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BIG BRASS BASHERS EAT IDAHO ICE CREAM POTATOES
AND “THE REST OF THE STORY”
By Michael Fischer
Harvey Phillips Northwest Big Brass Bash (HPNWBBb) XVIII was held at
Boise State University in Boise, Idaho on July 9–11, 2004 with
Michael Fischer and Mary Baker serving as coordinators. Dr. Michael
Fischer is an Assistant Professor of Music at Boise State University
where he teaches tuba, chairs the music education area, and directs
the Tuba-Euphonium Ensemble. He also performs as principal tuba with
the Boise Philharmonic and the New Hampshire Music Festival Orchestra,
serves on the HPNWBBb Board of Directors and is pedagogy editor for
the ITEA Journal. Ms. Mary Baker is a counselor at Mountain Cove High
School in Boise and plays euphonium with the Treasure Valley Concert
Band, Boise State’s All-Campus Band and BSU’s Tuba-Euphonium
Ensemble. Fischer and Baker, along with Josh Calkin, are the founding
members of the Idaho Tuba-Euphonium Society.
2004 HPNWBBb Massed Tuba-Euphonium Ensemble
Rehearsal with Sam Blumenthal, director
Hosting the HPNWBBb was an intriguing, challenging, and rewarding experience. From past experiences of co-coordinating a regional T.U.B.A. (now I.T.E.A.) conference and coordinating a high school tuba-euphonium workshop I knew that this undertaking was much different in size and scope. When I accepted the invitation to host the event I already had someone in mind to share the “glory” and, fortunately for me, she agreed to help. Mary Baker had “Board of Director” experience and was currently serving as vice president for her son’s (Ian) high school band booster organization (Go Boise High School Band!), experience, which proved useful for this project. She also had great organizational skills and was used to multi-tasking! Perhaps most importantly, Mary provided a different perspective to the bash and gave me a sounding board. Thank you, Mary! You were wonderful!
Anyone who has organized an event knows that you must be ready to deal with surprises. The most pleasant surprises were receiving messages from Mark Nelson, Eugene Dowling, and Mark Mordue that they were planning on attending the bash and wanted to know if there would be an opportunity for them to perform on a recital. Fortunately, I could tell them ‘yes’! Dr. Mark Nelson is currently Chair of the Performing Arts Department and Director of Bands at Pima Community College in Tucson, Arizona. Eugene Dowling, formerly principal tubist with the Chicago Symphony, is currently principal tubist with the Victoria Symphony and a faculty member of the School of Music, University of Victoria. Dr. Mark Mordue is the Associate Professor of Tuba and Euphonium at Ball State University in Muncie, Indiana. He is also a member of the Muncie Symphony Orchestra, the Marion Philharmonic and the DaCamera Brass Quintet.
Of course, some surprises are not pleasant. One month prior to the bash I was informed that the chairs in the BSU Music Department’s recital hall were going to be taken out and completely refurbished. The president of the university, Bob Kustra, had an extra $75,000 to spend by the end of the fiscal year and he thought of the music folks. Great for us! Oh…but…what? The chairs would be gone for 10 weeks and the bash was only 4 weeks away! The math didn’t add up for us to be able to hold all events in our building, which was desirable. The chair of my music department, Dr. James Cook, came to the rescue with offering to rent folding chairs for the hall.
Having already contacted our Kappa Kappa Psi
chapter to assist with moving chairs, stands, and other equipment to
the Sunday afternoon outdoor concert site, I contacted them again regarding
this newest development. They were delighted to help! Thank you, Kappa
Kappa Psi! A big “thank you” to Jim Cook, Heather Calkins,
and John Fransen for their help. John is the recording engineer in our
music department and also took photographs of the bash. Please visit
our website at hpnwbbb.org to view the photos. If you are interested
in purchasing CDs of the recitals and finale concert, then you will
find an order form on our website.
The scheduled featured artists for the bash were Harvey Phillips, Don
Harry, and Adam Frey. Harvey Phillips has attended nearly all of the
bashes since its inception 18 years ago. Unfortunately, Harvey became
ill this summer and could not attend the bash. Don Harry, Associate
Professor of Music in Tuba at the Eastman School of Music, studied tuba
with William Rose, William Bell, Joseph Novotny, and Harvey Phillips.
Adam Frey, a native of Atlanta, Georgia, began his musical studies at
the University of Georgia under Dr. David Randolph and earned a Bachelor
of Music magna cum laude with High Honors. Adam later completed a Master
of Music with Distinction and a Professional Performance Diploma with
Distinction from the Royal Northern College of Music in Manchester,
England. Both Don and Adam are Yamaha Performing Artists.
