Brass Ensemble Extravaganza 2023

These are 11 videos of performances that I really enjoy and I believe are important to document and adopt into the canon of brass ensemble literature. Some of them are from established composers and ensembles and others are at the cutting edge of what new music can be. 

The entire playlist is about 70 minutes long if you listen straight through. Feel free to skip around if something seems more interesting to you. The playlist is available here if you just want to listen and not read my carefully thought out commentary

1. Fugue from Trio Sonata in C Major (unknown year) - Johann Gottlieb Goldberg (1727-1756)

attributed to J.S. Bach (BWV 1037)

Empire Brass
Jeffery Curnow, trumpet
Rolf Smedvig, trumpet
Eric Ruske, horn
Scott Hartman, trombone
Samual Pilafian, tuba

Release Date: 1990

This piece is falsely attributed to Bach! I went down a bit of a rabbit hole trying to find the original sonata only to find that in 1954 an original manuscript by Johann Gottlieb Goldberg (Yes - that Goldberg) was unearthed by German musicologist Alfred Dürr.

At any rate, I just had to include a bit of Empire Brass on this list. My grandfather was not a trained musician but loved listening to the greatest musicians of the era and he had a few of Empire's albums. I was in love with the sound from the moment I heard them. To me, they are the pinnacle of brass quintet sounds and musicality. So with a tip of the hat to a classic ensemble playing some Baroque music, we move on to something more modern.

2. Ignition (2020) - Kevin Day (b. 1996)

Boston Symphony Orchestra Low Brass

Toby Oft, alto trombone Stephen Lange, tenor trombone James Markey, bass trombone Mike Roylance, tuba

Release Date: Aug. 15, 2020

Kevin Day is an exciting, young composer who has been making big waves especially in the band world. This piece, Ignition, was originally written as a sextet for tuba/euphonium ensemble. This version was created specifically for the Boston Symphony low brass section. The main difference is the removal of the flourishes from the euphonium part, which would not be appropriate for the trombone. 

In this performance, Mike Roylance on tuba and James Markey on bass trombone really stand out. The low, technical passages are phrased with care and intention and ring remarkably well with the alto and tenor trombones. 

3. Copperwave (2006) - Joan Tower (b. 1938)

Seraph Brass

Mary Elizabeth Bowden, trumpet

Jean Laurenz, trumpet

Rachel Velvikis, horn

Hana Beloglavec, trombone

Gretchen Renshaw James, tuba

Release Date: May 28, 2020

This is another piece that was extremely impactful on my development from the moment I heard it. I had the incredible opportunity to write a piece for Stiletto Brass in 2015. On that same program was Joan Tower's Copperwave. After hearing it for the first time, I was almost embarrassed to be included on the same program. This piece has everything - cadenzas, mutes, special effects, duets, trios, and an ostinato to die for. 

Seraph Brass has been one of my go-to examples for listening for interpretation of brass quintet repertoire. This piece is a massive exercise in decision making. The craft and intention from every member of the ensemble is off the charts. That's something I enjoy try to emulate in my playing, especially in ensemble settings. Gesture and intention are just as important as intonation and time. In fact, as a listener I can confidently say I've never been impressed simply by intonation or time. I'm always impressed with phrasing and the cohesiveness of an ensemble. The artful and expertise showcased by Seraph in this piece and all of their recordings is something I strive to emulate.

4. Limitless Mvmt 2 - The Belief (2020) - Katahj Copley (b. 1998)

Dr. Cale Self, euphonium

Luke Bass, tuba

Dr. Sara Elias, piano

Release Date: Dec 21, 2020

Katahj Copley is a young composer currently studying composition with Omar Thomas at the University of Texas (my alma mater!). He is also making waves in the band world, much like Kevin Day. His music is full of exciting textures and, most notably, memorable melodies. This movement, The Belief, is from a larger work entitled Limitless. 

Copley writes about the piece on his website "​LIMITLESS deals with the belief of change. The idea that a person can change their world from a world of darkness and hate to a world of endless possibilities."

This performance from Dr. Cale Self is particularly special because Copley attended West Georgia where Dr. Self conducts the Symphonic Band and teaches tuba and euphonium. The tender phrasing and round articulations of both brass musicians is notable and adds to the soft, impressionist aspect of the movement.

5. FYEWZ (2014) - Anthony O'Toole (b. 1988)

FivE

Dr. Alex Avila, euphonium

Drew Bonner,  euphonium

Luke Gall, euphonium

Mitch Mest, euphonium

Release Date: Oct. 5, 2017

Anthony O'Toole is a composer currently living in Los Angeles but hails from the east coast originally. His music has been attracting attention for a number of years now, particularly in the tuba and euphonium community. This piece FYEWZ was commissioned by FivE, a quartet that I play with, in 2014. There are not a lot of pieces written for specifically for euphonium quartet and even less of such a high caliber. The substance of this piece may seem simple at first glance. But after analysis, the harmonic structure alone is staggering. 

This recording is from FivE's album FivEPlay, released in 2017. I will not enumerate all of the things I love about this recording because that feels a little too self indulgent. Including this piece on my list already feels ostentatious. 

