Musta hevonen Trumpet Concert
“Trumpet Tales” The Music of Eddie Lewis
Musta hevonen trumpet ensemble is lead by Seppo Pohjoisaho. They are in Finland and the performance I’m writing about here was a full concert of my compositions. See the video at the bottom of this blog post.
Years in the Making
Our Pastor Greg was so excited about this concert, that he asked me, how did this happen?
I believe Musta hevonen has been performing my compositions since their inception. The first composition of mine that they learned was the opening composition on this concert, American Trumpet Suite. Then they just kept adding new pieces from my catalogue until they had enough for this concert.
Now, that sounds a little misleading, because I don’t think that was their plan at first. I don’t think they said, “hey, let’s keep buying and learning Eddie’s compositions so we can do a concert of his pieces.”
I think the reason they kept adding more and more of my compositions is because I am very conscious of skill levels when I write. I don’t know this for certain because I never really spoke to Seppo about it. But that is my suspicion.
There’s a lot of trumpet music out there. There is a lot of overly dumbed down beginner stuff (I don’t dumb down my beginner music), and a lot of overly technical stuff. I try to spread my trumpet writing across all skill levels and I do believe this is why so many people purchase my compositions.
Lotus Eater
I was most impressed, in this concert, with their performance of the Lotus Eater. I have a few pieces for large trumpet ensemble that stand out as being some of the most difficult to perform, from my cataloque. The Lotus Eater is in the top four of this list, and Musta hevonen executed it flawlessly.
I am always careful when I speak about “being impressed”. There were other compositions programed on this concert that I enjoyed more than Lotus Eater. And in fact, it is uncommon for me to ever say that “I’m impressed” with someone’s performance. We can go more into why I say that in another post, but that’s what makes their performance Lotus Eater so special to me.
I know how difficult it is. But they invested the effort and delivered the best performance of the piece that I have ever heard.
Americana Trumpet Suite
The composition I enjoyed most was the Americana Trumpet Suite. Some may think it strange that I can be greatly impressed with one composition and still enjoy a piece that is perhaps, maybe a little less impressive.
But it’s true.
I had heard Musta hevonen perform the movements before. Not always as a full suite, but Seppo often sends me video links of their performances.
What I enjoy most in all performances is the depth of expression. This is what I teach my students and this is what I continually strive for in my own playing.
What I heard in Musta hevonen’s performance of Americana Trumpet Suite was a degree of musical maturity that gave the piece a chance to reach its full bloom. This is a composition that the ensemble is well familiar with and it shows.
That’s what moves me. Yes, it is right to point out great technical accomplishments when they happen. And Musta hevonen deserves every accolade they earned for their performance of the Lotus Eater. But their performance of Americana Trumpet Suite is heart touching. And to me, that has greater value.
Program Order
- Fanfare
- Polacca
- Work Song
- Sacred Hymn
- Waltz
- Appalachian Song
- March
Mass (unpublished)
- Kyrie Eléison
- Credo
Work Song
The entire performance was a very special treat for me and my favorite comment from a friend of mine in Alabama was, “I loved every note!”
I appreciate Seppo and his Musta hevonen trumpet ensemble more than I am able to express. I tell people often that “I’m not famous”. And the secret part of that statement is that I really don’t want to be famous.
So it is rare for me to be honored the way they have honored me here, with this concert.
I really hope you enjoy the concert.
The following video is not the livestream version. This is the better recording made separately from the livestream. It is a higher quality video.