ITEC 2001 Artists

Miraphone Tuba Quartet

The story of an Unusual Ensemble

The quartet has been giving concerts around the world for the past five years - with resounding success and to great acclaim

Unwieldy, heavy and huge is the impression given by the largest of the brass instruments: the tuba. With its deep, resonant tones the instrument rarely emerges out of the background. Four French tuba players, Philippe Wendling (28), Patrick Couttet (26), Philippe Gallet (29), and Olivier Galmant (33), members of the Miraphone Tuba Quartet demonstrate, however, what this often neglected instrument is capable of. For five years the four esteemed musicians have been giving concerts in Germany, Austria, Switzerland, France, Italy, Spain, the Netherlands, and the USA. The quartet has established a reputation as an excellent ensemble that amazes even connoisseurs of brass bands.

A playful beginning

The paths of the four musicians crossed several times during their studies, but it was not until 1994 at the National Music College in Paris that all four found themselves at the same place at the same time. Four young students with similar experiences, the same passion for brass music, and the same instruments. No wonder that all four quickly got to know each other both personally and musically. Four tuba players alone do not constitute a classic constellation, yet at the time none of the four musicians considered forming an ensemble. But the joy of experimentation of these four Frenchmen soon showed itself: it had to be possible to introduce these often ignored instruments to a broader public with an entertaining repertoire. "We spent the first few months looking for suitable arrangements that did not so much emphasize the serious character of the instruments as their rich variants," reminisces Philippe Wendling. The search proved to be so successful that all four decided to take the decisive step onto the public state without taking themselves too seriously in the process. Consequently, the quartet's first performance did not take place in a concert hall, but rather on the occasion of a restaurant opening in Paris.

A dream comes true

But what do four French musicians from Paris have to do with a traditional Upper Bavaria undertaking located in Waldkraiburg? Philippe Wendling and Patrick Couttet visited the Frankfurt Music Fair in 1995 to test the tenor tubas (Euphoniums) of various manufacturers, among them models from Miraphone. "It is important to a musician to know which instruments and what kinds of innovations are being offered," says Patrick Couttet. "An instrument is always a very personal matter. Every musician demands and expects something else. The euphoniums from Miraphone, however, had both Philippe and me convinced - from a technical as well as from a tonal standpoint."

Both musicians spoke to the managing director of Miraphone e.G., Rudolf Schott, who invited the entire quartet to come to Waldkraiburg and tour the company. An offer that young artists accepted several months later. "We were truly fascinated by the idea to observe how our instruments are created. That's why we spontaneously decided to give small concert for the employees, thus expressing our thanks," explains Olivier Galmant. A concert with consequences. At the ensuing luncheon to which Mr. Schott had invited the musicians, Miraphone unexpectedly made the artists an offer: an all-inclusive sponsoring agreement for the quartet.

"We got along from the start," says Rudolf Schott in retrospect. "After we heard them play we knew we wanted to do something for the quartet." That incident marks the beginning of the Miraphone Tuba Quartet. "For young musicians like us, this offer was a dream - it was something we never expected," relates Philippe Wendling. Miraphone provided the quartet with new instruments and handled the necessary advertising. The four artists were able to pursue their goal with new resources: Increase familiarity with the tuba and euphonium and convey a young, spirited picture of the instruments to audiences.

A departure from the conventional

The Miraphone Tuba Quartet brand now stands for an ensemble with an unusually broad repertoire, and the musicians, Philippe Wendling, Patrick Couttet, Philippe Gallet, and Olivier Galmant, are known around the world for their mastery of the instruments.

The quartet's repertoire ranges from Beethoven to Schoenburg, from Joplin to Lennon. The declared goal of the four musicians is to combine classical and modern music in their program and to thereby emphasize the multifaceted versatility of their instruments. "Tuba and euphonium are closely connected to both classical music and jazz," Philippe Gallet explains. In their concerts, the Miraphone Tuba Quartet surprises audiences with unusual arrangements and the ability to perform even the most technically difficult pieces with apparent ease. The intention is to provide a discerning, but always entertaining program that reveals to the public that the tuba and the euphonium have a right to be considered solo instruments. "We do not ascribe to a particular type of music. As far as we're concerned, it's the sound and enjoyment that have to reach the audience.

The Miraphone Tuba Quartet toured the United States in 1999, and in 2000 held a concert at the International Tuba and Euphonium Conference 2000 in Canada. It's third CD was released mid November 2000.

Miraphone e.G.

Miraphone eG, a registered cooperative company, is one of the largest instrument producers worldwide. Founded in Germany in 1946, the company with headquarters in Waldkraiburg (Bavaria) offers a wide range of high-quality brass wind instruments. With the share of exports totalin 70%, Miraphone eG is represented in all international markets, in particular in Europe, the United States, and Japan. The company has melded the long tradition of German metal wind instrument makers with state-of-the-art technology and hence endeavors to create trend-setting innovations in the area of brass wind instruments. The ATV system for replaceable valves recently developed by Miraphone eG represents a one-of-a-kind worldwide innovation in this area.

The company currently employs a staff of 85, 40 of whom shareholders in the cooperative. The development of the instruments has always been pursued in close cooperation with well-known musicians. Famous artists like Erich Rinner, a member of the Munich Philharmonic, Friedrich Loimayr, 1st baritonist with the Vöckla musicians, Philippe Wendling, a member of the Miraphone Tuba Quartet, or Markus Theinert, conductor of the Bavarian Police Music Corps, assist Miraphone with their competence and experience. The company was awarded the German Music Instrument Prize in 1998.

Wilhelm Girschele Manager Sales Traunreuther Strasse 8 D-84478 Waldkraiburg Phone: +49 (8638) 96 82 0 Telefax: +49 (8638) 82 86 3 E-mail: wilhelm.girschele@miraphone.de http://www.miraphone.de