6. Kiss From a Rose (2010) - Seal (b. 1963) arr. Evan Kuhlmann

Genghis Barbie

Rachel Drehmann AKA Attilla the Horn, horn

Danielle Kuhlmann AKA Velvet Barbie, horn

Alana Vegter AKA Freedom Barbie, horn

Laura Weiner AKA Alpine Barbie, horn

Release Date: Sep. 30, 2010

Genghis Barbie was a huge inspiration in the early days of my undergraduate experience. This was the first time I heard brass group take popular music seriously. Every other group I had heard knew that they're doing something "fun" or less serious when they play pop songs. But Genghis Barbie has effective, substantial arrangements of these songs. 

This recording of Kiss from a Rose was that first impression. It was also one of the first homogenous brass ensembles I'd heard. Many of these factors were vital in the creation of FivE and how we'd go on to include serious versions of popular music in our repertoire. I believe that the evolution of our repertoire needs this sort of representation. 

7. Three Short Stories (2016) - Jose Flores (b. 1997)

A2ba Quartet

Kevin Fenske, euphonium

Lindsay Ring, euphonium

Alec Mawrence, tuba

Nathan Shook, tuba

Release Date: Jan. 6, 2023

Jose Flores is a composer and band director from Austin, Texas whose compositions have been flying under the radar for a while now, but really need to be adopted into the canon. He often uses whimsical or nostalgic elements to create programmatic works. Three Short Stories is exactly that, three stories from his childhood that made an impression on his life. There is a fable-like sentimentality to this piece that I really enjoy. 

A2ba is a quartet from the University of Michigan made up of graduate students from their tuba/euphonium studio. 

8. Gnossienne No. 1 (1893) - Erik Satie (1866-1925) 

and 

Navigatore (2001) - Renaud Garcia-Fons (b. 1962)

Mnozil Brass

Thomas Gansch, trumpet

Robert Rother, trumept

Roman Rindberger, trumpet

Leonhard Paul, bass trumpet

Gerhard Füßl, trombone

Zoltan Kiss, trombone

Wilfried Brandstötter, tuba

Release Date: Nov. 24, 2010

I detailed my love for this group and this performance here:

Mnozil Brass and the solo that changed my life

9. Selections from Metropolis 1927 (2015) - Peter Graham (b. 1958)

Black Dyke Band

Release Date: Nov. 18, 2015

I have grown to love British brass bands over the course of the last few years. Peter Graham is one of the most prolific composers for that specific medium. Metropolis 1927 is a programmatic work meant to reflect the world of Fritz Lang's 1927 film Metropolis. It is a tour de force of energy, technicality, expressive soloists, even a parade through the streets. I love every detail about this piece.

The Black Dyke Band heralds themselves as "the most famous brass band in the world". I'm not sure what metric they're using to measure that, but they certainly left an impression on me when I first heard recordings. The band was founded in 1855 has over 350 recordings. 

10. The State of Mind (2017) - Dorothy Gates (b. ?)

Monarch Brass Ensemble

Release Date: May 17, 2021

Dorothy Gates is a composer and bass trombonist living near New York City, although she grew up in Belfast, Northern Ireland. I was inspired to check out her music after hearing an incredible rendition of her Sea Suite by Stiletto Brass in 2022. This led me to the Monarch Brass Ensemble's recording of The State of Mind. I love the textural writing in the brass and application of different grooves from the percussion section. Not to mention, Dr. Gail Robertson throws down on an improvised solo in the 3rd movement. 

The Monarch Brass is a brass ensemble made up of women from across the United States. The ensemble was founded by Susan Slaughter, former principle trumpet of the St. Louis Symphony. This version of the ensemble is particularly important and inspirational to me because it has so many people that I'm connected to. Gail Robertson, one of my euphonium heroes and a prolific arranger. Lisa Bontrager, horn professor from my undergrad. Master Gunnery Sgt. Susan Rider of the Marine Band and member of Stiletto Brass. Natalie Mannix, also a member of Stiletto. It's so inspiring to have influential folks come together in an ensemble like this.

11. "Speed" from E=MC2 (2013) - Michael Klesch (b. 1962)

features themes from:

The Light Fantastic - Paul Lovatt-Cooper

The Dark Side of the Moon - Paul Lovatt-Cooper

Also Sprach Zarathustra - Richard Strauss

Carolina Crown

Release Date: Aug. 10, 2013

This is primarily here as an opportunity for me to get on a little bit of a soap box. Drum Corps International regularly features thousands of brass performers every single year. Most of the largest groups feature 80 brass musicians. A lot of professors or professional musicians write off this type of ensemble due to its competitive nature or pedagogy that they don't believe it. But I believe that these brass musicians should have a place at the table. They are performing difficult music at a very high level. And many of them will never pick up their instruments again after they age-out of the activity. It's a shame that any of these incredible performers don't go on to become valued musicians in their local music communities. 

Carolina Crown is one of the most established ensembles of its kind in the world. This particular clip is from their 2013 production E=MC2. This performance earned a perfect score in brass performance, something that has not happened before or since, so I figured it would be a great example of this particular type of brass ensemble. 

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If you made it here, thanks for reading this long post. Check out this list little blurb about euphonium in pop culture!

You might be familiar with the band fun. and their hit Some Nights. But what you might not know is that one of their album tracks featured a song with a massive euphonium solo! Enjoy The Gambler by fun. 

p.s. the euphonium solo starts around 3:05 if you want to skip just to that part :)