BENJAMIN COELHO

• Egil Hovland: Agnus Dei

“There isn’t a recording out there that compares to the initiative these musicians have taken to assemble and commission works for bassoon and voice, and the musicians are dedicated and inspired. Ben Coelho’s jovial demeanor and musical fluency always make his performances a delight to hear, and the singers of Kantorei are really top calibre.”

Schwartz, American Record Guide [September/October 2013]

“While the combination of bassoon as a solo instrument with chorus may not immediately come to mind as a common occurrence in the choral repertoire, this recent recording by Brazilian bassoonist Benjamin Coelho and The University of Iowa Kantorei demonstrates the effectiveness of such a pairing. The combination of Coelho’s virtuosity with the exquisite intonation and distinctive dynamic capabilities of The University of Iowa Kantorei yields an outstanding resource for conductors of advanced choruses… sheer musical skill [is] necessary to perform any of these pieces in an artistically satisfying manner [and Stalter’s choir succeeds in this respect throughout the entirety of the disc. Further, the impact of Coelho’s magnificent technical brilliance on the success of every composition featured in the recording cannot be overstated… Overall, the disc is elegantly packaged with informative CD notes, primarily by David Puderbaugh, though also with a fine contribution by Coelho, the sum of which provides excellent introductory material on the composers and compositions, complete texts and translations, and personnel listings… this new recording offers a significant contribution to choral scholarship and performance; therefore, I heartily endorse it.”

Sean Burton, Melisma [June 2013]

“the work of these artists is always excellent. For lovers of choral music, this disc is a most interesting foray into some new and unusual territory. Listening to it gives you the feeling of being in an intimate concert hall.”

Maria Nockin, Fanfare Issue 36:4 [Mar/Apr 2013]

“Ben has such a gorgeous sound, such impeccable technique, and such sensitive musicality…”

Ronald Klimko, IDRS Journal

“Coelho’s playing is unfailingly sonorous, expressive and alert, and he champions the pieces on this recording as if he believed in them without reservation.”

Donald Rosenberg, Gramophone

“Coelho is fantastic. His sound is brilliant, resonant, and strong, and he has a warm tone that blends superbly with the strings.”

Schwartz, American Record Guide

The human voice and the bassoon. Compositions featuring these two instruments in combination are rare, much more so than the pairing of the voice and the bassoon’s treble cousin, the oboe. There is no clear, overarching reason for the relative dearth of bassoon/vocal works, but it certainly cannot be for a lack of beauty, to which this recording attests.

A Brazilian native, BENJAMIN COELHO has been Professor of Bassoon at The University of Iowa since 1998. He has appeared as soloist, chamber musician, orchestral musician, and teacher in several countries including the United States, Europe, Australia, and Latin America. As an active member in the International Double Reed Society (IDRS), Coelho regularly performs at many of their annual conferences. An avid chamber musician, he has performed with the many chamber groups and has won various competitions including Artists International, Coleman Chamber Music Competition, and Monterey Peninsula Chamber Music Competition. His recordings include Dreaming in Colours (2011) and Explorations (2007) on MSR Classics, Pas de Trois (2006) and Bravura Bassoon (2005) on Crystal Records, and Bassoon Images from the Americas (2003) on Albany Records.

An enthusiastic proponent of new music, Coelho has commissioned and premiered more than 50 bassoon works for solo, chamber and concerto. He has published articles on bassoon performance and literature in the International Double Reed Society Journal, British Double Reed Society Journal, and the German double reed magazine Rohrblatt. His bassoon students have enjoyed success, including positions at universities, orchestras, music festivals and competitions in the United States and abroad. Prior to his position at U-Iowa, Coelho was the Vice-Director and Bassoon Professor at the Federal University of Minas Gerais in Brazil and performed as principal bassoonist in several orchestras. Currently he performs as the principal bassoon with the Quad City Symphony Orchestra.
Benjamin Coelho attended Indiana University, Manhattan School of Music, SUNY Purchase and the Tatuí Conservatory in Brazil. His major teachers include Clóvis Franco, Donald MacCourt, Kim Walker and Arthur Weisberg.

www.benjamincoelho.com

EGIL HOVLAND (b. 1924)
AGNUS DEI, OP. 167 for bassoon and mixed choir a cappella (2000-2002)
Agnus Dei
Qui tollis peccata mundi
Miserere nobis
Dona nobis pacem

BERNARD VAN BEURDEN (b. 1933)
THE END OF TROY for female choir and bassoon (2003)

ADRIAN WILLIAMS (b. 1956)
MY HEART IS STEADFAST for a choir of four mixed voices and bassoon solo (1981)

EBERHARD EYSER (b. 1932)
ORATIONES PRO PACEM for mixed choir and solo bassoon (2010)

ADRIAN VERNON FISH (b. 1956)
OFEREN GERNEWEK VYGHAN (A Little Cornish Mass) (1984/2010)
for bassoon with four vocal soloists and double choir
Comendyans (Introitus)
Arluth (Kyrie)
Gordhys (Gloria)
Sans (Sanctus)
Benyghys (Benedictus)
Agan Tas-ny (Pater Noster)
On Dew (Agnus Dei)

FRANCISCO MIGNONE (1897-1986)
FIVE SONGS for bassoon and soprano (c.1931/1976)
Quando na roça anoitece
Canção de negros
Canção da mãe paupérrima
Assombração
Pinhão quente

MSR Classics