Twentieth-Century Brass Soloists

by Michael Meckna

Overview

Musical performance on brass instruments has blossomed in the 20th century because of technical improvements in horn making, a vastly increased literature, and an astonishing number of outstanding players. Louis Armstrong, Tommy Dorsey, and Doc Severinsen have become household names, and classical musicians such as Maurice Andre, Christian Lindberg, and Barry Tuckwell have pursued distinguished careers as soloists. Twentieth-Century Brass Soloists analyzes and celebrates nearly one hundred brass soloists who have performed and been recorded widely, and whose genius, technique, and style have combined to produce unforgettable moments in music.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780313264689
Publisher:	Bloomsbury Academic
Publication date:	02/28/1994
Series:	Bio-Critical Sourcebooks on Musical Performance
Pages:	344
Product dimensions:	6.14(w) x 9.21(h) x 0.81(d)
Lexile:	1280L (what's this?)

About the Author

MICHAEL MECKNA is Professor of Music History at Texas Christian University. He is the author of Twentieth-Century Brass Soloists (Greenwood, 1994) and Satchmo: The Louis Armstrong Encyclopedia (Greenwood, 2004).

Table of Contents

Foreword by Allen P. Britton
Preface
Abbreviations
The Soloists
Photographs and Illustrations
Appendix: Performers by Instrument
Select Bibliography
Index

Editorial Reviews

Professor Harold Hill may have had "76 Trombones", but Meckna goes one better with 99 brass instruments In entries of at least two pages, each soloist's career is described, including education, associates and influences, various bands or orchestras performed with, important works, and analysis of style. The essays don't include information on the performer's personal life outside childhood influences on music. Following the essay is a select discography and bibliography. The instrumentalists range from such popular performers as Doc Severinsen and jazz greats like J. J. Johnson to such classical performers as Dennis Brain and such multifield artists as Wynton Marsalis. Cross-references to other entries are marked with an asterisk. Concluding information includes an appendix that lists the soloists by instrument, a select bibliography, and an index. The index doesn't include titles of famous works "Twentieth-Century Brass Soloists" fills a gap in musical biography, particularly for classical instrumentalists, who receive scant attention in traditional sources. This is a must for music libraries. The descriptions of technique and recommendations for practice and teaching contained in the analysis section will be useful to brass students.

Zom Zoms

Meckna analyzes and celebrates some hundred brass soloists in all musical genres who have performed and been recorded widely, and whose genius, technique, and style have combined to produce "unforgettable moments in music." Each performer entry consists of a biographical section, an analysis of technique and style as compared to distinguished forbears and contemporaries, and a selected discography and bibliography. Among the best known names (through the letter "C"): Henry (Red) Allen, Maurice Andre, Louie Armstrong, Chet Baker, Bunny Berigan, Dennis Brain, Clifford Brown, Don Cherry, Alan Civil. Includes 28 pages of photos. Annotation c. Book News, Inc., Portland, OR (booknews.com)

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