Tom Rolfs

CJceltics33 · Veteran Member Joined: 24 Aug 2017 Posts: 475

Lately I have been really enjoying the way Rolfs plays, but I can't find many recordings of him. Can someone point me in the right direction? Thanks

tubbs831 · Posted: Tue Mar 24, 2020 11:18 am Post subject: Rolfs Recordings

There are not a ton. He is playing principal on all of the recent BSO/Shostakovich/Nelsons/DG releases. There is also a Tannhauser/Sibelius 2 with Nelsons that was released on the BSO’s in-house label.

There were four releases with Levine: Brahms German Requiem, Ravel Daphnis and Chloe, Mahler 6 and Bolcom Symphony No. 8 (an amazing trumpet blow in the finale). These last two were available as downloads only.

All of the above should be available on the BSO’s website. Also check out WGBH. They broadcast all of the BSO’s Saturday evening concerts. Right now they are broadcasting archived performances from the past five seasons each evening. So plenty of opportunities to hear Mr. Rolfs.

mm55 · Heavyweight Member Joined: 01 Jul 2013 Posts: 1412

To clarify, the BSO concerts are broadcast on 99.5 WCRB (FM), which is part of the WGBH family of stations. Flagship TV and radio stations WGBH-TV and WGBH-FM have almost completely abandoned classical music.

(Occasionally, during "pledge month" several times per year, WGBH-TV broadcasts "beautiful music" classical excerpts from MyMusic in Pittsburgh, where you can listen to a small repertoire of popular pieces while watching nature films, or stock video of some random orchestra playing a completely different piece.)

So look for the BSO on 99.5 FM if you're in Boston, or www.classicalwcrb.org for streaming. The concerts are broadcast and streamed live on Saturday at 8pm ET, repeated on the following Monday at 8pm ET. And typically available for streaming on demand for about a month, so you don't have to miss the concert if you have a Saturday evening gig.

You can find the program listings at bso.org. The trumpet section is outstanding, especially Tom Rolfs.
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kgsmith1 · Posted: Tue Mar 24, 2020 12:18 pm Post subject:

Saving Private Ryan soundtrack.

Also, he would be playing principal in some Pops recordings from the years before he became principal in the BSO.

A trumpet nerd recommendation - check out the Chicowicz book where he plays the drills from the book. I've been meaning to get it, I'd pay the price of a BSO ticket to hear him warm up, although I'm not sure he does the flow studies the same way note for note on the CD that he plays them warming up.

CJceltics33 · Veteran Member Joined: 24 Aug 2017 Posts: 475

Thanks for the info!

kgsmith--can I access that recording without buying the CD?

mm55 · Heavyweight Member Joined: 01 Jul 2013 Posts: 1412

The Gabrieli Album by the National Brass Ensemble includes Tom Rolfs, but I'm not sure what part he plays.
_________________
'75 Bach Strad 180ML/37
'79 King Silver Flair
'07 Flip Oakes Wild Thing
'42 Selmer US
'90 Yamaha YTR6450S(C)
'12 Eastman ETR-540S (D/Eb)
'10 Carol CPT-300LR pkt
'89 Yamaha YCR2330S crnt
'13 CarolBrass CFL-6200-GSS-BG flg