Brian Bowman
Encyclopedia
Brian Bowman is a euphonium
professor, performer and recording artist notable for having sat lead euphonium in the premier bands of both the United States Navy
and the United States Air Force
as well as having performed the first euphonium recital at Carnegie Hall
.
School of Music in Ann Arbor Michigan
.
, two of which were premier ensembles for their respective services. Bowman served as solo euphonium in the United States Navy Band
from 1970 to 1974. This was followed by a two year period serving with a joint ensemble, the United States Armed Forces Bicentennial Band. He completed his career with the United States Air Force Band, serving from 1976 to 1991.
Brian Bowman has achieved several notable firsts in his performing career. Among these are being the first to perform a recital on euphonium
in New York
’s famed Carnegie Hall
auditorium. He also was the first guest euphonium artist at the Leonard Falcone International Tuba and Euphonium Festival
at Blue Lake
in Twin Lakes
Michigan
.
Brian Bowman has recorded dozens of ensemble performances in addition to six solo albums on euphonium
. He has recorded many new works for euphonium
, many of which were written specifically for the instrument. One of the albums, reviewed in The New Records in 1979 was described as containing all music that seemed to "exist just to have something for the euphonium to play". While going on to describe Bowman as "a master of his instrument", the review of the compositions was not favorable.
and has been called "The most famous euphonium soloist in the world today". He became known for a "warm, velvet tone" and promoted a style of playing described as "traditional vibrato...balanced by..clean and impressive technique, from-the-heart expressiveness, and a sense of calm assurance". He advanced this new image of the instrument not only through his performances of new literature, premiering 4 of the 7 such works commissioned by the former Tubists Universal Brotherhood Association (TUBA) now known as the International Tuba Euphonium Association
, but also by serving as its president, being the first euphonium
player to do so.
Bowman has been involved in the evolution of the instrument itself. He has served as a consultant to the Willson Musical Instrument Company during the design of their euphoniums. Additionally, he has been instrumental in DEG Music Products releasing a line of mouthpiece
s bearing Bowman’s name.
Brian Bowman is presently Professor
of Euphonium
at the University of North Texas
. He has previously served on the faculty of 8 other universities. He continues to perform as a member of several ensembles and serves as a guest instructor and clinician frequently.
Euphonium
The euphonium is a conical-bore, tenor-voiced brass instrument. It derives its name from the Greek word euphonos, meaning "well-sounding" or "sweet-voiced"...
professor, performer and recording artist notable for having sat lead euphonium in the premier bands of both the United States Navy
United States Navy
The United States Navy is the naval warfare service branch of the United States Armed Forces and one of the seven uniformed services of the United States. The U.S. Navy is the largest in the world; its battle fleet tonnage is greater than that of the next 13 largest navies combined. The U.S...
and the United States Air Force
United States Air Force
The United States Air Force is the aerial warfare service branch of the United States Armed Forces and one of the American uniformed services. Initially part of the United States Army, the USAF was formed as a separate branch of the military on September 18, 1947 under the National Security Act of...
as well as having performed the first euphonium recital at Carnegie Hall
Carnegie Hall
Carnegie Hall is a concert venue in Midtown Manhattan in New York City, United States, located at 881 Seventh Avenue, occupying the east stretch of Seventh Avenue between West 56th Street and West 57th Street, two blocks south of Central Park....
.
Education
Brian Bowman was born in 1946. The son of a music teacher, Brian Bowman learned to play with the guidance of his father in the elder Bowman’s grade school band. He received his college instruction at the University of MichiganUniversity of Michigan
The University of Michigan is a public research university located in Ann Arbor, Michigan in the United States. It is the state's oldest university and the flagship campus of the University of Michigan...
School of Music in Ann Arbor Michigan
Michigan
Michigan is a U.S. state located in the Great Lakes Region of the United States of America. The name Michigan is the French form of the Ojibwa word mishigamaa, meaning "large water" or "large lake"....
.
Playing career
Bowman served as a member of three United States military bandsUnited States military bands
There are many military bands in the United States military. Some are assigned to specific military bases or units. There are also bands associated with each of the service academies....
, two of which were premier ensembles for their respective services. Bowman served as solo euphonium in the United States Navy Band
United States Navy Band
The United States Navy Band, based at the historic Washington Navy Yard in Washington, D.C., has served the nation as the official musical organization of the United States Navy since 1925...
from 1970 to 1974. This was followed by a two year period serving with a joint ensemble, the United States Armed Forces Bicentennial Band. He completed his career with the United States Air Force Band, serving from 1976 to 1991.
Brian Bowman has achieved several notable firsts in his performing career. Among these are being the first to perform a recital on euphonium
Euphonium
The euphonium is a conical-bore, tenor-voiced brass instrument. It derives its name from the Greek word euphonos, meaning "well-sounding" or "sweet-voiced"...
in New York
New York City
New York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...
