Lucie Vellère: “Deux Essais” (1965) - Lyrebird Brass

Lyrebird Brass: Carla Blackwood (horn), Joel Brennan (trumpet), Don Immel (trombone)
http://lyrebirdbrass.com/

Born and educated in Brussels, Lucie Vellère (1896 – 1966) was best known during her lifetime for her vocal works which earned her the international prize of the “National Council of Women of the U.S.A” and the "Prix du Brabant." One of her final compositions, “Deux Essais” (1965) is a beautifully lyrical brass trio that exploits the versatility of the three instruments, moving from warm, velvety textures in the first movement to frenetic, bouncy passages in the second.

“Deux Essais” remains relatively unknown, with little to no digital footprint on the internet, no record of performances, and no recordings to date. Lyrebird Brass think it is an absolutely lovely piece and have been eager to share it with the world, but several planned performances have been cancelled due to pandemic shutdowns. We thought it fitting to record a performance in celebration of 2022 International Women’s Day in an effort to highlight this overlooked composition and to draw attention to works by remarkable women composers that have unjustly been neglected throughout history.

This performance was recorded 3 February 2022 in Hanson Dyer Hall at the Melbourne Conservatorium of Music (the University of Melbourne), where the members of Lyrebird Brass serve as performance staff. The Conservatorium exists on the traditional lands of the Wurundjeri People of the Kulin Nations.

Special thanks to David Wilkinson for his assistance in helping us with the audio.

“Deux Essais” is the first work on Lyrebird Brass’s trio album, “Tonnerre de Brass.”