Canadian Brass - FEATURE STORY

Fun of Learning

Ron, Chris, Gene teaching

The Canadian Brass' recent workshop as Yamaha Artists in Residence at the University of Toronto was a boisterous event. McMillan Theatre in the Faculty of Music was packed with 600 lively students, most of them from high school brass bands around Toronto, the rest from the U of T Music Faculty.

All the young brass players were clearly familiar with the five globe-trotting stars of the Canadian Brass: Jens Lindemann, Ronald Romm, Christopher Cooper, Eugene Watts and Charles Daellenbach. As the notes of their first piece died down, the whistles and applause set the workshop in fast motion. Of course the Brass' witty banter from stage got the laughter rolling, which focused the attention on everything these offbeat 'profs' said and did. Their message was serious and professional. The event was downright fun.

Chuck teaching Two brass quintets from campus joined the spotlight. One played two time-honored pieces in a double quintet with The Canadian Brass to great applause.

The other, The Varsity Brass, went bravely on stage to play Albinoni under the scrutiny of their mentors. Then came the valuable workshop advice -- on phrasing, interpretation, breathing, posture, even how to hold the instrument. The audience followed the process intently as TheVarsity Brass gradually ironed out glitches in their playing. And what an improvement it was at the final hearing of Albinoni!

These young U of T brass players showed their growing camaraderie with The Canadian Brass who are now a presence on campus in classes, rehearsals and private lessons.

To show the top of their skills, the Canadian five treated students and observers in the U of T workshop to some fabulous music -- Jens soloing in a high-wire act on his piccolo trumpet (Lennon & McCartney's 'Penny Lane'), Gene with a trombone solo (Lennon & McCartney's 'Blackbird'), Chuck locking tubas with a student while seated center stage (Pachelbel's 'Canon'), and Ron and Jens in a trumpet duet that sent the students to their feet (Lennon & McCartney's 'Come Together').

The Canadian Brass is determined to hand over their stage skills to young brass players in three Yamaha workshops this academic year at the U of T. "At the end of our capabilities we are all amateurs. In that sense we have much in common, because we are still pushing those limits in The Canadian Brass," says Chuck.

"We have to figure out new ways to get our instruments out in the world,"says Gene. "As we watched the concert market shrinking fast, the qualified players kept appearing. But there is a need for us. Music can become a spiritual experience. We are the missionaries."

The students in this U of T workshop asked probing questions. Many had been to Canadian Brass workshops before, and application forms were being snapped up for the group's Summer Brass Institute taking place this August 9-13 at the U of T.

The Canadian Brass is mapping out a grand five-year plan of Yamaha-sponsored workshops in music schools and conservatories.

at Eastman

Another recent workshop took place at Eastman School of Music in Rochester, N.Y., where The Canadian Brass demonstrated their unique performance style and worked with student brass quintets.

"We encouraged the students to rely on their own abilities and find their personal style. They shouldn't copy us, " says Chuck. The art of presenting music is now recognized as an important subject for brass players, and The Canadian Brass found the Eastman students eager to learn. "The need is urgent. These students are minutes away from following their career," adds Chuck.

"Performing today is not about playing music that the audience wants to hear," says Gene. "It's about playing music that will create an audience." The five visiting 'profs' encouraged students to establish themselves with familiar music that the audience can recognize and tell when it is played right. Later, the players can branch out to more adventurous music.

"It may sound like a cold view of the repertoire. In addition, there's the challenge of presenting it, and only the audience's
reaction will tell when you're right. What we say is not always easy for the students to hear," says Chuck.

CB on stage

Both Eastman and U of T students heard The Canadian Brass in some swinging Duke Ellington tunes, just released on RCA. There was whistles and hooting for "Take the 'A' Train." Or as Jens said: "Take the Train, eh!" Guess you have to be Canadian to appreciate that one ....

Article by Ulla Colgrass

U of T photos by Cylla von Tiedemann

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