koussevitzky Foundation is that week in New York City and he is the President of the foundation. Although this was quite a set back, with great pleasure I announce that Barry Tuckwell has agreed to conduct the Symposium Orchestra (and perhaps the Guiness Book of Records horn ensemble on Saturday, May 19).
Local horn repairman and merchant, Dennis Houghton, with funding from Pender’s Music, the largest sheet music store in Texas (located in Denton), has ordered 1200 bandanas with IHS, UNT, and Guiness logos for the Saturday event. Jasper Rees (author of A Devil to Play) will be at the Symposium to serve as the Guiness witness.
Two of our original aritsts (Andrew Bain and Xiaoming Han) had to cancel due to scheduling conflicts that arose, and Pip Eastop later withdrew for good reasons. Very fortunately horn virtuoso Tsun Tak Cheung from Hong Kong, now working in Germany, has agreed to appear as a featured artist.
If you plan to fly to Dallas (either DFW or Love Field) please email your arrival and departure schedule to Bill Scharnberg (wscharn@music.unt.edu) to be placed on a list for shuttle pick up. While we cannot guarantee the shuttle will be exactly on time, every attempt will be made to transport you to and from Denton in a timely manner.
A gallon of gas is still less than a gallon of milk in Texas and you wouldn't know there were economic problems in the US by looking at the restaurant parking lots in Dallas on the weekends! Ya hoo!
Bill Scharnberg
Gail Williams in "The Brass Herald"
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Gail Williams is the featured artist in a publication for all brass players, The Brass Herald. See www.thebrassherald.com.
Symposium Update
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We are forging ahead with plans for the 44th International Horn Symposium (see music.unt.edu/ihs44). Unfortunately, Andrew Bain was unable to free up more than about 24 hours in the middle of the week from his principal horn duties in the Los Angeles Philharmonic. With flights sometimes delayed or cancelled due to weather problems in May, it was decided to cancel his appearance. Fortunately, star hornist Pip Eastop from the UK has agreed to appear as a featured artist! Xiaoming Han recently accepted a new position with an orchestra in Germany and his conductor will not allow him to take the Symposium week off. We are seeking a replacement.
Many hornists are taking advantage of the reduced early registration rates and we hope all those who plan to come will register early. We are happy to accept the full registration fees – the more who register late, the more money we have in our budget. There is a deadline by which the number of dorm rooms, meals, and banquet attendees needs to be sent to the offices handling those aspects of the Symposium.
The contributing artists and horn choirs are nearly scheduled. We are tweaking the T-shirt logo to compete with the IHS t-shirts for sale at the Symposium. As the exhibitors register, they will be listed on the Symposium website with links to their websites.
All the best to each of you!
Bill Scharnberg
Quartet Added to Online Music Library
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Fernando Morais is one of the leading Brazilian horn players and teachers. In addition to performing, teaching, and conducting, Mr. Morais is an avid composer and arranger. His Horn Quartet No. 1 is a single movement work and, like many of his compositions, incorporates elements of Brazilian folk music.
Look for more of Morais's music in the Online Music Library in the near future!
IHS 44 T-shirt Logo
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Register Now!
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Register now for the 44th International Horn Symposium, May 15-19, 2012, hosted by the College of Music at the University of North Texas. Visit our website to see the list of featured artists, Advisory Council members, contributing artists, and horn choirs who plan to attend. A tentative Symposium schedule is posted as well as on-campus and off-campus housing/meals, maps, FAQs, local attractions, and contact information. If the attendance is strong, the performances in two of our halls will be streamed live around the planet!
