ITG Affiliate Event: Lone Star Trumpet Guild

On February 9, 2020, an evening of trumpet ensemble music was heard at The Episcopal Church of the Heavenly Rest in Abilene, Texas, as part of their ongoing Chamber Music Concert Series.  The acoustics alone would have created a wonderful concert venue, but the traditional English gothic architecture added a special, unique element to the experience.  The Lone Star State Trumpet Guild (LSSTG), an affiliate chapter of the International Trumpet Guild (ITG) was the featured ensemble of the evening with additional performance contributions from student ensembles of McMurry, Abilene Christian, Hardin Simmons, and Angelo State Universities.

Works performed on the first half of the concert included standard trumpet ensemble works along with repertoire composed for and by members of the LSSTG.  Forever Rising by LSSTG member, Bernard Scherr is a rousing tour de force that includes ten trumpet parts separated into two choirs.  An additional work written for this group, Trumpet Cliché Souffle is a jazz and bebop inspired work by member, Andy Patterson. 

Also on the first half, two collegiate trumpet ensembles joined the festivities.  The ensemble from McMurry /Abilene Christian Universities performed Shifting Thoughts (A. Molineaux).  This is a newer work for trumpet ensemble that features intricate harmonies and counterpoint.  A Richard Thurston transcription of Jesu Joy of Man’s Desiring (J. S. Bach) was presented by the Hardin Simmons trumpet ensemble. 

The second half of music included characteristic trumpet music, Fanfares (Chpelitch), as well as transcriptions from symphonic works: John Irish’s arrangements of “Evening Prayer” from Hänsel und Gretel (Humperdinck) and “Triumphal March” from Sigurd Jorasalfar (Grieg).  Also performing on the second half was the Angelo State University trumpet ensemble.  They performed Jason Dovel's programmatic work, Giza Necropolis. Ending the program, the LSSTG chose Jim Olcott’s Trumpets Take Texas as a somewhat eponymous closing anthem.


Lone Star Trumpet Guild Trumpet Ensemble

(Source: Sidney E. Shuler)

Take advantage of what ITG has to offer: