A Collection of Brass Ensemble Music

 This week, I took some time to explore a small array of various brass chamber groups to deepen my knowledge of the subject.  After taking that time to explore the groups, I figured I would share my findings with you!  Here are the groups that I found, what they played, and a little bit about each one of them:

The Alchemy Quartet performing Ashokan Farewell and Vladimir's Steamboat

The Alchemy Quartet is America's longest-running professional tuba euphonium quartet.  Originally the Atlantic Tuba Quartet, the Alchemy Quartet has continued strong for over 40 years.  To learn more about them, I recommend going here.

The two pieces that they performed were originally written by Jay Ungar and arranged by Gary Buttery.  Ungar is a well-known American folk musician (fiddler) and composer.  His piece, Ashokan Farewell was used in a documentary titled The Civil War.  For more information on both Ungar and his wife, Molly Mason, please check out their website. 

The Maniacal 4 Trombone Quartet performing City of Arts and Sciences at the Midwest Clinic

The Maniacal 4 Trombone Quartet is a group of four trombonists (Matt Jefferson, Alex Dubrov, Carl Lundgren, and Nick Lauffer) who exploded in popularity after their arrangement of Carry on my Wayward Son received over 2 million views on YouTube.  

David Faleris has taken on a number of musical roles over the years.  As a trombonist, Faleris received a Bachelors's from Boston College and a Master's in Performance from The Peabody Institute of the John Hopkins University.  Eventually, Faleris turned to focus on composition for visual media and currently works with the Royal Conservatoire of Scotland.  For more about Faleris, check out his website. 

Seraph Brass performing Joan Tower's Copperwave

Seraph Brass is one of the premier brass chamber groups in America.  Composed of all women, this group strives to educate young brass musicians while also breaking barriers.  You can find out more about them here.  

Joan Tower has received a great deal of praise for her compositions throughout the years.  As one of the most influential living American composers, Tower's piece Copperwave received a great deal of performance upon its release.  This piece has quickly become a favorite amongst professional brass quintets.

Chicago Symphony Brass Quintet performing Ewald's Brass Quintet No. 1

The Chicago Symphony brass section is composed of some of the best brass musicians in the world.  This particular combination of musicians includes Arnold Jacobs on Tuba, Frank Crisafulli on Trombone, Richard Oldberg on Horn, and Adolph Herseth and Vincent Cichowicz on Trumpet.  This live recording from 1966 showcases Ewald's incredible work.

Victor Ewald is a composer well-known amongst brass quintets.  His works have routinely been performed by various brass quintets since their composition.  Ewald, however, was not a composer by nature.  Instead, Ewald originally served as a distinguished Russian civil engineer.  That said, Ewald's talent at composition has allowed his music to survive throughout the ages.  

Western Michigan University's Trombone Choir performing Full Tilt by Anthony DiLorenzo

Western Michigan University's Trombone Studio is arguably one of the best in the nation.  The trombone choir, therefore, is also fantastic.  This recording from 2018 showcases the group's technical and melodic capabilities under the direction of Dr. Steve Wolfinbarger.  

Emmy Award winner Anthony DiLorenzo has become a household name in composition circles.  DiLorenzo grew in popularity due to his brass chamber writing although his music can be heard on many television shows.  DiLorenzo has over 80 works for brass and plenty more works for Symphony Orchestra, Wind Ensemble, Brass Band, and other chamber music groups.  DiLorenzo's website can be found here.