An Astral Fable

Ensemble de Cuivres Valaisan
Conductor: Christophe Jeanbourquin
Woodbrass Music SA: WBR-CD-2003.01
Total Playing Time: 72.22 mins

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When presented with a recording by a European band about which you know very little, playing music you are unfamiliar with by composers you have never heard of it would be easy to dismiss it out of hand. To do so would be a big mistake, however, in the case of the latest offering from the Swiss band Ensemble de Cuivres Valaisan, under their conductor Christophe Jeanbourquin.

They present music by four composers from Switzerland and one, Lee Maddeford, who originates from Alaska but is now based in Lausanne. He is responsible for "An Astral Fable", the piece which gives the disc its title, and which takes up more than half the playing time. A number of bands and conductors have attempted to do something different as regards programming, and finding music to show off the talents of the players. Although in this respect it could be said that "An Astral Fable" follows in the footsteps of "Cry of the Celts", "Windows of the World" and "Song of the Highlands" it ploughs a very different furrow.

Lee Maddeford is a pianist as well as playing various brass instruments including trumpet, flugel and sousaphone. Besides being a member of a group called Piano Seven, he has performed as a piano duet with Olivier Rogg, and has also written a number of music theatre pieces. It is into this latter category that "An Astral Fable" falls, and the players are called upon to provide narration and chanting at various points, as well as assisting with various percussion effects as the story progresses.

It is a most unusual musical experience, somewhat reminiscent of Stravinsky's "L'Histoire du Soldat" (although that may in part be the French narration used), whilst at times there are touches of Weill, Ibert (The "Sinfonietta"), Bourgeois ("Concerto Grosso") and Henza's "Ragtimes and Habaneras". The story line, however, merely serves as a vehicle for some superb brass playing in a range of styles. Most of the soloists are featured at some point or other, including some fine playing in chamber music combinations. It is difficult to single out individuals, but mention should be made of a real tour de force from trombonist Christophe Pralong and excellent solos from Christophe Clement on flugel. Percussion and a trio of two euphoniums and a baritone also shine in their respective sections. The concluding "Gigue" gives the whole band a chance to share in the general rejoicing, with the soprano quite prominent.

Listeners should not be deterred from exploring this work if they don't understand French, as the narration as such only consists of a few phrases, and the booklet is in both French and English, even if some of the translation is not very idiomatic. (Translation can be difficult to get right, as was discovered in researching into the composers and finding that a number of them played "viola" - only to realise that "alto" - meaning tenor horn - had been mistaken for "alto" - being the French term for viola!).

Lee Maddeford contributes one other item, "The Chase", a feature for Christophe Clement on flugel, showing his versatility in a jazz style in a piece that is reminiscent of any number of spy theme tunes from the 1970's.

Etienne Crausaz started on tenor horn (not viola!) at the age of 11, and now plays tuba with Euphoria. "Hymn to the Mountain", which opens the recording, is in the style of John Williams "Olympic Fanfare" or Peter Graham's "Summon the Dragon", with some clean fanfare playing and a mellow middle section. "Stay There" is another piece in a relaxed style, with the band showing itself to be very much at home in this idiom. "Of Horses and Cowboys" was written for a "horse stable"(sic) - equestrian centre sounds better! - showing the influence of Hollywood film soundtracks. His fourth item, "Cruising", again has a jazzy feel that is quite infectious.

Julien Roh is the band's first horn player and deputy conductor, who came joint 5th in the 2001 European Solo Contest, together with Andrew King and Tormod Flaten. "O'Connell" is written in Scottish march style, with an opening similar to "Johnny Todd", used as the theme tune for Z cars, complete with the drums at the beginning.

Jean-Francois Michel, although Swiss-born, has spent ten years as first trumpet in Munich. "Timpoum", which opens with the band intoning "Marching", is a march in swing style, with a walking bass that sounds perfectly comfortable, unlike many brass bands attempting to play swing, and the band produces a lovely warm sound. He has also arranged "O Happy Day", although perhaps the French description of it as a "very good" arrangement is preferable, rather than the English, where the notes describe it as "amazing".

Completing the disc is "Evolutions" by Pascal Gendre, which won the 2nd prize (and the audience prize) at the 2nd European Young Composer's Competition in 2002. This recording gives an opportunity for comparison with the winning composition, "4 sketches, a homage to Benjamin Britten", by Simon Dobson, just released by Leyland on their cd "The Alchymist's Journal". "Evolutions" calls for some tight rhythmic playing from the band, whose tuning is impeccable throughout. The central section has a pastoral feel, and features some fine tuba playing. In the fugato section in the third movement the entries are well judged, each slipping into the background when the next line comes in.

Whilst this recording consists of unfamiliar music, it is certainly to be recommended to anyone who is prepared to try something a bit different. The band is on top form, both regarding the individual players and in terms of their ensemble playing, and the music itself is well worth exploring. The review of a previous recording by this band was critical of the recording itself, feeling that the band had to struggle against the acoustic, but there are no such problems on this occasion, the sound being clear and
well-balanced.

Peter Bale

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