Brass Chamber Music

Anyone who has ever been involved in a brass chamber group will probably have come across resistance at some point. Responses range from, “it might be a bit loud for our audience”, to, “but what do you play”, and the classic, “I’m sorry we only use CHAMBER musicians”.

Well the last couple of weeks have been great for the cause of promoting brass chamber music and its growing repertoire.

Last week, Paul Archibald invited some of his friends over for a week of recording sessions and a concert at the Royal College of Music. Hans Gansch (ex Vienna Phil), Gabor Tarkovi (Principal, Berlin Phil), Florian Klinger (Principal, Munich Phil) were amongst the phenomenal trumpet players that are recording for Brass Classics.

I went along to hear the recording session for Khaldis by Hovhaness. It’s a great piece for Four Trumpets, Piano and Percussion, and one we are performing ourselves on March 10th. The rest of the repertoire is also really interesting and I know I will be buying the CD when it comes out!

On saturday night Vicky got out her note pad and pen and went to St. James, Piccadilly, to review an LPO Brass Concert which you will be able to read all about in the next Brass Herald magazine. And last night i went to the Royal College of Music to watch London Brass. They were good fun: all the usual classics plus a new work by the Serbian composer Isidora Zebeljan called “The Ghost from the Pumpkin”. What a great title!

So it’s good news for brass chamber music. There’s lots going on and some fantastic new pieces being written or lying undiscovered. I haven’t finished typing our repertoire list for the site yet (sorry Clare, I will do it soon…), but when it appears have a look and let me know your opinions.