Premiere of Prof. James Beckel's Composition "A Concert to Remember," Raves NUVO

September 22, 2004

September 22, 2004, Greencastle, Ind. - Fantasy after Schubert -- a composition by James Beckel, principal trombonist for the Indianapolis Symphony Orchestra and adjunct professor of trombone and euphonium in the DePauw University School of Music -- was premiered by the ISO Saturday. NUVO's Tom Aldridge writes, "unlike most music premieres, this one deserves noteworthiness. Beckel incorporates themes from Schubert’s Wanderer Fantasy, plus a prominent one from the composer’s “Great” C Major Symphony (in C major yet), into a most engaging display of contemporary sonic splendor. His employment of the 12-tone row as rapid filigree overlaying a basically tonal (F major) idiom makes the best use of that generally unloved serialist device that I’ve heard to date. Beckel’s 10-minute Fantasy deserves to join the new-music repertoire and stay there."

Aldridge concludes, "This was a concert to remember." 

Access his review at the newsweekly's Web site by clicking here. Read more in this previous story.

Source: NUVO

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