Twain, as it is affectionately known, was composed in 1998-99 for jazz trumpet great, Marvin Stamm. Originally, the idea came from James Thompson, former principal trumpet of the Atlanta Symphony Orchestra. He was very supportive of my work and had played several pieces that I had written for the Atlanta Symphony Brass Quintet. Eventually, I wrote a couple of things for Jim and he expressed an interest in a piece that he could play with Marvin Stamm, one of his favorite jazz trumpet artists. Over the years I had become acquainted with Marvin and when I mentioned that Jim was interested he decided we should make it happen.
The concept of Twain was to have a concerto for two trumpet soloists, one classical and one jazz, where both players have to accommodate both styles. Originally the idea was to have Jim Thompson play the classical solo part, but Jim left Atlanta to teach trumpet at The Eastman School. Marvin then suggested the piece feature him and Dennis Najoom, then co-principal trumpet of the Milwaukee Symphony and fellow artist-rep for Boosey and Hawkes band instrument company. In 1998 I began working on the piece. The musical ideas materialized gradually, but once I finalized the themes, the structure of the piece fell into place. Marvin basically gave me free reign. He had heard some of my work for Jim Thompson and trusted me to write something appropriate for him. I tried to create somewhat of a third-stream work bridging the two styles. The main themes are presented in variation in both styles, allowing room for improvisation in the jazz solo part. The “classical” solo part has the option for improvisation and there is some notated “jazz” on the part as well.” Both trumpet parts are in Bb.
After the piece was completed in 1999, Stamm recommended the work to Editions-BIM, a well known publisher of works for brass, based in Vuarmarens, Switzerland. McLean says “they published the piece on Marvin’s good word then had to wait to see if anyone would play it.
Here is the link. Marvin regularly promoted the work to orchestras but found it tough to find an orchestra willing to program a new work. McLean admits “though I’m fairly well known in Atlanta, I’m not a household name elsewhere (not yet, anyway).” Finally, the Twain received its world premiere in February 2008 at the University of Tennessee in Knoxville. Marvin Stamm was guest artist for the jazz solo and UT Professor of Trumpet, Cathy Leach, played the classical role. In 2009 the piece was performed by the Johnstown Symphony with Kevin Eisensmith (jazz) and Matt Barabbas (classical) as soloists.
In 2010, Stamm suggested a re-orchestration of Twain for wind ensemble, thinking that it would allow more opportunities for performance. In April 2011 the wind ensemble version of the piece was premiered at Indiana University of Pennsylvania. Stamm was guest jazz soloist and the classical role was handled by IUP Professor of Trumpet, Dr. Kevin Eisensmith. Twain received its European premiere at the Trinity Laban Conservatoire of Music and Dance, Greenwich, London, November 30, 2011 featuring the school wind ensemble students of the conservatory playing the solo parts. The piece was featured at the International Trumpet Guild Conference in May, 2012 at Columbus State University, Columbus, GA, again with Marvin Stamm performing the jazz solo and Dr. Robert Murray, Professor of Trumpet at CSU in the classical role.
In 2022, the New England Conservatory Symphonic Winds, conducted by William Drury, released a recording of The Twain Have Met, featuring Marvin Stamm and Charles Schlueter, former principal trumpet of the Boston Symphony. Here is a link to that recording.
https://youtu.be/hP6wXNVO8VU?si=lMznVfdS93YWXlX8
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