The fall after I played this for my college senior recital, I was fortunate enough to study with Chris Gekker himself. Amazing teacher and true gentleman. Hearing him play just feet from me every week for two years was inspiring to say the least, This piece was written specifically for him by Eric Ewazen. They were both classmates at Eastman.
@@markdougherty9917 Write in your fingerings and practice slowly. Build up your tempo perfectly because you don't want to drag the trumpet behind. This needs to flow like an eagle soaring in the sky. You'll have a very proud American feeling after you perform it. I promise you.
I played this back in 2003. I think I need to work it back up and revisiting it in 2024. (Trumpet). Absolutely adore the first 2 movements. 3rds a bit of a slog. It's a bit like eating dessert first lol.
Played the entire sonata for a senior recital many years ago. I've always enjoyed it...it has a richness built on 4ths...like you're having a stimulating conversation with a really interesting person.
Don't be dissed by the critics. Yes, Ewazen's music is what we consider very "light" music, but he's still a great emblem of contemporary theory. This is good (but not excellent) trumpet repertoire, and for Eric's finest, listen to the Trio for Trumpet, Violoncello, and Piano. Probably his best lyrical work is Ballade for harp, clarinet, & strings which can also be substituted with the trumpet (or trombone). It's all light music, but it's the heaviest light music available imo.
Yes it is, but Eric's also one of my favorite American composers. The light music approach makes it very accessible to the audience. I've performed one of his works already (the Ballad arranged for clarinet & piano) and everyone including the performers enjoyed it.
I played this in highschool for solo ensemble and I could never find a pianist to play this I had to play with the recording. This is just a very a hard piece
