On stage: Frankford trumpet player Daniel Orlock will perform in Awesome Americans at the Kimmel Center on Friday.
Musician Daniel Orlock is a longtime fan of American composer Aaron Copland.
That’s why the Frankford trumpet player is especially looking forward to a concert at the Kimmel Center this Friday evening presented by VoxAmaDeus. Its usual focus is Renaissance, Baroque and Classical music — but this concert is more pops-oriented.
Titled Awesome Americans, it features works by George Gershwin, John Williams and Aaron Copland. A highlight will be Copland’s jazz-inspired Piano Concerto — the only concerto he ever wrote. Until now, it’s never been performed in Philadelphia.
“I’ve always had a special interest in Copland,” said Orlock. “I’ve always related to his new American sound.”
Well before rehearsals began, the trumpeter eagerly searched the Internet for recordings of the Copland piano concerto. He found four recordings on YouTube. He was intrigued by the sound and style of this early Copland work, which was written in 1926 and first performed in Boston one year later.
“It’s a highly percussive piece and it has a jazz feel — the syncopation and up-tempo of jazz in the 1920s,” he describes. That makes it far different from Copland’s later works.
“They’re more indicative of the wide-open spaces of frontier America, such as Appalachian Spring,” said Orlock.
Guest soloist for this concerto will be acclaimed British virtuoso Peter Donohoe.
“He’s a great musician, very sensitive in his interpretation of whatever he plays,” said Orlock.
This will be Donohoe’s third appearance with the AmaDeus orchestra. Music director Valentin Radu will conduct.
“He’s an exciting and brilliant musician, both soloist, conductor and choral director — a triple threat,” said Orlock, who’s been with VoxAmaDeus for seven years.
Besides Copland, three George Gershwin classics are on the concert program: Rhapsody in Blue, Concerto in F and An American in Paris.
Orlock has played Rhapsody in Blue many times, especially during his six-year tenure playing with Peter Nero and the Philly Pops. The beloved Gershwin piece was one of Nero’s specialties.
Now, Orlock is looking forward to Donohoe’s interpretation.
“With every soloist, it’s always played differently,” he said.
The third “Awesome American” on the program is composer John Williams, best known for his film scores. The works to be performed include Harry Potter Suite, Raider’s March and The Empire Strikes Back.
“Movie music is always exciting to me,” said Orlock. “I’ve listened to it ever since I was young and listening to the music of the Lone Ranger.”
He wasn’t just listening to music. At age 8, he began playing the trumpet. He grew up as one of five siblings in a musical family. All five youngsters attended Settlement Music School.
His brother, Dennis Orlock, evolved from trumpet to coronet (a smaller trumpet). He is a musician who once toured with Bruce Springsteen. Sister Vera Anne studied harp. As for Daniel Orlock, the trumpet always has been his instrument.
Attending Harding Junior High School, Dan Orlock played in the school band under the guidance of Sid Rothstein. At Frankford High, his music activities expanded even more. He played trumpet and trombone in the school band and sang in the choir. Music director Robert Hamilton was a strong influence.
“He developed us into a choir that was well known as ‘ambassadors of song,’” said Orlock.
At Temple University, the young musician majored in instrumental music, and sang in the chorus.
Ever since then, he’s been an active musician, using one of his four trumpets, depending on the particular concert. His B flat trumpet is the largest, and he uses smaller ones such as the piccolo trumpet for specialized musical needs.
He’s performed in numerous concerts over the years, playing with varied musical groups. Besides Philly Pops and VoxAmaDeus, they include Young Audiences Inc., the Philadelphia Opera Company, Lake George Opera and Saratoga Opera Company.
The Lake George and Saratoga companies perform in summer, and Orlock has enjoyed the music for 30 years.
But summer is still a long way off, and the Awesome Americans concert is just two days away.
One highlight will be Copland’s piano concerto played for the first time in Philadelphia.
“It’s exciting and challenging to perform a new piece,” he said.
But whatever the repertoire, the longtime trumpeter looks forward to performing with VoxAmaDeus.
“I always enjoy these concerts,” he said. “I get to play with musicians who’ve been playing a long time and who are very serious about their craft.” ••
If you go…
The concert titled Awesome Americans — Gershwin, Copland, Williams and presented by VoxAmaDeus takes place this Friday evening, Jan. 16, at 8 p.m. in the Kimmel Center’s Perelman Theater.