William Bell presentors (L-R): Don Harry, Jack Robinson, Carole Nowicke,
Andrew Newman and Mike Lynch
The following is a brief synopsis of the HPNWBBb XVIII activities:
Friday, July 9, 2004
1:00–5:00 PM Solo Competition
A solo competition was added to the bash this year. Competitors were
required to submit a preliminary tape, which was reviewed by HPNWBBb
board members Michael Grose, Jason Gilliam, and Michael Fischer. The
following competitors were advanced to the final round: Senior Tuba
Division – Jason Durand, Mark Koob, Max Murray and Jens Peterson;
Graduate Euphonium Division – John Edens and Michael Gerritsen;
Graduate Tuba Division – Josh Calkin, Cody Forcier and Yukitada
Onitsuka. The winners of the final round were Jens Peterson, Michael
Gerritsen and Yukitada Onitsuka. The judges for the final round were
Adam Frey, Jason Gilliam, Don Harry, Mark Nelson, and Jeff Turay.
A special “thank you” to Peggy Purdy, who served as staff
accompanist for the solo competition. Bravo, Peggy!
6:30 PM Dinner
The 60 participants who attended the bash in Boise were given the
opportunity to attend a “Get Together Dinner” at The Stonehouse
Restaurant (57 attended!) where they could renew friendships, make
new friends, and mingle with the artists.
Saturday, July 10, 2004
7:30–8:30 AM Exhibits
The participants browsed the exhibit room and played the tubas and
euphoniums at the Yamaha booth, tested Ron Apperson’s mutes and
made purchases at the Dunkley Music booth. Participants also purchased
raffle tickets for the Silent Brass tuba and euphonium mutes donated
by Yamaha and Dunkley Music. Our thanks go to Larry Chamberlain, Fred
Hebert, and Lauren Colliander for their help! Ivan Giddings appeared
later that day and provided stainless steel tuba mouthpieces for testing.
8:30–10:30 AM Massed Tuba-Euphonium Ensemble
Rehearsal
The main focus of the bash is participation in the Massed Tuba-Euphonium
Ensemble. All attendees, including the artists and HPNWBBb Board of
Directors, rehearse and perform in the ensemble. Participants are
young and old, amateurs and professionals, who come together to learn
and make music in a fun and positive environment. This year the youngest
participant was 14 and the oldest 81! The directors for this year’s
ensemble were Gary Gillette, Sam Blumenthal, and Jeff Turay. Every
year the directors select original and arranged works for the ensemble
that show the versatility of the tuba-euphonium ensemble including
marches, ballads, patriotic pieces, show tunes, classical works, rags,
pop tunes, and jazz charts.
10:45 AM–12 NOON Clinic Presentation
Harvey Phillips was scheduled to present “Variety is the Spice
of Life,” but was unable to attend the bash due to illness. With
Mr. Phillips’ permission and Tom’s (Harvey’s son) assistance
with sending the necessary CDs and documentation, his presentation
took place! Mike Lynch narrated while John Fransen operated the sound
playback system. The emphasis of the presentation was to show young
players a variety of playing opportunities and how these opportunities
can shape your life. It also provided a wonderful opportunity to hear
Harvey Phillips perform in a variety of settings, including the New
York Brass Quintet, circus bands, soloing with orchestra, soloing
with piano, etc. A special thanks to Harvey and Tom Phillips for allowing
the “show to go on.”
3:45 PM Keating Johnson Young Artist Recital
Sam Blumenthal, HPNWBBb treasurer and longtime friend of Keating Johnson,
began the recital by paying tribute to Keating who had passed away
only months prior to the bash. Performers on the recital were Kyle
Gillette, Boise State University’s Tuba-Euphonium Quartet (Mary
Baker, Josh Calkin, Jason Durand and Mike Gerritsen), Evan Lewis,
Kevin Powell, Jim Marshall, Trace Cassel, Jens Peterson (winner of
the Senior Tuba Competition Division), Mimi Jacobson, and Barbara
York.
After a brief intermission, Carole Nowicke made a presentation, “From
Cornfield to Carnegie: the Career Path of an American Tubist,”
which was a historical tribute to William Bell. Three former students
of Bell, Don Harry, Jack Robinson, and Andrew Newman, provided commentary
during the presentation. Mike Lynch displayed instruments from his
collection similar to the tubas Bell used for various performances.
