music for the listener that is refreshing and exciting.
author: Matthew K. Brown - PA Academy of Music
“Echoes”, a 2006 release from Emeritus Recordings features the compositions of Sy Brandon, professor emeritus of music from Millersville University, and Mark Scott, a composition/trombone student from the University of North Texas. The recording, which features mostly live performances (all but one are recorded live) is a wonderful way to get acquainted with the tuba/euphonium music of two fine American composers, as well as being aurally interesting and a delightful listening experience. It is a really nice change of pace to hear a recording that features live performances, all of which are very strong. Scott’s “Delights and Dangers” is given a tour-de-force performance by four outstanding euphonium players from the University of North Texas. Dr. Benjamin Pierce, from the University of Arkansas, delivers a fine performance of both parts of Brandon’s “Recital Duets”, the only non-live recording on the CD. Additional performers are the International Euphonium Institute 2005 Crimson Ensemble, The Euphouria Quartet, and the University of Arkansas Tuba-Euphonium Ensemble – individual musicians from these ensembles are not listed on the CD. All of the works featured on this recording are substantial, advanced compositions that are definitely worthy of consideration, providing music for the performer that is both musically and technically challenging, and music for the listener that is refreshing and exciting.
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the more I listened to this CD, the more I was enjoying it.
author: Rommel Cordova - tubist, Rockwall Philharmonic Orchestra
“Echoes” contains good examples of the music being written for this particular type of instrumental combination. All the compositions on the CD are by composer Sy Brandon except for one. One of my favorite pieces on this CD is the “Delights and Dangers” by Mark Scott. The UNT Euphonium Quartet gives a very solid performance with nice blend, balance, and musicality. The piece has a nice melody with occasional non-tonal chords put in. The slow section begins to get darker in mood and then goes right into the “Dangers” part of the piece. This section contains some fun technical passages and has a driving feel to it. The final piece on the CD is the Quartet for tubas by Sy Brandon. This is another one of my favorite pieces on this album. A nice melody and tonal writing make this piece very enjoyable. The University of Arkansas Tuba/Euphonium Ensemble nicely performs this piece. I found that the more I listened to this CD, the more I was enjoying it. For anyone looking for some tuba/euphonium ensemble music, I would recommend this CD for some good ideas.
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...modern harmony and musical effects while not sacrificing one ounce of beauty,
author: Phillip C. Black - Assistant Professor of Tuba/Euphonium, Wichit
This Emeritus Recordings 2006 release, Echoes, succeeds as a vehicle both for showing excellent examples of works commissioned from Mr. Brandon’s “prolific pen”, and capturing the excitement of live concert performances from several recent international conferences. While all of the pieces recorded on this CD are strong, four of the featured works which were composed 2001 or later, succeed in presenting modern harmony and musical effects while not sacrificing one ounce of beauty, lyricism, or rich texture. Mark Scott, A composition/trombone student at the University of North Texas, also has a quartet composition included on this CD. The harmonic treatment in Mark’s quartet, Delights and Dangers, was inspired by a Leonard Bernstein lecture. While all the compositions and performances on the CD are strong and uplifting, there is a slight drawback with a compilation format CD, in that the sound quality and recording depth are not always consistent. I do however enjoy the sound of live concert recordings as opposed to the sometimes “too perfect” studio clean track.
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The performances on this recording are quite fine....
author: John Stevens, Professor of Tuba/Euphonium and Composition, Univ.
ECHOES, a CD of tuba and euphonium ensemble music by composers Sy Brandon and Mark Scott released in 2006 (Emeritus Records - 20061), provides us with some fine performances of works ranging from 1982 to 2005. The six compositions range in instrumentation from Brandon's "Recital Duets" for two tubas to his eight-part, double euphonium choir title work, "Echoes". Mark Scott's only work on the recording, "Delights and Dangers", is for euphonium quartet. These idiomatically written pieces for low brass by the veteran composer Brandon and Mr. Scott, who is an undergraduate student at the University of North Texas, are challenging and substantial works that are appropriate for professional and advanced college level performers. The performances on this recording are quite fine, particularly considering that with the exception of Brandon's duets (nicely played by University of Arkansas Professor of Tuba and Euphonium Benjamin Pierce) they are all recordings of live performances. Brandon's other works are performed by an ensemble from the 2005 International Euphonium Institute, The Euphouria Quartet, and the University of Arkansas Tuba-Euphonium Ensemble (no players from these groups are listed on the CD). Scott's work is very well played by a quartet of outstanding euphonium students from the University of North Texas. The excitement of live performance is an important element of this recording. The performances are all compelling, but my personal favorite piece on the CD is the opening selection and title cut, "Echoes", commissioned by Adam Frey for the 2005 International Euphonium Institute.
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