In Sunday’s (11/18) Post-Journal (Jamestown, New York), Robert W. Plyler writes, “The Buffalo Philharmonic Orchestra made musical history this weekend, in a concert offering a world premiere of a brand new composition, featuring a rarely presented set of instruments. ‘Triple Concerto for Three Trombones and Orchestra’ by New York City-based composer Eric Ewazen convinced a large audience in Kleinhans Music Hall that new music is not the object of fear which they might have come to expect. The concerto was quite easy on the ear, in addition to being both intellectually and emotionally exciting. The sound was big and the harmonies were lush. A marimba and a xylophone were in play, along with chimes, tympani, and a very full orchestra. The solo artists were the orchestra’s regular trombone section. Jonathan Lombardo and Timothy Smith performed on tenor trombones, while Jeffrey Dee joined in on bass trombone. The three brass instruments produced a big heavy sound which alternately fit into and contrasted onto the orchestra’s sound. … The concert was conducted by the orchestra’s Musical Director, JoAnn Falletta.” Ewazen introduced the piece from stage, dedicating the second, “lyrical movement of the piece to Scott Parkinson, a previous trombonist with the orchestra whose untimely passing, in 2004, was troubling to both the musicians and the composer.”
Posted November 21, 2012
