Alloy Brass

We're back at it!

After almost a year of dormancy, we've found an arrangement that works, at least for now.  And besides losing Bill Simenson, our wonderful first trumpet to scheduling conflicts, our founding horn player, Neil Okerlund has also opted for other projects.  So for horn, we've turned to Marjorie Black and our trumpet chair is being filled by Geoff Senn.  The rest of the group is filled out by Brad Bellows on euphonium, Greg Lewis on second trumpet and Scott Lewis (no relation) on tuba.

We all met in Brad's living room and played the following:

#335 Two Pieces: Honie Suckle and Night Watch

#47 Holst Second Suite

#151 Ewald #3, all four movements 

#190 Bothnian Rhapsody

We're looking forward to meeting again this week.

Here's a unique opportunity. I quote Scott Stulen:

"I am writing for assistance in finding musicians, specifically brass and percussionists, for a site-specific performance on the Stone Arch Bridge for the upcoming Northern Spark Festival. This is going to be very cool and please let me know if you are interested, available or know anyone that fits this description. Particularly if you know any college or high-school marching bands members....

Full details here.

http://blogs.walkerart.org/mnartists/?p=1020

This is going to be a huge spectacle and hopefully a memorable experience for all.

Thanks for your help,

Scott

--

Scott Stulen

Project Director, mnartists.org

Director, McKnight Artist Fellowship for Photographers

Phone 612.375.7616 | Fax 612.375.5802

Walker Art Center | 1750 Hennepin Avenue | Minneapolis | Minnesota 55403 |

www.walkerart.org   

www.mnartists.org

www.scottstulen.com

www.facebook.com/scott.stulen  "

http://blogs.walkerart.org/mnartists/2011/05/03/call-for-trumpet-trombonebaritone-percussion-and-piccolo-for-unique-community-band/

If you've been wondering what Alloy has been up to since the summer, I'll tell you.  Bill's schedule has gotten overbooked, what with teaching, playing and writing.  He finally had to make the decision to drop something, and unfortunately, it was Alloy.  Bill improved the musicality of the group tremendously, and for that we are extremely appreciative.  Best of luck to Bill in all future endeavors.

The other unfortunate ramification of this development is that Bill had the keys to the rehearsal space!  So now we're in the process of looking for a new first trumpet and a place to rehearse.

If anyone has an idea, drop me a line, and thanks.

Join the West Bank School of Music on August 21, 2010 from 7:30 to 9:10 pm at beautiful Lake Harriet Bandshell in Minneapolis for a free public concert.  The third annual faculty showcase presents these great bands that will get you up and dancing.

Siama Matuzungidi and Friends

Featuring WBSM's guitar instructor Siama playing African and Afro-Caribbean music

Black Blondie

Featuring the WBSM's pianot and bass teachers Tasha Baron and Liz Draper playing soulful R & B with and experimental twist.

Information at www.westbandmusic.org and http://www.minneapolisparks.org/documents/activities/concerts/Lake_Harriet.pdf

The schedule of summer classes at the West Bank School of Music has been released. 

From among the thirteen classes listed, you can choose Jazz History and Listening presented by Stefan Kac, Building Vocal Confidence I and II presented by Bobbi Miller, or Music Theory for the Guitar, Level I and II presented by Dale Dahlquist.

All classes are 90 minutes long and cost $110 unless otherwise noted on the schedule.  The WBSM is located at 1813 S. 6th St in Minneapolis, 55454.  Find the complete schedule at www.westbankmusic.org.

All regular occupants in their usual chairs.

Alloy is preparing for an upcoming wedding performance on Saturday, June 26.  We'll be performing after the service and before the reception, and to that end among the pieces on the program, we've begun polishing the following:

186 Things Left Unsaid, Mike Nelson

317 Quintet, mvt. 1, Malcolm Arnold

295 Two Improvisations on Folk Songs, mvt 1, Bernard Stevens

320 One Hand, One Heart from West Side Story, Bernstein/Sondheim

313 Minnesota Rouser, Floyd M. Hutshell

293 Cork Songs, Declan Townsend

76 English Folk Song Suite, Vaughn Williams

It's an outdoor wedding and the couple wanted it to be non-traditional, so I've tried to give the program the feel of a summer event, like an ice cream social, but with some more challenging moments.

Just a quick note to let you know about a performance by our own Neil Okerlund and his woodwind quintet, Prevailing Winds.  The group performed at the St. Anthony Park Lutheran Church in Saint Paul on Monday, May 24, 2010 to a very full house.

There were three "discovered" pieces on the program.  Serenade, by Bryan Kelly, a work in four movements discovered in the Hennepin County Library stacks, Quintet by J. M. Weber in four movements from the Groth Music files, and Three Moods in three movements (!) by Andrey Rubtsov, discovered on YouTube.

It was a pleasant and challenging program, well received by the audience.

Marjorie Black sat in for Neil on French Horn this evening.

Tonight we ran:

351 Wind Breezes Bend the Trees, Viitasaari

186 Things Left Unsaid, Nelson

325 Music for Brass Instruments, Dahl

171 Suite, Grainger

287 Voyageurs Suite, Bartholomew

46 Quintet #1, mvt. 3, Ewald

The session was recorded downstairs at the WBSM.

All regular members in attendance.

Tonight's program:

284 Folk Song Suite, Bulla

257 Summer's Song, Di Stefano

311 Renaissance Dances

221 Carriage Drive, Mozart

295 Two Improvisations on Folk Songs

The session was recorded downstairs at the West Bank School of Music.

The usual suspects were present.

Tonight we played:

309 Ninetta Polka

312 Eljen a Magyar Polka

293 Cork Songs by Declan Thomas

313 Minnesota Rouser

210 Jupiter by Gustav Holst

288 Colchester Fantasy by Eric Ewazen

45 Adagio by Mozart

Again, I recorded tonight’s meeting, and after some work earlier in the week, I believe I have found the magic combination. I hope to be able to post some new sound samples in the very near future.