Troy professor releases new music

Contributed photo John M Long School of Music faculty Dr. Dave Camwell (left), Martin Hybler (middle) and Katerina Pavlíková (right) released their latest album mid-July.

One faculty member with the John M Long School of music talks about his latest album, transposing orchestral pieces for a group of three.

Covert Ensemble, a musical collaboration between Dr. Dave Camwell, Troy University professor of music and director of the jazz ensemble, and Kateřina Pavlíková, released a new album.

Covert Ensemble, alongside Martin Hybler, released “Bedrich Smetana: Three Dances from the Bartered Bride” in mid-July. The three songs featured on the release were originally orchestral pieces composed by Bedrich Smetana in his opera “The Bartered Bride” in 1866.

“This [opera] occurred at a time when many countries that had previously embraced foreign traditions – mainly German ones – began to turn inward, seeking musical expression that touched more deeply their own native instincts,” Camwell said. “‘The Bartered Bride,’ Smetana’s second opera, stands in a pre-eminent position, credited with having established in its country (formerly Bohemia, now the Czech Republic) a national musical consciousness.”

The group chose three of the most famous orchestral movements from Smetana’s opera and changed them for two saxophones – played by Camwell and Pavlíková – and piano – played by Hybler.

The three instrumentalists could not have created and released “Bedrich Smetana: Three Dances from the Bartered Bride” without the help of their production team of editors and marketers.

“The first – ‘Furiant’ - is deceptively tricky, alternating with shifting two and three feels within the meter,” Camwell said. “‘The Polka’ is engaging and tuneful and is often performed as a stand-alone concert piece.

‘Skocna’ is also known as the ‘Dance of the Clowns’ or ‘Dance of the Tumblers’ and is a popular, lively and dynamic dance that is typically performed as part of concert suites rather than within the full opera.”

Pavlíková and Camwell worked together to create music videos on their YouTube channel, Covert Ensemble.

Future listeners can find Covert Ensemble on all streaming platforms, radio and on YouTube at Covert Ensemble. Those interested in keeping up with the group can find them on Facebook and Instagram @ covertensemble, where they keep their pages regularly updated.