Szentpali / Gyor Symphonic Band / Marosi Three Concertos CD

This album features three concertante works by the Hungarian composer Roland Szentpi (b. 1977) for symphonic wind band: a virtuoso tuba concerto, with the composer as soloist; a rhapsody featuring clarinet, saxophone and the smoky tones of the trogat?, a folk instrument that sounds like a feral clarinet; and a double concerto in which Szentpi takes up the saxhorn. The infectious rhythmic drive of all three works has it's origins in the same folk traditions that inspired Bart?k, and the scoring has the wallop of the big-band sound - and the solo performances are nothing less than astonishing. Roland Szentpi began playing the euphonium at the age of twelve, moving on to the tuba in the following year under the guidance of Sandor Lukcs. He was a student at the B?la Bartok Academy in Budapest from 1991-1995, studying with Joseph Baszinka and Gbor Adamik. Roland continued his studies with Lszl? Szab? at the F. Liszt Academy. Apart from his busy solo and composition schedule, Roland is actually principal tuba with the Hungarian National Philharmonic Orchestra. Always being in great demand he also gave several masterclasses in the United States, Japan and many European countries.