Once again Matthew van Emmerik has managed to pull one out of the bag. 

‘Homeland’ is a CD of original works for euphonium that takes the listener on a journey through the full panoply of styles and emotions the instrument can muster in the hands of a true master craftsman. 

Where the heart is

Recorded on the American Potenza Music label it is his third solo recording, although in the four years since his last Matthew has become Dr. van Emmerik, a father and an Adams Musical Instrument Artist: As further international career options appear on the horizon, Homeland is very much now where the heart is in more ways than one. 

His previous recording ‘Utaki - The Sacred Grove’ saw a distancing from the usual formulae of euphonium recordings, and here he continues in the same welcome vein. 

Sensitivity

‘Homeland’ features new commissions alongside strings, tuba quartet and the classic euphonium/piano duet - and whilst the virtuosity is abundant, so too is the sensitivity of the performer to carefully mould a simple phrase, swell or dip the dynamic and subtly change the pace of the music. 

The series of demanding contemporary works from Australian composers Mike Fitzpatrick, Brenton Broadstock, Andrew Batterham and Brendon Collins call for it; van Emmerik delivers it in spades. 

Modern and immediate

The engaging compositions are modern and immediate (although some source material harks backs to a very different age and genre) - each with its own very particular characteristics and sensitivities, yet ‘Homeland’ still explores areas of musicality that we are in danger of losing touch of completely as the instrument becomes an ever more fearsome technical tool in the hands of less thoughtful exponents. 

Beyond the norms

Not so here: The musicianship on display is considered, respectful, artistic and deeply valid.

van Emmerik is a star performer - make no mistake about it - but he is also one that looks beyond the norms of performance for performance sake.

‘Homeland’ is a mature addition to an ever expanding catalogue of worldwide euphonium repertoire that is desperatley in need of this type of thoughtful curation. 

Jonathan Pippen

To Purchase:

http://www.matthewvanemmerik.com/

Track listing:

1. Concert Gallop (Brendan Collins) - 5.02

2. Chimborozo (Mike Fitzpatrick) - 10.46

3. Caprice (Andrew Batterham)
Variation 1: - 3.38
Variation 2: - 4.09
Variation 3: - 2.34

6. Euphonium Concerto (Brendan Collins)
Movement 1: 4.33
Movement 2: 6.28
Movement 3: 4.45

9. Second Chapter of Acts for Euphonium and two Pianos (Mike Fitzpatrick) - 9.49

10. Concertino - Under Capricorn (Brenton Broadstock)
One: 4.11
Two: (In Memoriam Tyson van Emmerik) - 4.21 
Three: 5.51