The following pieces I did not post these on my "main" media page for various reasons. Some are from college, some have bad audio, or some are difficult to pick out definitive "me" highlights. Despite their imperfections, each are of personal significance. Whatever reason you have made it this far in my website, I hope you enjoy them. Thank you, and make sure you have some good speakers/headphones on!
Festive Overture, Principal Trumpet, US Naval Academy Band
Though written for orchestra, this might be my favorite "band" piece to perform, as the 1st trumpet part caters perfectly to all of my strengths. This particular performance was recorded live at the USNA Main Chapel, hence the large amount of reverb. This concert was also an emotional one, as it marked the last concert band performance for a large amount of my USNA Band colleagues.
Asphalt Cocktail, Principal Trumpet, OSU Wind Symphony
I spent 8 years in the OSU Wind Symphony, counting undergrad and doctoral studies, performing hundreds of works, though none changed the course of my life quit like this one. One day during rehearsal I decided to take the last note of an octave. Despite many annoyed looks, one girl who "dug high notes" for the first time noticed the new trumpet TA. We would eventually get married.
Keystone Celebration, Principal Trumpet, USNAB Brass Ensemble
My first concert as a member of the USNAB was with the Brass Ensemble, with this piece being my first playing the principal part. It has a nice little solo, a lot of double tonguing passages, and includes some pretty high notes for a classical piece (which is why I was assigned this part in the first place). On the first day of rehearsals, I was very nervous and wanted to make sure my colleagues in the trumpet section didn't question whether or not I was the correct hire. After the first run, principal trumpet Carl Lindquist simply said "Ladies and Gentlemen, Matt Harriman has arrived."
Mahler Symphony 2, mvt. 2, Principal Trumpet, USC Orchestra
Despite this being my 2nd year of my masters degree, this was the first time I ever played principal in ANY orchestra. In fact Idid not even own a C trumpet when I started my masters work at USC. When I began my studies at USC, I underwent a complete re-do of my chops, famously not playing the the trumpet once in lessons my entire first semester I studied with Boyde Hood, as he was more concerned with smoothing out a lot of fundamental problems I had with my chops which we worked out with his mouthpiece routine. This required patience on both our accounts. This concert was validation for many months of completely rewiring my face on how to play the trumpet.
Russian Christmas Music, Assistant Principal Trumpet, US Naval Academy Band
The personnel we had in this specific brass section could hang with any section in the world, Military or Orchestral. Do yourself a favor, when you get to the finale (about 12 minutes in), crank the volume.
Trumpet Rhapsody, DMA Solo Recital , Ohio State University
While planning my masters recital literature, Boyde Hood suggested I play Harry James' Trumpet Rhapsody. Despite makes leaps and bounds as a player during my tenure at USC, this tune was just out of my ability. One of my most embarrassing moments was having to tell him in a lesson that it was too hard and I couldn't play it. Hell, even Harry James himself said it was "impossible to play both parts live." My final recital of my DMA at Ohio State, I opened with this. Sometimes it is neat to see exactly just how much you have improved in the span of just a few years.
Mahler Symphony 1, Mvt 4, 2nd Trumpet, USC Orchestra
I was never more in awe of a trumpet player than when I was sitting next to Rob Schaer. Quite simply, Rob is the best all-around trumpet player in the world. Sitting next to him for this was an education in itself. He is now the top-call trumpeter in Hollywood and if you've seen a movie in the past 10 years, you've heard him play. He'd also hate that I wrote this and will make fun of me mercilessly if he ever sees that I wrote this.
Star Trek 2009, 1st C trumpet, US Naval Academy Band
One of my all-time favorite arrangements to play, by my good friend Chris Buchanan, now head arranger for the US Navy Band, Washington DC. This was performed live in the USNA Chapel.