Dave Werden, Euphonium Solo: Philip Sparke Fantasy for Euphonium

Philip Sparke Fantasy for Euphonium and Brass Band, David Werden, euphonium, with The U.S. Coast Guard Band. (David Werden was the first American to be named Euphonium Player of the Year.) See other collected euphonium videos at: http://www.dwerden.com/music-videos/euphonium-music-videos.cfm

A graduate of The University of Iowa, Mr. Werden was the euphonium soloist with The United States Coast Guard Band for more than 20 years. He has performed throughout the United States, as well as in Canada, England, Japan, and the former Soviet Union. Through FM and TV broadcasts, his solos have been heard in dozens of countries around the world. He is a recitalist and clinician, and has performed at local, national, and international symposiums. He was a member of The USCG Band Euphonium/Tuba Quartet, the Atlantic Tuba Quartet, and the Classic Brass Band. He previously taught at the University of Connecticut and is listed in Marquis' Who's Who in American Education.

His efforts to expand the role and recognition of the euphonium led the British magazine Sounding Brass in conjunction with the American publication Euphonia to name him "Euphonium Player of the Year" in 1980. He is the first American awarded this honor. In 1981 he was elected to the post of Euphonium Coordinator for the International Tuba-Euphonium Association (formerly called Tubists Universal Brotherhood Association: T.U.B.A). In 1987 he was appointed to the Honory Board of Advisors of ITEA. His many solo performances and his efforts to expand the role of the euphonium in music earned him the prestigious Coast Guard Commendation Medal. He has also been awarded two Coast Guard Achievement Medals, the Coast Guard Special Operations ribbon, two Coast Guard Unit Commendations, and three Coast Guard Meritorious Unit Commendations. In 1993 he was inducted into the Pi Kappa Lambda honors society.

He has published articles in Euphonia magazine, The Instrumentalist magazine and the T.U.B.A. Journal. He is the author of The Blaikley Compensating System, Scoring for Euphonium, co-author with Denis Winter of the Euphonium Music Guide, and a co-author of the Brass Player's Cookbook. He compiled and edited a series of papers by Arthur Lehman into the book The Brass Musician. He has also published over four dozen arrangements for a variety of solo instruments and ensembles. His website, http://www.dwerden.com/, has become a favorite of euphonium players everywhere.

Since moving to Minnesota he has performed with Symphonia (America's Premier Large Tuba-Euphonium Ensemble), the Minnesota Orchestra, the Sheldon Theater Brass Band, was a special guest artist at the International Euphonium Institute, and has been heard on live national broadcasts of A Prairie Home Companion.

Category:

Music

Tags:

• euphonium
• baritone
• horn
• military
• band
• wind
• ensemble

[kdmusiq27]

Awesome. Haha Thanks alot. Also im kinda in a flux. Im trying to pick a solo for our UIL contest here in texas. My choices are napoli, fantasia by jacobs, fantasia di concerto, fantasy by sparke, or arpeggione sonata. What would u recommend?

[dwerden]

@kdmusiq27 Well, naturally I'd go with the Arpeggione! But do an honest self assessment: do you think you play with a lot of musical expression and sensitivity? If so, it's great. But if you still need some work there, then the Sparke Fantasy is good, or Napoli. Good luck!

[kdmusiq27]

Great job on the solo!! :)

Also what kind of euphonium guard is that? Im trying to buy one for my horn.

[dwerden]

@kdmusiq27 Thanks for the comment. The guard is home-made. I used leather, and I glued flannel to the back so it wouldn't tarnish the horn. I also attached Velcro to the edges so the guard is easy to take off for polishing the horn.

[EuphPlayer0809]

Hi David! How long did it take you to memorize this piece? I was going to do this for my grade 8 but i ended up doing Joseph Horovitz's Euphonium Concerto (First Movement) but i passed nonetheless!

Best Wishes from England

[dwerden]

@EuphPlayer0809 The Horovitz is a great piece! Congratulations on doing so well with it. I didn't keep track of how long it took to memorize the Sparke. It just sort-of "happens" as I practice and work on my interpretation. That gets me 80% there, so after that I have to deliberately memorize the rest. Then, if I think I have it memorized, I try to play it from memory while the television is playing a show I like. If I can get through the piece with that distraction, THEN it's memorized.

Dave

[EuphoniumKid1]

My teacher always tells me... SIX PACK ABSSSS!!!

[XtremeEuph]

His valve stroke looks so short. I play a Yamaha 842 and it takes about 3 months for a valve to compress and return, even when they are smooth :(

[gerardohigueros]

Is there any way that I can contact u?

[cheesypotato1234]

At 3:09, that note sounds like it would be torture. Keeping good air quality without dropping the pitch, man. It's good stuff.

[cj7515]

If i could triple tongue like that......well lets just say that no women would be wanting. Haha. Euphoniums and Baritones all the way

[mehek01]

i have a baritone

[TheeSeniorJr]

Simply Amazing !

Beautifully played and lovely vibrato