Front Row (L-R): Michael Fischer and Mary Baker (2004 Bash hosts
in Boise, Idaho), and Michael Grose (2005 Bash host in Eugene, Oregon)
Back Row (L-R): 2004 Competition Winners - Mike Gerritsen (Graduate
Euphonium), Jens Peterson (Senior Tuba) and Yukitada Onitsuka (Graduate
Tuba)
7:30 PM John F. Baker Founder’s Recital
The John F. Baker Founder’s Recital began with the winner of
the Graduate Euphonium Division Competition, Michael Gerritsen. The
artist performers on the first half of the recital included Eugene
Dowling, Mark Nelson, Don Harry, Andrew Newman, Jack Robinson, and
Mike Lynch. The winner of the Graduate Tuba Division Competition,
Yukitada Onitsuka, began the second half of the recital followed by
artists Mark Mordue, Mary Mordue, Jason Gilliam, Michael Grose, and
Adam Frey. Many thanks to all performers but especially to Barbara
York who served as the staff accompanist for both the Keating Johnson
and John Baker recitals. Double bravo to Barbara!
The recital was scheduled for two hours but
turned into three hours of one stunning performance after another.
Unfortunately, some of the artists had inadvertently mistimed their
pieces when submitting their program information. Fortunately, they
played beautifully (or they wouldn’t have been allowed to attend
the ice cream social after the concert)!
9:30 PM, oops, make that 10:30 PM Ice Cream Social
Participants and artists enjoyed their Ice Cream Potatoes at the University
Inn. When visiting Idaho, Mary Baker says, “Ice Cream Potatoes
are a must!” By the way, they really do look like potatoes but
are made of ice cream.
Sunday, July 11, 2004
10:30–1:15 AM Don Harry’s Clinic
Presentation
Featured tuba artist Don Harry presented the “basics” with
the concept that all things played are to be as easy and efficient
as possible. Harry emphasized that there should be one stable relaxed
setting of the embouchure. For example, the highest note should use
the same embouchure setting as the lowest note and that the approach
to the entire range comes from the relaxed center of the range. Harry
said, “If you can slur up one half-step from a relaxed low CC
or BB-flat, then you can add all other intervals without any radical
motion. Eventually achieving the ability to play from range to range
as one sound.” Harry commented that with much reinforcement of
this concept in his own playing that at the age of 60 he feels more
relaxed and has more control of the range than as a younger player.
Jack Robinson aided Harry by singing several
intervals and “Ein Faust” in the original key and range.
According to Harry, “the singing voice is the representation
of what happens with the imagined vocalization behind the embouchure.”
Harry also described his teaching approach to multiple tonguing and
again emphasized keeping it relaxed and efficient. He starts with
saying “mmmmmm” to emulate the embouchure. Then, he adds
a syllable such as “tee,” “tu,” “too,”
or something similar for the tip of the tongue and alternates with
a “coo” as in cuckoo for the back of the tongue so that
the eventual approach to the multiple tongue is completely easy.
11:15–12 NOON Adam Frey’s Clinic
Presentation
Featured euphonium artist Adam Frey discussed the development of better
breathing habits. He described and demonstrated how a full breath,
low in the chest and stomach area, enhances the tone quality and expands
the high range. Frey presented octave exercises as one method to improve
both tone and high range, and the audience was able to hear a noticeable
difference in tone quality and control of range when Frey demonstrated
both poor and good breathing techniques. He emphasized the importance
of matching low note qualities, “more open, more air, more relaxed
feelings” with high notes.
2:00 PM FINALE CONCERT featuring all participants!
The finale concert took place in the Gene Harris Band Shell in Julia
Davis Park, which is a 7-minute walk from the BSU music building.
The park, which runs parallel with the Boise River, includes a museum,
zoo, beautiful rose gardens, and a small lake with geese and ducks
begging for food! It was estimated that we had an audience of 250
or more (people, not geese and ducks).
Terri Tate, Boise radio announcer for 94.9 FM, “The River,”
kicked off the concert with historical information about the bash.
Gary Gillette, Sam Blumenthal, and Jeff Turay directed the mass ensemble
through patriotic, pop, jazz, and classical arrangements ending with
“Stars and Stripes Forever.”
Next year will be the 19th year of existence
for the bash and it will be held on July 8–10, 2005 at the University
of Oregon with Michael Grose serving as coordinator. Please visit
the Big Brass Bash’s website, www.hpnwbbb.org, for more information.
I want to thank Maureen Horgan for editing this article.