JOURNEYMEN’S SONGS from Navona Records showcases the versatility of the trumpet on works performed by Daniel Zehringer. Accompanied by various instruments, including percussion, string bass, and cello, selected compositions by Steven Winteregg are themed around time and place. A number of works explicitly reference locations, either specifically (Beijing, Shanghai and Hong Kong) in China Crossing, or generally in The City (Chicago). Even Popular Variations, which carries temporally specific references, is a set of variations on the main theme. Popular Variations is unique among the album’s offerings, and is full of eclectic references. The theme upon which the variations are based comes from Antonín “Dvorák’s Symphony No. 9, From the New World”, and is heard in the double bass of the piece’s first movement. The subsequent movements also contain a specific quotation from their referenced time period, which is juxtaposed with the Dvorák. For example, 40’s Dvorák quotes Benny Goodman’s big band tune “Sing, Sing, Sing”, 1950’s Rock Ballad alludes to songs like The Marcels’ “Blue Moon”, 1960’s Sit-Com quotes the theme to the TV Series “Green Acres”, Disco Dvorák 70’s quotes the Village People’s “Macho Man”, and 1980’s Musical quotes Andrew Lloyd Webber’s “The Phantom of the Opera”. Reflections, an austere and lyrical work for solo trumpet, showcases melody and creates variety through its material and by emphasizing different colors of the trumpet, namely through the alternation of Bb and C Trumpets, as well as Flugelhorn and Harmon Mute. • Though Daniel Zehringer is professionally focused on classical trumpet playing, the works on this album showcase the trumpet in a variety of musical contexts • Train to Nowhere led to the orchestra piece, TGV, which has received more performances than any other orchestra piece by composer Steven Winteregg. • Zehringer commissioned a piano reduction of The City and performed the premier of the piano version in February of 2015 • African Fanfare was inspired by the akadinda music of Uganda, and was written for two trumpets and performed by Zehringer. The akadinda is a xylophone-type instrument of African royalty, played by more than one person at a time in the style of a “hocket” • Zehringer is Associate Professor at Wright State University, where he serves as head of the Trumpet Studio and Brass Division among other roles. He is also comfortable on the stage, serving as Principal Trumpet of the Cincinnati Ballet Orchestra, the Springfield Symphony Orchestra, and the Middletown Symphony Orchestra. Throughout his career, Dan has shared the stage with a number of outstanding musicians from many backgrounds, including the Cincinnati Symphony and Pops, the Dayton Philharmonic, Wynton Marsalis, Doc Severinsen, and Aretha Franklin • Steven Winteregg is set to release a selection of his other works on a compilation album on Navona records in the summer of 2016
