By Hilarie Ashton
The stage lights penetrated his concert black attire and reflected glints of gold from his brass French horn. The tonal harmony of three instruments drifted out over an audience of hundreds of world-class musicians. A familiar picture.
For BYU horn professor Laurence Lowe, performing at the 2010 International Horn Symposium in Brisbane, Australia, was nothing out of the ordinary. Lowe had performed at these symposiums and for other international audiences on many occasions.
This performance, however, was in celebration of something quite out of the ordinary.
Lowe’s “Sonata No. 2” for horn, soprano and piano won second prize in the International Horn Society Composition Contest in February of 2010. He was named one of two winners out of 97 entrants from 15 different countries. These two winning pieces were later performed at the symposium in July, where Lowe had the unique honor of playing his own work as a winner of the composition contest.
“These International Horn Society symposiums are among the best venues for performing new works and displaying talents to the world horn community,” Lowe said. “This year, I was able to get international exposure as a performer and a composer.”
The International Horn Society, formed in June of 1970, has over 3,500 members from 55 countries, including internationally renowned symphony musicians, touring artists, university teachers, horn manufacturers, students and composers.
Typically, the majority of those who enter the society’s composition contest are particularly prominent composers. World-renowned composer Paul Lansky won the first place prize in 2005, the same year Lowe was awarded an honorable mention for his “Sonata No. 1.”
“I think the reason certain compositions do well is because they can be considered important additions to the repertory of the instrument,” Lowe said. “They are pieces that will be played and make a difference to horn performers.”
“Sonata No. 1” was the product of Lowe’s first efforts at serious composing, yet it has still significantly contributed to the world horn community. The Caccia movement of the sonata is on the repertory list of the International Horn Competition of America.
Several more of his works have been performed internationally, including a horn duet, a woodwind quintet and a sextet for piano and winds. Currently, he is completing a sonata for piano and violin.
“I try to make my compositions tonal yet artistic and fresh,” Lowe said. “I believe there are not enough like this written in the 21st century for horn.”
As an up-and-coming composer with less than a decade of experience, Lowe has been met with significant acclaim as he continues to fill this niche.
Source: CFAC Website