Nick Hudson recital in Somerset

Nick Hudson will soon conclude a series of recitals featuring new and interesting additions to the trombone repertoire. He will conclude the recital series on the 11th November in St. Michael???s Church, Alcombe, West Somerset where Nick will perform music from such diverse composers as Elizabeth Raum and Girolamo Frescobaldi. Following a total of almost twenty years as a distinguished Principal Trombone for Fodens and Fairey Brass Bands, Nick relocated to the South West last year and the recitals reflect his broadening musical horizons and interests. Nick Hudsontrombone 11th November 2006, 7.30pm St. Michael???s Church, Alcombe, West Somerset Tickets approx. ??6 on the door BTS News and Events Editor, David Read, caught up with Nick to find out more. DR: Firstly, how things are going for you since moving from Yorkshire to the South West?

NH: Things are going very well thanks. My family and I moved down to Somerset and set up home in response to job offers down here. My wife is now Head of Music in a secondary school in Wellington and I'm teaching low brass in a number of private schools in Somerset. It has proved a good move for us all, we live at the base of the Exmoor hills and are 200 yards from the beach! I haven't risked a dip in the sea yet but there's still time. With regards to the playing side of things thankfully plenty is still coming my way. I was a little concerned prior to our move due to the fact that we would be well out of the banding scene, but luckily it hasn't affected my diary. Funnily enough most of my soloing now seems to be away from the brass band movement, I've done a number of concertos with Concert Bands in Spain and recently performed the Holst Concertante soloing with Taunton Concert Band. I've also got an upcoming performance of the Bourgeois Concerto with a semi pro orchestra in December. The series of recitals and the Concerto leave me with plenty to practise! The recitals have been in the South West of the country. Brass playing down here isn't as strong as it is in Yorkshire and it has been nice to bring this trombone repertoire to a wider audience.

How have you found it adding these new pieces to your repertoire?

It has been a fabulous experience to prepare and perform works which are not directly connected with the brass band. Over recent months I???ve uncovered a number of pieces for trombone, both accompanied and unaccompanied that has made me even more aware of the vast array of compositions available to trombone players. Composers such as Elizabeth Raum, Robert Peaslee, Derek Bourgeouis and Jonathan Warburton have given us some fabulous music which has been a real treat to perform.

And how do you feel the recitals been received?

The feedback has been extremely promising and has generated interest from local composers in writing for the instrument.

That's great to hear! What was the inspiration for looking at new repertoire? Were you recommended any of these pieces or did you hear them in other recitals or CDs?

I had heard Peaslee's Arrows of Time and the Bourgeois Sonata on disc and was immediately drawn to them. They are both fantastic pieces and have proved very popular, not only from my practice point of view but from an audience standpoint too. Jonathan Warburton kindly sent me some of his work in the post some time ago. I didn't know Jonathan composed as well, I knew he is a fine bass trombone player but didn't realise he was clever too!! The music he has written is lovely, the pieces are relatively straight forward to play and have proved popular as a nice mix in recitals. You should check his music out if you get the chance. Elizabeth Raum's Fantasy was brought to my attention by Steven Sykes (Jnr), who played the piece at the qualifying rounds of the BBC Young Musician. It's fabulous writing for trombone and is very effective.

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