As we all know, the 2020–2022 COVID-19 lockdown produced many new musical works, inspired by both the time to make some unusual arrangements and by utter boredom, and a sense of playfulness.
Romain Leleu
Thomas Leleu
The Leleu brothers, Romain (trumpet) and Thomas (tuba), both attended the Paris Conservatoire and were both awarded the Premier Prix for their respective instruments. At age 19, Thomas was appointed principal tuba of the Orchestre Philharmonique de l’Opéra of Marseille.
Their new album is a mix of Bach and Brazil, Baroque and Modern, with works by Piazzolla and Bonfa, J.S. Bach and François Couperin, and modern works by Thierry Escaich and Christoph Moschberger, and others.
They decided to create their unique ensemble during the lockdown, and the unique character of their ensemble, made up of two melody instruments that were non-polyphonic by nature, meant that they had to also create their own repertoire. Where they found arrangements, such as Manuel Doutrelant’s transcription of the Johnan Halvorson’s Passacaglia based on a Handel harpsichord suite, they found their own way back to the score, making it both ‘appropriate for ourselves and offering a new take on it.’
One of the elements that comes out in the work is the vocal nature of both instruments. Romain says that he’s always thought of the trumpet as an instrument close to the human voice, and Thomas’ tuba comes through as similarly vocal. Using only two melody instruments, the performers are faced with the challenge of creating a cantabile line while still maintaining the harmony.
Their own pieces are also on the album, such as Thomas’ Improvisation No. 3 and Beaulieu. The Improvisation serves as a prelude to Astor Piazzolla’s Tango-Étude No. 3. A Piazzolla tango played on tuba, Thomas says, often ‘comes as a surprise to audiences, who don’t expect tuba technique to be so virtuosic’.
Romain describes several works where he uses a mute and even a cloth over the bell of the trumpet to change the usual sound to something lighter.
Join the Leleu brothers for a refreshing look at a bit of Bach.
J.S. Bach: Orchestral Suite No. 3 in D major, BWV 1068 – Air
Romain Leleu, Thomas Leleu: Virtuosi
La Dolce Volta LDV 135
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