AUR CD with Summer Concerto
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A NEW WASCHKA RECORDING
Saxophonist Phil Barham and the Tennessee Tech Symphony Band directed by Joseph Hermann have recorded Rodney Waschka's Summer Concerto for Arizona University Recordings. The disc, Volume XII of the "America's Tribute to Adolphe Sax Series", was released April 16, 2007.
Summer Concerto was composed in the summer of 2004 and premiered by the commissioning group in 2006. The work is in the traditional three-movement format and features numerous virtuosic passages for the alto saxophone soloist.
"Dr. Hermann and Prof. Barham commissioned the work and they have shown great dedication and skill in both the premiere performance and this recording" said Waschka. He continued, "Phil Barham has a tremendous sound and dizzying technique, but he remains sensitive to the musical demands of the pieces he performs."
Barham, a graduate of the University of North Texas and of the University of Michigan, is currently on the faculty of Tennessee Tech. His recent performances include soloist with the Holland Symphony Orchestra, the Bryan Symphony Orchestra and the South Bend Symphony Orchestra. The Symphony Band, the principal concert ensemble of the Tennessee Tech University Bands, has earned its reputation as one of the finest symphonic organizations in the country under the direction of Dr. Joseph Hermann.
Dr. Rodney Waschka is an internationally recognized composer known for his computer music and his theatrical works including two operas. His pieces are widely performed and have been recorded on the Capstone, Centaur, and IRIDA labels in the USA, on the PeP label in Canada, and on the Ama Romanta and Plancton labels in Portugal. His works are published by Borik Press and ACE. He is Professor of Arts Studies at North Carolina State University.