by Rachel Huchthausen
Dr. Sharon Johnson, Prof. Roy Smith, and Mrs. Julie Smith shared a magnificent program of film music arranged for flute, trumpet, and piano last Tuesday (January 18), featuring the music of John Williams (Star Wars, Catch Me if You Can, Far and Away, and Harry Potter), Thomas Newman (Little Women, 1994), and Michael Giacchino (Ratatouille and Up!). The making of these particular arrangements were yet another creative outlet during the last year of the Pandemic. Noting the lack of duets for flute and trumpet, the Smiths found themselves given enough time to finally amend this lack through the quarantine period of this past year.
Arranging for these two instruments is particularly challenging because of the imbalance of sound between the Smith’s respective instruments—it is easy for the trumpet to overpower the flute. However, the Smith’s arrangements of these scores were up to the challenge.
The concert last Tuesday featured many virtuosic passages for flute and the warm iconic sound of the trumpet so essential for scores such as Ratatouille, Catch Me if You Can, and “Married Life” from Up!. Particularly notable were the balance and tight collaboration especially in “Joy Ride” from John Williams’ Escapades Suite, the haunting Irish melodies and accompaniment from Far and Away, and the moment at the end of “Married Life” when both flautist and trumpeter lowered their instruments to watch Dr. Johnson call from the keys the final heartbreaking statement of the theme.
Their recital left the audience members wanting to hear more live performances of film music, flautists, trumpeters, and pianists hoping to try their hands at collaboration together, and musicians with the euphoric feeling of having listened to great music. Thank you, Dr. Johnson, Prof., and Mrs. Smith, for a marvelous Night at the Movies.★
