‘Regenesis – Music of Renewal’ = ANTHONY PLOG: Concerto 2010; ALFRED REED: Variations on a Theme of Wagner; DAVID MASLANKA: Symphony No. 8 – Texas Christian U. Wind Ens./Bobby R. Francis – Albany

by | Mar 7, 2012 | Classical CD Reviews

‘Regenesis – Music of Renewal’ = ANTHONY PLOG: Concerto 2010; ALFRED REED: Variations on the “Porazzi” Theme of Richard Wagner; DAVID MASLANKA: Symphony No. 8 – Texas Christian University Wind Ens./Bobby R. Francis – Albany TROY 1335, 64:31 ****:
First, there really are a lot of top notch university wind ensembles out there and, from what I’ve seen, Texas has a lot of those! I have heard the Texas Christian University winds before and this new very fine recording under the direction of their principle conductor Bobby Francis proves the point, whether or not all listeners like all these pieces. The young musicians in the TCU winds are great players with the “chops” that come with youth and are well trained to become tomorrow’s prominent band directors, arrangers and performers.
While every performance on this disc is truly superb, I do think the three large works represented here will appeal to varied tastes. Anthony Plog is a gifted trumpeter himself and a well known composer, mainly of wind repertoire. It is also true that his music is characteristically a little quirky. The Concerto 2010 is a big, four movement work for brass and quintet and wind ensemble. Like many of his works it contains elements of jazz and – in spots – a wry humor. There is also a pensive somber feel to some of the movements, most notably the third (adagio). The American Brass Quintet plays very well and I found this a very attractive work with something for everyone.
Alfred Reed has, for a long time, been of the big names in band literature. He, too, was originally a trumpet player by trade and graduate of Juilliard, where he studied with Vittorio Giannini. His Variations on the “Porazzi” Theme of Richard Wagner is based on a theme that Wagner was going to use in his Tristan and Isolde. The Porazzi, referenced here, is the Prince Gangi-Piazza dei Porazzi , at whose court Wagner and his wife, Cosima, first tested the melody. Reed takes the theme and sets it in Wagner’s originally intended key and develops a very nice set of variations around it. Reed had also used this theme in his Symphony No. 3. This is a very fine work that ought to appeal to Wagner fans in particular.
David Maslanka is, in some ways, a contemporary Reed or Giannini; building an international reputation on very strong wind writing. He is known, particularly, for his wind symphonies. Maslanka is a graduate of the Oberlin Conservatory and his music reflects a broad sweeping, almost “theatrical” sound that many players and listeners find understandably attractive. The Symphony No. 8  is a three-movement work, written in 2008 with some strong religious elements. Maslanka uses melodies from his own Mass (Gloria), the Lutheran chorale, Jesu meine Freude and a traditional American hymn tune, All Creatures of Our God and King. This is a substantial dramatic work and goes through an assortment of emotions including the somber and ending with a vibrant, affirming brass-tinged peal.
This is a very nice album and I enjoyed all three of these works, most particularly the Maslanka. I think that wind ensemble buffs would really admire the performances and, while the music is all quite different, I think any listener would find something attractive in this interesting program. Recommended!
—Daniel Coombs

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