Wind Band

Gemini Concerto (Trumpet, Euphonium & Concert Band)

Grade 5 | 11 Mins

Gemini Concerto was commissioned by and written for Ryukoku University (Japan), André Henry and Shoichiro Hokazono. They gave the premiere with the Ryukoku University Symphonic Band on 3rd December 2016 in the Biwako Hall Center for the Performing Arts in Shiga, Japan. 

Set in three movements, the concerto aims to explore the close relationship, as solo instruments, between the trumpet and euphonium, exploiting the many common factors between the two as well as the subtly different characteristics they possess in terms of both lyrical and rhythmic playing.

The first movement is a bustling toccata, with continuous semiquaver (sixteenth) figuration and harmonic development urging the music forward. Material is shared between the two soloists in conversational form with episodes from the band further developing the contrasting themes.

The second movement is lyrical and improvisatory in nature. The trumpet first states both the main and secondary themes and is answered by the euphonium. A dual cadenza leads directly to the finale, which is a ‘caccia’ in lighter mood, which briefly features a melody from the second movement as a lyrical central section.