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My Song of Songs reviews
1999 - 2000
Reviews by:
James T. Madeja, International Trumpet Guild Journal
Dr. Ronald Holz, The Brass Band Bridge
Review by Dudley Bright
It's not easy to say exactly what goes into a producing a successful solo CD. Is it the brilliance of playing, the careful selection of the repertoire, the stunning quality of sound or even the informative and helpful sleeve notes? Who knows? What one can say is that when you have My Song of Songs in your CD player and the notes in your hand, you are in for a wholly satisfying experience. For not only is Philip Smith a consummate artist and performer (he should be, he's Principal Trumpet with the New York Philharmonic) he's also a Christian with a burning desire to share his faith through music.
I was a little apprehensive when first listening to this recording because I'd been so enthralled reading Phil's notes on his motivation, the music and it's origins. From the preface we discover that he loves music. He loves contemporary gospel songs and he loves revitalizing old ones. He's a man with a militant Christian faith. His message is that 'Christ, our Savior, shed his blood on the cross of Calvary as a sacrifice for our sins'. He believes in the necessity of 'being strong and firm' and that 'there will come a time when we who are Christians will have to dig down and plant our feet'. These themes are self-evident in his choice of music-from the title track 'My Song of Songs' and the traditional 'Only One Intention' to the upbeat 'Joshua Swings the Battle' and 'Trumpet Call'. And just to make sure the message is well understood all the relevant song words are printed in the booklet.
So, then, does the music live up to the writing? The promise is amply fulfilled. Philip plays with total security and ease throughout a wide range of styles. 'Joshua Swings the Battle' is played with tremendous flare and a sizzling sound; 'Excursions', a tour de force by well-known film composer Bruce Broughton, is given in the best symphonic style; while Eric Ball's vintage 'Glory To His Name' is polished up to glittering brilliance. Philip's sound is rich and bright and his style, always flexible, is a marvelous synthesis of all that's best in American and British brass playing.
While there is always a lyrical quality in his playing he plays with great strength and a bravura that never degenerates into brashness. Although the great majority of the tracks are played on a trumpet, this only serves to enhance items such as 'Rhapsody On Negro Spirituals'-one of my personal favorites. On the other hand, Philip's rich but vibrant cornet sound can be heard in James Curnow's attractive 'Concertpiece For Cornet' and his beautifully moving and sensitive performance of David Catherwood's 'They Shall Be Mine'.
There is plenty of variety, too, with the inclusion of the duet 'Arabesque' and the trio 'The Victors', when the soloist is ably joined by New York Staff Bandsmen Michael Baker and Gordon Ward. It would be true to say that the solo playing on this recording would not convince so well were it not for the crisp and colorful accompaniments of the New York Staff Band. This is not just a great trumpet CD but a great band one too.
Last but not least is the absolutely vital contribution of the sound engineer, Ted Marshall. He has given us a bright, resonant yet detailed balance that brings all the variety of sound to life. The soloist is set clearly in among a full supporting band sound and one can only congratulate the whole team for producing such a consistent recording over more than 18 months.
What I find particularly refreshing is the absence of any attempt by Philip to draw attention to his undoubted gifts as an instrumentalist. Instead he touchingly pays tribute to the influence of his legendary cornetist father Derek Smith, who conducts the lovely final item 'A Gaelic Blessing'. If there is an absence of display for display's sake there is certainly not an absence of dazzling virtuosity, which is there solely to serve the music. Let Philip have the last word: "If anyone hears this album and only hears the music, they've missed the point. My prayer is that they will hear the message. I want them to know my motivation-what Christ means to me, how he has led me and how he continues to lead."
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Review from the International Trumpet Guild Journal
by James T. Madeja, Recording Reviews Editor
International Trumpet Guild JournalMy Song of Songs is a collection of 15 hymns, gospel medleys, contemporary Christian songs, and secular works composed or arranged for solo trumpet with the brass band and performed by Philip Smith, principal trumpet of the New York Philharmonic. Accompanying Smith is the New York Staff Band, founded in 1887 and currently the longest serving staff band in The Salvation Army.
Smith is in peak form both technically and musically. The album is a textbook clinic on trumpeting as Smith convincingly soars above the band. The beauty of his lyrical style is strikingly evident throughout the album, but particularly on the title track. In the hymn and gospel settings, Smith captures the essential character of each work while maintaining a sense of spirituality - sometimes noble, sometimes serene.
The New York Staff Band performs consistently well throughout the album, under the able direction of Ronald Waiksnoris, and the band matches Smith's performance level in terms of technical precision and musical expression. As strong as the performance is by both Smith and the New York Staff Band, the most questionable element is the repertoire. Though the program does indeed contain several works of merit (Concertpiece for Cornet by James Curnow, Arabasque by Joseph Turrin, Balakireff's Georgian Song arranged by Ralph Pearce, Excursions by Bruce Broughton), not all the works on the album are as artistically satisfying (Joshua Swings the Battle, The Victors, Only One Intention). The compositional formulas become much too similar from piece to piece; the obligatory scalar runs to the final high note become all too predictable. Simply put, the repertoire does not sustain musical interest throughout the program.
Smith states clearly in the liner notes that the conception of this album including the repertoire selection was guided by extra-musical considerations. "As I decided on repertoire, I was guided by a desire to connect with the heritage of the New York Staff Band, my own experience in the staff band, my dad's connection as staff bandmaster, and my connection with him. But if anyone hears this album and hears only the music, they've missed the point. My prayer is that they will hear the message." Smith later comments, "My entire professional career I've tried to make sure I'm not in it just for the music. The Lord has placed me there, not just to be a trumpet player, but to be a Christian witness in a world that far too often doesn't give any acknowledgement to Christ."
Consistent with the mission of the album, the lyrics to many of the hymns are included in the liner notes. My Song of Songs consists of outstanding performances by both Phil Smith and the New York Staff Band of pleasant and spiritually meaningful, but not outstanding, musical literature.
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Review from The Brass Band Bridge, September 2000
by Dr. Ronald Holz
Words will fail here, so you may not want to read, but merely take my suggestion - buy this incredible disc!
Smith is at the peak of his form and the NYSB is also at a high water mark in its famed history. The combination is magnificent, electric. The title of the CD does not only refer to a lovely sacred song by Johnny Hallett from the late 1950s, a period of time when Phil's dad first joined the New York Staff as cornet soloist. It signifies, emphasizes Phil Smith's priorities.
His Christian faith comes first and underpins, motivates all else he does in music as a trumpeter at the top of the orchestral profession. Phil tells you about this in his excellent liner notes, notes that especially help you understand some of the deeper works recorded as well as personal information about Smith's relationship with this father and this excellent band. Fittingly, Derek leads the final item, A Gaelic Blessing.
I commend the whole album to you, but it was a personal joy to hear two old classics brought so splendidly back to life: Glory to His Name, and Rhapsody on Negro Spirituals. For developing cornet players in the early 1960s-like conductor Ron Waiksnoris, myself, or way down in Australia, David King, who has talked to me about this-Derek Smith's performance of this Rhapsody (under my father's baton on the Word Records album Symphony in Brass) was to us THE model of 'classic cornet playing'. Now comes Philip, who lays down his own definitive version! I could go on and on, but the superlatives overwhelm me.
Smith will also overpower you with technical brilliance on such pieces as Excursions or Concertpiece, or amaze you with his handling of contemporary styles-Joshua, for instance. Yet ultimately the heart of Smith's excellence is his lyrical legato playing on song-like material that allows this album to transcend the merely virtuosic. Would I be exaggerating to say that if you only had one brass performance disc to buy this year-this would be it? I don't think so.
