UTC Music in Paris

It's not every day that an ensemble from UTC tours in Europe, but  during
the spring break, there will be an exception. The UTC Tuba-Euphonium
Ensemble will perform three times in France, twice in downtown Paris-at the
American Library and at the American Church--and once at the Place de la
Republique in the northeastern part of Paris. In addition, they will attend
a recital by Paris's most famous tubaist, Philippe Legris and hear the tuba
ensemble at the Paris Conservatory.

The UTC TE Ensemble may be the first American university tuba ensemble to
perform in Paris. It is certainly the first overseas tour by an
instrumental ensemble since the University became a state institution. The
ensemble members are mostly paying their own way, though they are receiving
a little outside help.

The UTC Tuba-euphonium Ensemble has scheduled a special series of "Paris
Tour Samplers" to preview program so local audiences and the University
will not miss the music.

One such concert, the "Paris Tour Sampler" will be held at 3:30 p.m. on
Saturday, March 1st, in the Fine Arts Center band room, on campus.
Admission is free. The Sampler will culminate a day-long low brass ensemble
clinic for high school honors ensemble members and local tubaists,
euphonium players, and trombone players. The clinic is co-sponsored by
Giant Steps, Inc. and Cimarron Press. It is free and informal.

Other concert times will be announced.

We started the ensemble in 1984 at the suggestion of UTC brass students.
The tuba ensemble movement itself began in the 1960s, and now tuba
ensembles exist in every major cultural capital and in most universities
and music conservatories, from Japan to Germany to Eastman School of Music.
Ironically, Tennessee virtually invented this type of group. The state is
so prominent in the tuba world that it is not unusual to find an American,
sometimes a Tennesseean, playing tuba in professional orchestras in Europe.

The ensemble helps students be better musicians and teachers by providing
additional practice in developing rehearsal, arranging and composing
skills. The music is taught in historical context. Several of our students
have become excellent composers and arrangers, and their going to Europe to
see where it all started will help them professionally. The style of music
called "Notre Dame organum" makes more sense when one has visited the
Cathedral of Notre Dame!

Featured works on the concerts will be solos by Ken Doyal, a UTC post-bac
euphonium player and arranger, and euphoniumist Daryl Finley, a UTC
graduate student in performance who will play Rimsky-Korsakov's "Flight of
the Bumblebee," arranged for Finley and the ensemble by Doyal. The program
will include works by William Lee, John Stevens, Gabrieli, Mozart,
Vaughn-Williams, Alford, Fauré, Mouret, and others.

The ensemble has had great support from the Department Chair, Dr. Jocelyn
Sanders and from the community. The Lupton Fund made it possible for the
Music Department to purchase two new euphoniums, the first new instruments
of this kind in two decades. The new instruments have made a dramatic
difference in the sound of the group.

William R. Lee, Professor