2008 Woodie Awards
Wind ensemble features trombone virtuosity
Amelia Perron
Issue date: 2/1/08 Section: Arts & Entertainment
In the midst of Trivia weekend, the Lawrence University Wind Ensemble, under the baton of Professor Andy Mast pulled off a not-at-all trivial concert Saturday evening, entitled "Blue Shades," featuring associate professor of music Nick Keelan as trombone soloist.
Keelan gave a standout performance playing the "Bourgeois Trombone Concerto," a challenging piece by all accounts. "It's a piece few people know, because it's not played a lot," said Keelan.
He added modestly, "It takes a while to digest." He cited the prevalence of sustained notes in a range of volumes and the fast technicality of the third movement as challenges that a potential performer faces.
The piece is not without challenges for the accompanying wind ensemble. Co-principal trombonist Dustin Zimmerman remarked, "It's surprisingly challenging for the section. Usually we'd be silent in a concerto like this, but there are a lot of exposed passages."
"One of the hardest things," said Keelan, "is to play the fast passages at a volume to be heard." This means, of course, that the ensemble has to play quietly enough to remain under the soloist.
Mast, while admitting that the ensemble had a "big mountain to climb" in preparing the work, also pointed out the relative "accessibility" of the learning process. "It's difficult, but not in terms of ensemble," Mast explained. "It's not terribly difficult to get together."
The final product was well executed, on the part of both ensemble and soloist. "My biggest concern was tempo," Mast remarked. "Either too fast or too slow could have killed him." But according to Keelan, "Dr. Mast is a machine. He nailed all the tempos."
As for Keelan's solo work, Zimmerman said, "I would kill to be able to play that concerto like that."
Keelan, a seasoned soloist who strongly encourages his students to become proficient in both classical and jazz styles, will be performing more solo works later this year in Neenah and Kenosha.
Keelan gave a standout performance playing the "Bourgeois Trombone Concerto," a challenging piece by all accounts. "It's a piece few people know, because it's not played a lot," said Keelan.
He added modestly, "It takes a while to digest." He cited the prevalence of sustained notes in a range of volumes and the fast technicality of the third movement as challenges that a potential performer faces.
The piece is not without challenges for the accompanying wind ensemble. Co-principal trombonist Dustin Zimmerman remarked, "It's surprisingly challenging for the section. Usually we'd be silent in a concerto like this, but there are a lot of exposed passages."
"One of the hardest things," said Keelan, "is to play the fast passages at a volume to be heard." This means, of course, that the ensemble has to play quietly enough to remain under the soloist.
Mast, while admitting that the ensemble had a "big mountain to climb" in preparing the work, also pointed out the relative "accessibility" of the learning process. "It's difficult, but not in terms of ensemble," Mast explained. "It's not terribly difficult to get together."
The final product was well executed, on the part of both ensemble and soloist. "My biggest concern was tempo," Mast remarked. "Either too fast or too slow could have killed him." But according to Keelan, "Dr. Mast is a machine. He nailed all the tempos."
As for Keelan's solo work, Zimmerman said, "I would kill to be able to play that concerto like that."
Keelan, a seasoned soloist who strongly encourages his students to become proficient in both classical and jazz styles, will be performing more solo works later this year in Neenah and Kenosha.
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