Brass Ensembles of Europe - Live Listening Blog

 Quartet No. 1 By Wilhelm Ramsøe   

Performed by the Ewald Brass Quintet

Ramsøe is a Danish composer who moved to St. Petersburg around the age of 40 where he became a contemporary of a number of fantastic European musicians who moved to the city in search of musical success.  Notably, Ramsoe had already experienced a great deal of musical success throughout Europe prior to moving to St. Petersburg.  

Formed in 1996, the Ewald Brass Quintet has already received a great deal of professional success including first place at the International Brass Quintet Competition.  The Hungarian-based group has published several CDs and has been featured on several major performances throughout Hungary and the rest of Europe.  

Ramsøe's Quartet No. 1 is thoroughly enjoyable.  The harmonic language is very easily understandable yet vibrant.  I enjoy the stark contrast in the opening movement between fluid and legato beginning and the rhythmic active and driving finish.  This contrast provides a powerful engine upon which the piece is propelled towards a climactic finish.

"Rose Without a Thorn" Suite by Henry VIII  

Performed by the Philip Jones Brass Ensemble

Although mostly remembered throughout history as the king with six wives who took the Church of England from Catholicism to a new Anglican Church.  However, what many forget is how King Henry VIII ascended to the throne.  At birth, Henry was a second son.  As a result, his life was not focused on becoming the ruler of England.  This allowed Henry to study several subjects including music.  Ultimately, Henry wrote a number of pieces (mostly before his ascension to the throne).  Although the original instrumentation was likely not for Brass Quintet, the piece was ultimately arranged by Elgar Howarth and performed by the Philip Jones Brass Ensemble.  

The Philip Jones Brass Ensemble was one of the first modern classical brass ensembles.  Formed in 1951, the group toured extensively including many tours of Europe, the United States, and Japan.  The group eventually dissolved in 1986 with the retirement of Philip Jones.  At this point, the group was restructured to become the London Brass.  This group has adopted a slightly different approach to brass music by hiring a jazz trumpet and trombone.  This has allowed the group to collaborate with many fantastic artists.

This piece takes all of the markings of typical Renaissance music.  The second movement of this piece is truly enjoyable (especially with this performance).  The simplicity of the harmonic language yet interesting rhythmic passages and shifting time provides ample interest to the listener.

Metropolis 1927 by Peter Graham

Performed by the Black Dyke Band

Dr. Peter Graham is a modern British composer with an international reputation as a leading composer of British brass band music.  Beyond his work with British brass bands, Graham has also written a great deal of wind band music that has been performed by groups like the US Air Force Band, the Tokyo Kosei Wind Orchestra, and the Royal Norwegian Navy Band.  He currently serves as the Associate Conductor of the Black Dyke Band.

The Black Dyke Band is one of the oldest and most successful brass bands in the world.  The group has won the National Brass Band Championships of Great Britain at least twenty-three times, the British Open Championship at least thirty times, and the European Championships at least thirteen times.  

This piece, Metropolis 1927, takes inspiration from Fritz Lang's classic science fiction film, Metropolis.  This film sets up two contrasting views of the same city.  The first is a view of luxury and privilege while the other is that of hard work and pain.  Graham states, "The music does not attempt to precis the plot, such as it is, but simply reflects my musical responses to Lang's noirish visual style and set designs - the brooding machine rooms, the decadent nightclubs, the gothic cathedral and so on - paradoxically a world of terrifying beauty."