PROGRAM NOTES
Sir Edward Elgar (1857 – 1934)was probably the most prominent English composer of the turn of this century. He had no formal musical training but came from a musical family; his father played organ at St. George’s Roman Catholic Church in Worcester and owned a music store. He began composing at the age of ten for a family play.
One of his most beloved works is Variations on an Original Theme known popularly as Enigma Variations – written for orchestra. The enigma concerns aspects of the theme itself, what its meaning is and also the identity of another – unstated – theme that overshadows the variations yet is never actually played. The fourteen variations were concieved as character sketches of friends of Elgar’s, including himself and his wife. Nimrod is a nickname for Elgar’s publisher, A.J. Jaeger. Jaeger means “hunter” in german and Nimrod is a mighty hunter of the Old Testament Bible.
Scott Hartman began his chamber music career as a member of the Empire Brass. While with the Empire Brass (1984 – 1993), he played concerts throughout the United States, Japan and Europe. He recorded fourteen compact discs and appeared on numerous television and radio broadcasts. Scott has built a career also as a trombone soloist, performing frequently in the U.S. and abroad. Solo engagements with orchestra include concerts with the Boston Pops Esplanade Orchestra under Eric Kunzel.
Scott has recorded with Joseph Alessi, Blair Bollinger, and Mark Lawrence on a CD entitled Four of a Kind and with Frank Tamburro on The Festive Cornet. He teaches at Boston University and the New England Conservatory and publishes brass music through Firebird Editions. He is a clinician for the Selmer/Bach instrument manufacturer.
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