13 July 2013

Bavarian Brass (Germany)

BAVARIAN BRASS was founded in 1994 by four trumpeters, connecting artistic training on their instrument. After a short time, organ and timpani joined more than "royal" instruments of the ensemble and led it to its "massive tonal splendor," as one reviewer put it.

Bavaria Brass is one of the few formations in this occupation and has performed with many baroque playfulness and musicality at home and abroad. Also on nationwide radio station the bright trumpets, majestic organ and timpani sounds pompous of the ensemble are sent.

The emphasis in church music concerts of the six friends lies in the interpretation of original trumpet parts of Baroque organ with an adapted voice. Here you let them lead and inspired that editing your own or other works in the age of Johann Sebastian Bach was a widely practiced custom.
It is also BAVARIAN BRASS but also a concern to demonstrate the versatility of today's Trumpets by arranging very different music from different eras.

12 July 2013

Bertrand Moren with Brass Band 13 Etoiles (Switzerland)



Concert played by "Brass Band 13 Etoiles" in Switzerland. The work performed is "The Flying slide" (Ethan Thompson).  Soloist: Bertrand Moren.


His first musical beginnings made ​​Bertrand with six years on the piano and the cornet. From the piano he was thrilled from the moment, certainly thanks to his parents, who had always motivated and inspired him. The cornet, however, was not the instrument that could cause enthusiasm in him. At the age of 8 years and when he was still a student of the School of Music at Concordia Vétroz, he decided, inspired by his father to switch to the trombone. With this instrument he had to immediately play its fun and over twenty years later, Bertrand still has the same joy.

The first trombone lessons were taught to him by his father Géo-Pierre Moren. He proved to be particularly challenging, either on technical or on the musical level. The results were not as long in coming: Bertrand has received numerous Swiss league titles and prices, especially on the Swiss music competition for young people.

He also played in numerous musical groups and the Brass Band Treize Etoiles, where he is principal trombonist today.

After his graduation in 1995 he decided to study music. He had the privilege of private lessons with the greats of this instrument to visit, especially Branimir Slokar and Dany Bonvin. Bertrand studied for several years at the Conservatory in Geneva. In June 1999, Bertrand received the certificate of the College of Music.

Bertrand also had the pleasure to play with the orchestra of the Conservatory of Geneva, various chamber ensembles, brass quintets and other formations trombone. However, his preference is clearly the brass band formations.


More info HERE and HERE.

09 July 2013

Naval Academy Band Brass Ensemble (USA)

The Brass Ensemble is made up of personnel from the concert band. The ensemble performs on a regular basis throughout the year and has appeared at the Kennedy Center’s Millennium Stage, the Naval Academy Chapel, Towson University, Gordon Center for the Performing Arts, and the Cathedral of Mary Our Queen in Baltimore.  In recent years, the ensemble has performed under the batons of Murray Sidlin, David Hickman, Ernie Green, Gene Young, and the late Milt Stevens, and has collaborated with world-renowned organist Monte Maxwell.  The Brass Ensemble performs original works for brass, orchestral transcriptions, and arrangements by ensemble members.  Under the direction of Chief Musician John Babcock, the Naval Academy Band Brass Ensemble takes pride in preserving the rich heritage of brass music while embracing and promoting new music in a meaningful and entertaining manner suitable for all audiences.

More to see HERE

International Brass Interpretation Contest (Ro)


In 2013 the nongovernmental Association, Romanian Brass Society aims to organize the fourth edition of the contest, which will take place in three stages with a selected jury of personalities from the field. 
The competition is organized together with the Faculty of Music, University of West Timisoara.
In the third stage performers will be accompanied by the orchestra. We believe that in this edition as the previous ones, will participate talented young people from our country and abroad.
More info HERE

08 July 2013

Broken Brass (NL)



Broken Brass Ensemble combines the traditional New Orleans brass with hiphop, balkan, funk, fanfare (and much more) into a blazing mixture of energy. The eight BBE members are all very young and talented musicians who combine swinging brass with tight percussion. All their work are originals, though the band isn't ashamed to rock the audience with a surprising cover every now and then. 
http://www.brokenbrassensemble.nl/
From Holland with love.

11 June 2013

The Brazz Brothers

Well, now that we're in Norway, here is a video of the Brazz Brothers from Norway. A unique style and interpretation of brass music. 


More to see HERE

tenThing (NO)



Formed in 2007 by Norwegian trumpeter Tine Thing Helseth, tenThing are rapidly establishing themselves on the international scene.

Tine and three trumpet playing friends were watching a string orchestra play and wanted to be able to recreate that level of ensemble playing, while exploring great repertoire, for a brass group. Looking to keep things interesting, and since the four trumpeters happened to all be girls, they decided to keep the group all female.

tenThing work very closely with Norwegian guitarist and arranger Jarle G. Storløkken who arranges all the groups music. Having such a close relationship enables the ensemble to play the music they want to play, no matter what the piece was originally composed for.

More HERE


24 February 2013

Fine Arts Brass (UK)


Fine Arts Brass is now in its thirtieth year and firmly established at the forefront of the international brass chamber music scene. Originally formed in 1980, the ensemble took the name of the place of its first rehearsal, The Barber Institute of Fine Arts at Birmingham University. The group’s enduring success is due to its uncanny chameleon-like adaptability to different audience requirements. These can range from educational concerts for primary school children to broadcasts suitable for BBC Radios 2, 3 or 4. With the combination of their unique versatility of sound, eminent humour and passion for the music they play, it is easy to see why they have toured to over 60 countries and performed in just about every music festival in the UK.

