Childs, David - Moto Perpetuo

The newest CD by euphonium soloist David Childs.

Since the euphonium (meaning sweet sound) was 'invented' by Adolphe Sax, there has always been a distinguished tradition of euphonium soloists, Simone Mantia of the Sousa Band being the grandfather of them all.

A quarter of a century ago one could literally count the serious euphonium repertoire on one hand; euphoniumists were hard pressed to expand beyond the familiar crop of 'air with variations' solos and slow melodies extending back to the 19th century. It is still rather hard to believe that the first euphonium concerto was composed as late as 1972, by Joseph Horovitz. Since then, both the euphonium and its repertoire have been in perpetual motion.

David Childs unquestionably stands squarely in the line of this great tradition as this album amply demonstrates. Moto Perpetuo may as well be the description of David's career; he scarcely seems to have time to draw breath with his busy schedule of commissions and performances. His two performances of the Karl Jenkins concerto in the celebrated Carnegie Hall, New York at each end of March 2010 (with orchestra and wind ensemble) epitomise and celebrate the very considerable impact that this star player has already made.

As evidenced on this album, David continues to raise the bar in a musical journey of perpetual motion flowing from the title track through a series of solos celebrating the life and work of the hugely popular Welsh composer Karl Jenkins and culminating in his Euphonium Concerto of 2009. The journey also takes in the finales of two other 21st century concerti (by Cosma and Meechan) as well as the deeply reflective Oration by Howard Snell. The album closes with an American double-tribute to that 19th century tradition and a final track that takes us out of this world!