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Jeffrey Agrell
Associate Professor of Horn Jeffrey Agrell retired from the University of Iowa School of Music after teaching horn and creative music there 2000-2021. Before that he was Associate Principal Horn in the Lucerne Symphony Orchestra (Switzerland) 1975-2000. He has won awards as both a composer and a writer, with well over one hundred published articles to his credit and many compositions published, recorded, and performed worldwide on TV & radio, concert stages, festivals and competitions. He frequently gives concerts, lectures, and workshops nationally and internationally. He did two terms on the Advisory Council of the International Horn Society and taught at the prestigious Kendall Betts Horn Camp 2005-2020. He has recorded four CDs of nonjazz improvisations. He is the author of nine books on this type of improvisation, including Improvisation Games for Classical Musicians, Vol. 1 (2008) and Vol. II (2016).
Awards
Winner of the 2000 composition contest of the International Clarinet Association for "Rhythm Suite" for clarinet and marimba.
Gear
Schmid Eb triple horn
Tags
Review of "Mosaic" by Duende (Jeffrey Agrell, horn, Gil Selinger, cello, and Evan Mazunik, piano): "Modern arrangements of early music are nothing new, but this fresh new collection of improvisatory interpretations puts a different face on the practice. Especially unusual is such an approach within the standard classical performance arena; the work of Duende reminded me more of some of the similar efforts on the ECM jazz label. There was also a recent classical guitar CD of similar import. Some of these composers - such as Hildegarde von Bingen - go back as far as the 12th century. Instead of researching the musicological details of the music and its accurate performance according to the norms of the period, Duende takes the melodies and wails on them much as a jazz pianist would do with a tune from the Great American Songbook. The three skilled musicians of Duende are discovering the future thru the past. They are bringing back the element of improvisation which was a central part of classical performance up until the Romantic era. Their idea is that if they can create music on the spot, so to speak, why not create completely fresh interpretations of existing old music? The idea behind using Mosaic for the CD title is perfect. I’m a fan of mosaics, and they mostly have some rough edges but come together in a glorious work of art. The same could be said of these 13 short improvisations. Some are of dance music, such as a saltarello, and really swing in some spots. The lengthiest is a very imaginative 8 1/2 minute improvisation on the popular medieval theme The Armed Man (which Karl Jenkins used for his famous recent Mass). The two Sephardic tunes add a sparkle and oriental twist to the program and are among those making use of some additional percussion sounds. The transparent-quality sound was recorded at the University of Iowa School of Music, my old alma mater. " Audiophile Audition (John Sunier)
Primary Instrument
French horn
Willing to teach
Intermediate to advanced
Credentials/Background
Horn professor at The University of Iowa, on the faculty of the Kendall Betts Horn Camp, former faculty member of the Asian Youth Orchestra (Hong Kong), co-host (with John Clarke) of the annual Improvisation, teaches Horn Week at Shell Lake Art Center Aug. 10-15, Shell Lake, Wisconsin; University of Iowa Band Camp. Gives horn clinics and masterclasses, workshops and concerts in contemporary classical improvisation and Soundpainting. Available for high school horn clinics, workshops, concerts, All-State preparation
Photos
Music
Recordings: As Leader | As Sideperson