A diverting collection of trumpet and piano music by contemporary women composers
Stories For Our Time: Music for Trumpet and Piano by Women Composers – Thomas Pfotenhauer, trumpet; Vincent Fuh, piano – [World Premiere Recordings] MSR Classics CD MS 1589 TT: 65:25 (11/11/16) [Distr. by Albany] ***
This is a unique disc from MSR Classics, with music for trumpet and piano by contemporary women composers. It seems a niche, but tat doesn’t diminish the quality of the music.
Thomas Pfotenhauer plays the trumpet, fluegelhorn and E-flat trumpet as called for in the various pieces. Vincent Fuh is at the piano.
Dr. Pfotenhauer studied trumpet with Armando Ghitalla at the University of Michigan, completing a Masters degree in 1993, and holds a Bachelors degree in music from the University of Wisconsin-Green Bay and a Doctor of Musical Arts degree in trumpet performance from the University of Kansas.
Fuh is a University of Wisconsin graduate with a private teaching studio. He’s a new member of the Oakwood Chamber Players, a long time member of Opera for the Young, and a freelance collaborative pianist specializing in cross-genre music.
All the composers are living, most working in the United States, but not all were born here. The collection is well played and the compositions included work well on the disc. There is plenty of variety, but as a whole the disc works with the varying compositional styles.
The recording is good, but not an exceptional demo-type disc. I would have liked a bit more space between the two instruments giving a more realistic presentation. The piano and the trumpet both are pretty well centered in the stereo image.
As a brass player myself, I was pleased to hear these world premiere compositions, but I think anyone who likes contemporary chamber music will appreciate this offering.
—Mel Martin
Track Listing:
1. Ida Gotkovsky: Concertino for trumpet and piano – I. Introduction
2. Ida Gotkovsky: Concertino for trumpet and piano – II. Andante
3. Ida Gotkovsky: Concertino for trumpet and piano – III. Finale
4. Elaine Fine: Sonata for trumpet and piano – I. Brightly
5. Elaine Fine: Sonata for trumpet and piano – II. Aria
6. Elaine Fine: Sonata for trumpet and piano – III. Capriccio
7. Anne Guzzo: Jazz Professor Glasses for solo trumpet and flugelhorn – I. Allegro alla Fluevog
8. Anne Guzzo: Jazz Professor Glasses for solo trumpet and flugelhorn – II. Snow
9. Anne Guzzo: Jazz Professor Glasses for solo trumpet and flugelhorn – III. Jazz Professor Glasses
10. Cecilia McDowall: Framed for trumpet and piano – I. Ball at the Moulin de la Galette
11. Cecilia McDowall: Framed for trumpet and piano – II. Nocturne in blue and gold
12. Cecilia McDowall: Framed for trumpet and piano – III. Walking man
13. Cecilia McDowall: Framed for trumpet and piano – IV. Winter landscape with skaters
14. Cecilia McDowall: Framed for trumpet and piano – V. Marilyn diptych
15. Cecilia McDowall: Framed for trumpet and piano – VI. A choir of angels
16. Cecilia McDowall: Framed for trumpet and piano – VII. Overcoming red
17. Hilary Tann: Look Little Low Heavens for trumpet and piano
18. Faye-Ellen Silverman: Stories For Our Time for trumpet and piano – I. First Tale
19. Faye-Ellen Silverman: Stories For Our Time for trumpet and piano – II. Calming Tale
20. Faye-Ellen Silverman: Stories For Our Time for trumpet and piano – III. Tale of Joy
