Chamber Music Noms

For the most part, I've tried to avoid transcriptions for brass but I do want to talk about the Vienna Horns Chamber Ensemble.  This group, to my knowledge, performs mostly transcriptions from movie soundtracks, but the musicianship they have is glorious! The Vienna Horns chamber music ensemble, founded in 2002, is probably the only one of its kind in the world. Its members are the lead hornists of Austrian orchestras, and they all play exclusively the Vienna Horn in F, an instrument that is used only in Vienna and that is partly responsible for the distinctive Vienna Sound. The ensemble’s repertoire includes not only original works, virtuoso arrangements of film music, but also works rooted in unsophisticated Austrian folk culture and temporary compositions that show off the instrument’s warm, dark sound. -  Vienna Horns website Members of this group are:  - Thomas Jöbstl, Josef Reif, Markus Obmann, Raphael Stöffelmayr, Gerhard Kulmer, Thomas Bieber, Walter Reitb...

I recently presented on the North Texas Euphonium Quartet for my last presentation in our class with Professor Manning.  This is a group that is killing it on all fronts, they are up and coming and continually progressing as a group.  Below is their biography from their website.  I'd like to note that in their biography it states that they are currently studying with Dr. Brian Bowman at the University of North Texas, however, they have gone off (individually) to teach at colleges and pursue professional playing careers.  In a recent interview with Danny Chapa, it was mentioned that within the next five years they will all have completed their Doctorates. Biography: Since its formation in 2012, the North Texas Euphonium Quartet has emerged as the leader among a formidable new crop of euphonium quartets from all across the globe.  The group is comprised of doctoral candidates currently studying with Dr. Brian Bowman at the University of North Texas, and...

One of my favorite types of choirs is the Trombone Choir.  This ensemble, to me, is truly magnificent (of course when it involves high level players).  The colors and sound, they draw me in every time.  In my first post I discussed that some transcriptions/arrangements work really well from piano to brass, in this case from choral music to a trombone choir arrangement.  O Magnum Mysterium (1994) by Morten Lauridsen is one of the most beautiful works I've ever heard.  O Magnum Mysterium was commissioned by Marshall Rutter in honor of his wife Terry Knowles.  The texts from this chant are related to Christmas, they say: O magnum mysterium  et admirabile sacramentum  ut animalia viderent Dominum  natum jacetum in praesepio!  Beata Virgo, cujus viscera  meruerunt portare  Dominum Christum. Alleluia!  O great mystery, and wondrous sacrament that animals should see the new- born Lord, lying in their manger! Blessed is the V...

Michael Tilson Thomas is Music Director of the San Francisco Symphony, Founder and Artistic Director of the New World Symphony, and Conductor Laureate of the London Symphony Orchestra. In addition to conducting the world’s leading orchestras, MTT is also noted for his work as a composer and a producer of multimedia projects that are dedicated to music education and the re-imagination of the concert experience. He has won eleven Grammys for his recordings, is the recipient of the National Medal of Arts, and is a Chevalier dans l’ordre des Arts et des Lettres of France. -  Michael Tilson Thomas Website Street Song ( 1988) was composed by MTT.  Here are notes from the composer:  Street Song is a work in three contiguous parts — and interweaving of three songs. The first song opens with a jagged downward scale suspending in the air a sweetly dissonant harmony that very slowly resolves. This moment of resolution is followed by responses of various kinds. ...

The American Brass Quintet is one of the leading ensembles of its kind.  They are based in New York and have been extremely successful since they were established in 1960.  One of the many things that makes this quintet unique is that they do not use tuba as their lowest voice, instead they use the bass trombone.  The choice of using bass trombone instead of tuba might have had to with the performance of Baroque and Renaissance music at the time.   Some of the earlier members of this ensemble were involved in New York’s early music scene that included instruments like the cornett and sackbut. However, it is also said that trombonist Arnold Fromme had contacted Harvey Phillips and told him about the American Brass Quintet and wanted him to play tuba in it.  Phillips would have to decline since he had already pledged to the New York Brass Quintet. Although Phillips declined Fromme’s offer he would recommend other tuba players, but Fromme and co-founder Gilb...

Anthony DiLorenzo is a well known composer and trumpet player.  He performs with the Center City Brass Quintet, a group that has been great at recording standard and new works for the brass quintet community.  He also performs with the Proteus7 chamber ensemble.  Anthony DiLorenzo's compositions have been performed by various orchestras such as the San Francisco Symphony, New World Symphony, Tokyo Symphony Orchestra and Boston Pops Orchestra.  He has also composed several film scores. One of his most know works for the brass chamber ensembles is his  Fire Dance , which was composed in 1996.  This is a short three and a half minute piece that is energetic and contains authentic cinematic writing.   Fire Dance  became a strong hit with brass ensembles and has been performed regularly by brass quintets since its premier.  It quickly became a part of the standard repertoire for brass quintets and has been used in competitions, brass...