Their repertoire is as comprehensive a s you would expect from such artists, encapsulating all musical genres from the Renaissance and Baroque to the sound worlds of the avant garde. Equally, when they play Swing, they swing!


They also have a penchant for commissioning new works (over 50 to date) and have enjoyed working closely with the composers who have written for them: Malcolm Arnold, Robin Holloway, Michael Nyman, John Woolrich & Michael Torke to name but a few. Their discography is no less impressive with a selection of 28 recordings to date with more planned! In the words of Classical Music Magazine, they are simply “Exceptional”. FAB receives financial support from the PRS Foundation and is proud to be associated with Smith-Watkins trumpets and Nimbus Records.

22 May 2011

Dallas Brass (USA)



Since its founding in 1983 by Michael Levine, the Dallas Brass has become one of America’s foremost musical ensembles. The group has established a unique blend of traditional brass instruments with a full complement of drums and percussion, which creates a performing entity of extraordinary range and musical challenges. The Dallas Brass repertoire includes classical masterpieces, Dixieland, swing, Broadway, Hollywood and patriotic music.
In addition to their solo engagements, the Dallas Brass appears with symphony orchestras nationwide. Symphonic credits include the Cincinnati Pops conducted by Erich Kunzel, New York Pops conducted by Skitch Henderson, and the Philly Pops conducted by Peter Nero. The Dallas Brass has performed at Carnegie Hall, the John F. Kennedy Center in Washington, DC, and has toured overseas to Europe and the Far East. They have shared the stage with the late Bob Hope, have performed for Presidents Gerald Ford and George H. W. Bush, have appeared on the CBS “Early Show,” and their music has been used numerous times on the television show, “The Young & The Restless.”

The ensemble has released six recordings: Debut, Dallas Brass II, A Merry Christmas with Brass, Windborne, Nutcracker and American Musical Journey. The Dallas Brass has a strong dedication to working with young musicians, frequently going into the public schools to present clinics and workshops for students of all ages.

08 April 2011

Trombones de Costa Rica


TROMBONES DE COSTA RICA, winners of the Costa Rican National Award of Music in 1997 and the City of Passau ´s Special Price in Germany in 1999, is one of the most innovative and virtuosistic brass ensembles of the American Continent.

Since its foundation in 1991, TCR has distinguished itself for its clear projection to varied audiences through recitals and educational programs. The variety of this group’s repertoire is evident in their recordings entitled Contrastes, Imágenes, Trombonismos and Latinoamérica which present a mix of standard classical and Costa Rican music. In addition, the ensemble has commissioned works from composers worldwide.

¨I can assure that the Costa Rican Trombone Quartet is one of the most interesting brass ensembles I have heard in years¨ said the famed saxophone virtuoso Paquito D´Rivera after witnessing a recording session of the ensemble.

TCR has traveled extensively throughout the American continent the Caribbean and Europe. In addition to ensemble recitals, TCR has performed as guest soloist ensemble with mayor ensembles such as the Costa Rican National Symphony, the United States Army Band, the Oregon State University Symphonic Band, the Carroll College Wind Ensemble, the University of Miami Wind Ensemble, the National Symphony Orchestra of Ecuador, San José National Band and the University of Costa Rica Wind Ensemble.

International Trombone Festival June 2011 (USA)


Welcome to ITF 2011: 40th Anniversary in Nashville
''It is with great pleasure that we welcome you to ITF 2011 in Nashville, Tennessee. This is where Henry Romersa started it all as the International Trombone Workshop 40 years ago. Some of you will remember the first nine years at Peabody College before it became part of Vanderbilt University and then another eight at Belmont College (now University).''

This year's 40th Anniversary ITF will honor the traditions of "Inspiring Virtuosity" with some of those folks who made the early International Trombone Workshops a success while pointing the way for the next 40 years with a line up that is truly inspirational.

Vanderbilt University and its Blair School of Music are proud to serve as the host site for ITF with nearby Belmont providing the venue for most of the Jr. ITF activities with Dr. Jeff Phillips in the lead. Music City is the home of all types of music with collaboration and cooperation being a local tradition that will be in full display during the Festival.

Read more...

05 April 2011

Brass Quintet of the USAF Reserve

The Brass Quintet is the most versatile small ensemble of the Band of the United States Air Force Reserve. With a repertoire spanning five centuries, they are equally at home performing everything from Renaissance and Baroque music all the way to jazz, popular music, marches and patriotic selections. The group is also dedicated to performing original compositions for Brass Quintet, frequently performing such pieces as David Sampson's "Morning Music," and Eric Ewazen's "Frost Fire."

A mainstay of the "Hay House in Music" chamber music series in Macon, GA, the Brass Quintet performs a variety of different community relations concerts throughout the southeast. All of the group's members are dedicated to music education, sharing their enthusiasm and expertise in a lively education program presented to young audiences across America. The Quintet also provides clinics and master classes to secondary school and college students. The Brass Quintet was featured in performance in 1999 & 2001 at the Brass Quintet Competition, 2000 Raphael Mendez Brass Institute, and Festival of the Americas in Athens, Georgia. They have worked with some of the best brass quintet artists in the industry, such as Atlanta Symphony Brass, Allan Dean, Fred Mills, and the Meridian Arts Ensemble.

Recordings:
Star Spangled Banner
Rollong Thunder