The Music of Brandon University

by Ryan Aubry

Trumpet Concerto for Orchestra (1950) - Alexander Arutunian* (9.2 MB .mp3 file)
I. Allegro energico
II. Meno mosso
Cadenza (Timofei Dokschitzer)

Brandon University Orchestra - Prof. Mark Rudoff conducting.
Ryan Aubry - solo trumpet
April 5, 2002

Alexander Grigoriyevich Arutunian was born September 23, 1920 in Yerevan, Armenia. Majoring in composition, he graduated from the Conservatory of Yerevan at the age of 21 and continued studies in the field at the Moscow Conservatory with Litinsky, Peyko and Zuckermann (1946-48). He was awarded the State Prize of the USSR for his graduation work Kantat Hayreinki Masin in 1949, and his growing popularity earned him the Peoples' Artist of Armenia in 1960.
Arutunian projects his own nationality through his Trumpet Concerto by incorporating rhythmic and melodic characteristics of Armenian folk music. He has enriched this compostion by creating dynamic contrasts of mood ranging from rough yet festive passages to delicate lyrical sections with jazzy influence.

Concert Etude op.49 (1946) - Alexander Goedicke* (3.3 MB .mp3 file)

Dr. Lawrence Jones - piano
Ryan Aubry - solo trumpet
February 3, 2001

Alexander Fyodorovich Goedicke was born March 2, 1877 in Moscow. With no formal training in compostion, Goedicke studied piano at the Moscow Conservatory with Galli, Pabst and Safonov. To spite his lack of traditional guidance his compositional efforts were rewarded when he won the Rubenstein Prize for Composition at the young age of 23. Goedicke died at the age of 80, July 9, 1957.
His Concert Etude op.49, originally written for trumpet and orchstra, has a distinct classical lineage, characteristic of Goedicke, and may be played both as a study or a concert piece. The opening is quick and light, reminiscent of a Mozart Rondo and is contrasted twice (first in B flat then G major) by the secondary theme that broadens in note duration afflicting the section with a connected and flowing quality.

Ryan Aubry graduated with an Applied Performance degree at Brandon University in May of 2002. He has studied with Prof. Alan Ehnes for the duration of his degree whereby his performances of the Arutunian Concerto won him a 'Most Promising Artist of the Year' award as well as a solo performance with the Brandon University Orchestra and a trip to the Nationals. He plans on continuing his performing education at a Masters level in the near future.

*Also spelled Arutinian and Gedike.