’s famed Carnegie Hall
Carnegie Hall
Carnegie Hall is a concert venue in Midtown Manhattan in New York City, United States, located at 881 Seventh Avenue, occupying the east stretch of Seventh Avenue between West 56th Street and West 57th Street, two blocks south of Central Park....
auditorium. He also was the first guest euphonium artist at the Leonard Falcone International Tuba and Euphonium Festival
Leonard Falcone International Tuba and Euphonium Festival
The is an amateur tuba and euphonium festival and competition, held annually the second week in August at the Blue Lake Fine Arts Camp at Twin Lake, Michigan.- Origin and goals of the festival :...
at Blue Lake
Blue Lake Fine Arts Camp
Blue Lake Fine Arts Camp is a Michigan non-profit organization located in the Manistee National Forest that provides summer fine arts camp and international exchange programs in music, art, dance and drama.-Blue Lake Fine Arts Camp:...
in Twin Lakes
Twin Lakes
-Communities:Canada*Twin Lakes Indonesia* Twin Lakes , aka Danau Kembar, West SumatraUnited Kingdom*Twin Lakes, a family theme park in Melton Mowbray, LeicestershireUnited States...
Michigan
Michigan
Michigan is a U.S. state located in the Great Lakes Region of the United States of America. The name Michigan is the French form of the Ojibwa word mishigamaa, meaning "large water" or "large lake"....
.
Brian Bowman has recorded dozens of ensemble performances in addition to six solo albums on euphonium
Euphonium
The euphonium is a conical-bore, tenor-voiced brass instrument. It derives its name from the Greek word euphonos, meaning "well-sounding" or "sweet-voiced"...
. He has recorded many new works for euphonium
Euphonium
The euphonium is a conical-bore, tenor-voiced brass instrument. It derives its name from the Greek word euphonos, meaning "well-sounding" or "sweet-voiced"...
, many of which were written specifically for the instrument. One of the albums, reviewed in The New Records in 1979 was described as containing all music that seemed to "exist just to have something for the euphonium to play". While going on to describe Bowman as "a master of his instrument", the review of the compositions was not favorable.
Professional career
Brian Bowman broke new ground in the American understanding of the euphoniumEuphonium
The euphonium is a conical-bore, tenor-voiced brass instrument. It derives its name from the Greek word euphonos, meaning "well-sounding" or "sweet-voiced"...
and has been called "The most famous euphonium soloist in the world today". He became known for a "warm, velvet tone" and promoted a style of playing described as "traditional vibrato...balanced by..clean and impressive technique, from-the-heart expressiveness, and a sense of calm assurance". He advanced this new image of the instrument not only through his performances of new literature, premiering 4 of the 7 such works commissioned by the former Tubists Universal Brotherhood Association (TUBA) now known as the International Tuba Euphonium Association
International Tuba Euphonium Association
The International Tuba Euphonium Association , founded in 1973 as the Tubists Universal Brotherhood Association , is an international organization dedicated to performers, teachers and friends of the tuba and euphonium....
, but also by serving as its president, being the first euphonium
Euphonium
The euphonium is a conical-bore, tenor-voiced brass instrument. It derives its name from the Greek word euphonos, meaning "well-sounding" or "sweet-voiced"...
player to do so.
Bowman has been involved in the evolution of the instrument itself. He has served as a consultant to the Willson Musical Instrument Company during the design of their euphoniums. Additionally, he has been instrumental in DEG Music Products releasing a line of mouthpiece
Mouthpiece (brass)
On brass instruments the mouthpiece is the part of the instrument which is placed upon the player's lips. The purpose of the mouthpiece is a resonator, which passes vibration from the lips to the column of air contained within the instrument, giving rise to the standing wave pattern of vibration in...
s bearing Bowman’s name.
Brian Bowman is presently Professor
Professor
A professor is a scholarly teacher; the precise meaning of the term varies by country. Literally, professor derives from Latin as a "person who professes" being usually an expert in arts or sciences; a teacher of high rank...
of Euphonium
Euphonium
The euphonium is a conical-bore, tenor-voiced brass instrument. It derives its name from the Greek word euphonos, meaning "well-sounding" or "sweet-voiced"...
at the University of North Texas
University of North Texas
The University of North Texas is a public institution of higher education and research in Denton. Founded in 1890, UNT is part of the University of North Texas System. As of the fall of 2010, the University of North Texas, Denton campus, had a certified enrollment of 36,067...
. He has previously served on the faculty of 8 other universities. He continues to perform as a member of several ensembles and serves as a guest instructor and clinician frequently.
See also
- EuphoniumEuphoniumThe euphonium is a conical-bore, tenor-voiced brass instrument. It derives its name from the Greek word euphonos, meaning "well-sounding" or "sweet-voiced"...
- List of euphonium players
- International Tuba Euphonium AssociationInternational Tuba Euphonium AssociationThe International Tuba Euphonium Association , founded in 1973 as the Tubists Universal Brotherhood Association , is an international organization dedicated to performers, teachers and friends of the tuba and euphonium....
- Leonard Falcone International Tuba and Euphonium FestivalLeonard Falcone International Tuba and Euphonium FestivalThe is an amateur tuba and euphonium festival and competition, held annually the second week in August at the Blue Lake Fine Arts Camp at Twin Lake, Michigan.- Origin and goals of the festival :...