Review by Jonathan Calhoun, B.M.Ed. in Euphonium candidate, Morehead State University
Dr. Robertson and Dr. Louder
The Central Kentucky Concert Band presented a unique concert on May 4th, 2014, titled “Euphers Away,” celebrating the life and times of
Dr. Earle Louder at the historic Lexington Opera House in Lexington, Kentucky. The concert featured exciting and stirring musical performances by euphonium soloists Dr. Earle Louder and
Dr. Gail Robertson, performing with the Central Kentucky Concert Band under the direction of Dr. Peter LaRue. This extraordinary event was Dr. LaRue’s final concert as music director for the CKCB, which he has directed for the past twenty years.
The development, design, and implementation of “Euphers Away” was a two-year journey that began after a 2012 Central Kentucky Concert Band performance featuring SymbiosisDuo: Dr. Stacy Baker and Dr. Gail Robertson. The esteemed Dr. Louder was in attendance at this concert, and at some point the comment was made “wouldn’t it be great to design a concert dedicated to and honoring Dr. Louder.” Euphonium players are often referred to as “euphers.” Dr. LaRue made a logical connection from Dr. Louder’s service in the United States Navy Band by transforming “Anchors Aweigh” to coin the title “Euphers Away.” In Dr. Louder's words, "A special thanks is due to Dr. LaRue along with Dr. Gail Robertson, my very dear friend and euphonium side-partner with the New Sousa Band, who arranged for this all to happen.'' It truly was such a wonderful evening of entertainment honoring Dr. Louder.
Dr. Earle Louder, Distinguished Professor Emeritus of Euphonium and Tuba, Morehead State University, was the featured Soloist of The United States Navy Band in Washington, D.C. for twelve seasons and was the featured Principal and Premiere Soloist with Leonard B. Smith’s Detroit Concert Band for twenty-two years. Dr. Louder’s professional career in The United States Navy Band provided a central theme for the concert’s selections: Philip Sparkes’s
Salute to a Hero, Ralph Vaughan Williams’
Sea Songs, Herbert L. Clarke’s
From the Shores of the Mighty Pacific with soloist Dr. Robertson, Richard Rodgers’
Victory at Sea, and Claude T. Smith’s
Eternal Father, Strong to Save, which included a beautiful and highly moving arrangement of the maritime hymn by Dr. Robertson for euphonium quartet performed off-stage by Dr. Earle Louder, Dr. Gail Robertson,
P. Eric Bottorff, and
Colin Guimond. In Dr. Louder's words, "I felt honored that two of Dr. Robertson’s euphonium students at Eastern Michigan University came all the way down to Kentucky for our concert, and I was so pleased that they were able to join Dr. Robertson and me for the playing of the quartet in the Navy Hymn. What a pleasure that was for me personally."
What a privilege it was to hear such outstanding soloists as Earle Louder and Gail Robertson, knowing this concert was a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity! Each selection that Dr. Louder and Dr. Robertson performed charged the concert with energy and allowed the audience to hear truly amazing euphonium performance. Dr. Louder’s performance of Herman Bellstedt’s
Carmen Fantasy stole the show as he brought the music to life with his virtuosity and world-class musicianship. The world premiere of a special duet version by Dr. Gail Robertson of Boccalari’s
Fantasia di Concerto performed by Dr. Louder and Dr. Robertson was the climax of the concert for the audience and the many members of Dr. Louder’s family in attendance. Dr. Robertson’s clever and skilled combination of the two euphoniums in this arrangement made this selection a true highlight!
Dr. Louder and Dr. Robertson have performed together in Keith Brion’s New Sousa Band for over nineteen years, and as a result the two euphonium sounds blended together beautifully. The music flowed miraculously, as Dr. Louder and Dr. Robertson expressed the different moods and levels of difficulty that make
Fantasia di Concerto famous. The concert concluded with Karl King’s lively march
The Melody Shop, as a perfect finale for “Euphers Away.”
“Euphers Away” is a concert that will never be forgotten by those who shared the performance in the intimate setting of the ornately decorated Lexington Opera House built in 1886. What a fitting tribute to Dr. Earle Louder and how special it was to celebrate with so many Morehead State University alumni and so many of Dr. Louder’s family members. As a current student at Morehead State University, Dr. Louder’s legacy is a source of inspiration to me. Knowing Morehead State University was home for a world-class musician like Dr. Louder encourages those that follow to strive to leave their mark as excellent musicians. Dr. Stacy Baker continues Dr. Louder’s tradition at Morehead State University by featuring guest euphonium players like Dr. Gail Robertson and Dr. Neal Corwell.
In Dr. Louder's own words again, "I had so much fun rehearsing the Boccalari
Fantasia Di Concerto duet with Gail before we finally met to rehearse with the CKCB. Gail so wonderfully arranged the duet form of this euphonium solo especially for us to perform together. Gail has developed into such a complete all around musician, which was not only evidenced by her composing/arranging skills but also in her performance of the solo
From the Shores of the Mighty Pacific as well as the duet. We really did have so much fun performing together."
It was fitting to celebrate the life of Dr. Earle Louder through music, as it has been his life-long devotion. Beyond his musical capabilities his greatest legacy is certainly in the thousands of lives he has touched and inspired around the world with his love and passion for playing and teaching music.
From March 27-30, 2014, the University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire hosted Dr. Gail Robertson as part of a special program the College of Arts and Sciences sponsored called "A Year of Inclusivity." This program was part of a year-long project in the Department of Music and Theatre Arts which highlighted the contributions of underrepresented composers and other musicians in the programming and curriculum of the department. The term “underrepresented” has been selected because of its inclusive nature which is open to interpretation, raising such issues as gender, racial or cultural background, and sexual orientation. Exclusionary historic traditions surrounding many types of music are still highly valued today creating a culture in which many individuals are marginalized. The world of Classical music, for example, by its very nature is defined by historic traditions in which the contributions of men have predominated and have been held up as models, and as a result, only a handful of compositions by women have appeared annually on departmental programs among hundreds of compositions by men. A central goal of this project was to increase the number of compositions involving underrepresented composers and musicians in the programming for the Music and Theatre Arts Department 2013-14 Season, and in so doing, raise consciousness of this phenomenon and its ramifications and have a positive impact on future programming. The project involved performances and presentations by faculty, students, and guests.
