RIP Joe Miserendino 1932-2010

[Highams]

On returning from holiday in France, I heard the sad news that my dear friend Joe Miserendino passed away on Friday, August 6th. after a long fight with cancer.

I stumbled across Joe’s music quite by accident on his Sibelius music page in 2001, a little duet called Canzona di Donna, that I adapted as a duet for Sue & I to play on Baritone & Euphonium. I sent him a recording following the performance and he was hooked on low brass!

That little piece was later rearranged as a solo for Sue’s 40th. birthday ‘Serenade for Susan’ and last year Joe arranged it for a brass quintet to play at our wedding.

I got to meet Joe twice in person. He flew over for the premiere of his 3 movement concerto ‘The Willson Concertante’ with the City of London Winds. In rehearsal everybody loved him!

That was later premiered in its orchestral version with the Southampton University Sinfonietta;

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He stayed the week with us and we toured the London sights;

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Later, when I visited the US Army Tuba/Euph conference, I got to visit him and his wife Dottie Lee at their home in Virginia, with Tommy Yandle and Mark Hill. That was very special.

Working with Joe on his major Euphonium works was a joy. He never considered them anything special, and would often ask me if it should ‘go in his recycle bin’.

Yet anyone who has played his music can’t help but be moved by his writing, with emotion and often lots of wry humour.

After waiting way too long, he finally got his music into print, long may it be enjoyed.

CB

[Brassworks 4]

You will be missed, Joe.