Review

Jean-François Michel
Eastwind: for trumpet, trombone and piano
trumpet, trombone, and piano

Vuarmarens, , Switzerland
Publisher: Editions Bim
Date of Publication: 2013
URL: http://www.editions-bim.com

8:00

Primary Genre: Chamber Music

Jean-François Michel, a virtuoso trumpeter, is currently professor of trumpet at the Fribourg Conservatoire in Switzerland. Before assuming this post, he was principal trumpet in the Munich Philharmonic Orchestra. Gradually, composing is becoming his major activity, as his numerous original compositions are being performed and recorded worldwide. He has already penned a number of works for trombone including: Three Bagatelles for bass trombone and piano, Choral et Toccata for six trombones, Emeraude for trombone quartet, Sinfonietta for nine trombones and Trois Tableaux for solo trombone and trombone quartet.
 
Eastwind takes its inspiration and musical language from the rich musical folklore of the gypsies of Eastern Europe. The musical style transitions freely between major and minor modes, ferocious dances and plaintive cantabile melodies. The Romanian Rhapsody of Enesco comes to mind as an orchestral example. The solo parts are difficult but idiomatic. Harmonic, rhythmic and melodic content are all quite traditional. This is interesting and challenging music in an idiom brass players don’t often encounter. It is guaranteed to raise the pulse of both performers and audiences.
 
There are three versions available: with piano accompaniment, with brass ensemble (four trumpets and four trombones) or with brass band. The Brass Ensemble of the Slokar Academy, with Franc Kosem, trumpet, and Branimir Slokar, trombone soloists, premiered it in 2012 in Ljubljana, Slovenia. The work has been recorded on the album Tintomara which is available from channelclassics.com with Jörgen van Rijen, trombone and Wim Van Hasselt, trumpet. This brilliant performance is also on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qmBlePc0Amc
Yet another YouTube performance features soloists Helder Passinho Jr, trumpet and Michele Girardi, trombone https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LXa5QqmCNU8

-Karl Hinterbichler
University of New Mexico