by Anthony O’Toole
Discs: Firsts
Recording: University of Texas at El Paso Wind Symphony
Conducting tor: Bradley J Genevro
Ensemble: Barry Hearn, Rich Harris, Pete Madsen, Steve Wilson: Trombones
Publisher: MARK Masters 55871- MCD
Bradley J Genevro and the UTEP Wind Symphony have recorded some top notch programs and Firsts certainly lives up to the same high quality. The seven recorded premieres begins with Prelude to Something Big by Anthony O’Toole…the title says it all! Dum Spiro Spero (Chris Pilsner) is a work of great beauty and serenity. Miniature Suite by Steven Bryant consists of five short descriptive movements commissioned by Kappa Kappa Psi National Band Fraternity. Przbudzenie is the Polish word for “The Awakening”; Mark Ford composed this fanfare for orchestra and later set it for wind ensemble. Concert for Trombone Quartet is a three movement escapade by Eric Richards featuring a joyous fiesta in the finale. Peace Dancer (Jodie Blackshaw) is an evocative landscape based on the inspiring Roy Henry Vickers/Robert Budd book. Firsts concludes with Bruce Yurko’s Metamorphosis; another solid work by this fine wind ensemble composer. An excellent recording of new works you will en
