In Wednesday’s (6/26) Limelight Magazine (Australia), Charlotte Moore writes about a concerto William Perry is writing for the rarely played ophicleide, “a forerunner of the modern tuba [that] uses keys like a saxophone. A prominent part of the Romantic brass section, the ophicleide was invented in 1817. Berlioz, Mendelssohn, Wagner and Verdi all wrote for the instrument, yet by 1900 it was obsolete. Very few contemporary musicians own or play the antique ophicleide.… After hearing Sydney Symphony trombonist Nick Byrne’s CD ‘Back From Oblivion,’ Perry says, ‘I knew that I wanted to write a concerto for him.’ … [The] concerto features four movements, each reflecting the personality of the ophicleide in the modern era…. Byrne speaks highly of the ophicleide’s prospects in the 21st century: ‘After relative obscurity [for] over 125 years, unjustly in my opinion, the ophicleide is making a comeback.’ … Perry’s complete concerto for ophicleide and orchestra will be performed with Nick Byrne and the Brown University Orchestra in October 2013, conducted by Paul Phillips. A recording will follow in June 2014 with Byrne, Phillips and the RTÉ National Symphony of Ireland to be published by Perry’s company, Trobriand Music.”
Posted July 2, 2013
