World renowned trumpeter, Jens Lindemann, will be performing in concert with the MTSU Wind Ensemble at 7:30 p.m. April 18 in the Hinton Music Hall of the Wright Music Building on the MTSU campus.
"I and most others consider (Lindeman) to be the world's greatest trumpet soloist," said Dr. Michael Arndt, professor of trumpet at MTSU. I first heard (him) with the Canadian Brass years ago and needless to say, it was awe inspiring playing. Then, I got to hear him at the 2003 International Trumpet Guild Conference in Fort Worth, Texas. The first solo notes out of his trumpet are as beautiful as anything I had ever heard. Technically, his playing is some of the most striking in the world. As musicians, we strive to communicate through our instruments. He accomplishes this with the ease of laughing. His performances are bigger than life and leave everyone inspired with jaws on the floor. (My words here) may seem over the top, but it is hard to find words that describe his ability on the trumpet and his captivating personality and musicality."
Lindemann will be featured on a composition called Apophenia by Peter Meechan.
"Meechan is one of the most prominent British composers today, said Dr. Reed Thomas, conductor of the MTSU Wind Ensemble. "His influence is primarily in the British Brass band medium and he has just recently started writing pieces for Wind Band. Apophenia is a whirlwind trumpet solo piece written for Jens Lindemann and his extraordinary versatility on the trumpet."
In addition to the afore mentioned work featuring Lindemann, the MTSU Wind Ensemble will also perform Sparkle by Shafer Mahoney, Funeral March by Edvard Grieg, and West Point Symphony, by Morton Gould, Epitaph (for Hillsborough) also by Meechan.
"Epitaph was written as a tribute to the 98 innocent citizens that were tragically killed at a regional soccer match in England," explained Thomas. "All of the victims were supporters of the Liverpool Club and this piece uses events both during and after the tragedy as inspiration and homage."
"Commenting on two of the other works on the program, Thomas said, "Grieg's Funeral March was (his) personal favorite. It was the only piece he carried with him wherever he traveled and was the only piece he insisted be played at his funeral. (The other piece), West Point Symphony is considered one of the pillars of the wind band repertoire. Scored in two movements, Gould's orchestration talents are vividly displayed from the dark beginning to the dazzling ending."
In addition to his performance with the MTSU Wind Ensemble, trumpeter Lindemann will also be giving a master class for the public on Tuesday afternoon April 16th. The master class time was yet to be announced at the time of press.
The April 15 concert and April 16 master class are both free and open to the public. For further information please call 615-898-2493 or visit the Concert Calendar at mtsumusic.com.
About Lindemann
Lindemann has played in every major concert venue in the world: from the Philharmonics of New York, Los Angeles, London, and Berlin to Tokyo's Suntory Hall and even the Great Wall of China. His career has ranged from appearing internationally as an orchestral soloist, performing at London's 'Last Night of the Proms', recording with the Mormon Tabernacle Choir to playing lead trumpet with the renowned Canadian Brass and a solo Command Performance for the Queen of England. He has also won major awards ranging from Grammy and Juno nominations to winning the prestigious Echo Klassik in Germany as well as receiving an honorary doctorate.
Classically trained at the Juilliard School in New York, Lindeman' has performed as soloist and recording artist with classical stars such as Sir Neville Marriner, Sir Angel Romero, Doc Severinsen, Charles Dutoit, Gerard Schwarz, Eiji Oue, Bramwell Tovey and Jukka Pekka Saraste. Having recorded for BMG, EMI , CBC and the BBC.
He has performed as a soloist with orchestras and won accolades at numerous festivals while still in his teens. A prizewinner at numerous competitions including the prestigious ARD in Munich, Lindeman also placed first, by unanimous juries, at both the Prague and Ellsworth Smith (Florida) International Trumpet Competitions in 1992. Since then, he has performed solos with orchestras including, the London Symphony, Philadelphia, Beijing, Bayersicher Rundfunk, Buenos Aires Chamber, Atlanta, Washington, Seattle, Dallas, Detroit, Houston, Montreal, Toronto, national Arts Centre, Vancouver, Warsaw, Welsh Chamber, I Musici de Montreal, St. Louis, and Mostly Mozart at Lincoln Center.
"The trumpet is capable of being played with the virtuosity of a violin, the tenderness of the human voice and the stylistic flexibility of the piano. It allows me an endless range of communication with audiences."
- Jens Lindemann
About Meechan
Composer, Meechan, born January 29, 1980, in Nuneaton England, holds an undergraduate degree from the Royal Northern College of Music, a Master of Arts degree and a PhD (composition), both from the University of Salford. Currently, he holds the post of ‘Musical Associate’ with the prestigious Fodens Band, based in Sandbach, Cheshire.
The majority of his works have been written for wind and brass instruments, including solo unaccompanied works and compositions for chamber ensembles. His music for brass bands has been performed at festivals and contests across the globe, whilst his music for winds has been featured at festivals throughout Europe and North America, including the Midwest Clinic in Chicago and at the BASBWE International Wind Festival.
Meechan's music has been extensively performed, recorded, broadcast and commissioned throughout the world by artists including: Bramwell Tovey, Spanish Brass, Fodens Band, Steven Mead, Les Neish, Black Dyke Band, Eastman Wind Ensemble, the RNCM Wind Orchestra, Kew Wind Orchestra, The Band of the Coldstream Guards, the BBC Concert Orchestra, Edmonton Symphony Orchestra, Docklands Sinfonia, Bones Apart Trombone Quartet, Jens Lindemann, Rex Richardson, Clark Rundell, as well as many leading university wind ensembles both at home in the UK as well as in the USA. There are currently over 60 commercial recordings of Meechan’s music.