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For anyone whose tastes in brass quintet playing are satisfied
by technical brilliance, taut ensemble, flashy programming and
a touch of humor, The Chicago Brass provided ample fulfillment
in its’ Washington debut Saturday Night at the Kennedy
Center’s Terrace Theater. In a concert replete with transcriptions
from Bach, Vivaldi, Stravinsky, Bizet and others this quintet
maneuvered through a maze of demanding works with a high degree
of polish.
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of Honolulu, Hawaii : Quintet Shows What Ensemble Playing
Is All About |
Showmanship, ease before the large audience, near perfect
ensemble and technical brilliance all contributed to the Chicago
Brass Quintet’s fine performance at Orvis Auditorium last
Saturday evening.
This final concert of the Honolulu Chamber Music Series filled
the University of Hawaii-Manoa space, and the audience included
a number of brass players from junior high school students to
members of the Honolulu Symphony. Perhaps it was the large contingent
of younger people who made the mood so ebullient from the start.
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of Brockville Ontario : Brass Quintet 'Joy to Behold' |
Chicago is a city that has for decades been the
center of world class brass influence. The Chicago Symphony
brass section is known as the best in the world. This brass
influence in the city has set a standard maintained by another
group, The Chicago Brass Quintet.
The five men of this ensemble play with a precision and exuberance
that make them a joy to behold. It is rare that at group of
this type can reach great fortes without sounding loud and brassy.
This collection of first rate players has achieved this and
much more. Among the world’s premier ensembles the Chicago
Brass Quintet is unequaled in its ability to play as a concise
body. Exuberant display is set side for musical sensibility.
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of Appleton Wisconsin |
Nothing rings home the feeling and memories of
Christmas like music. And there is certainly nothing comparable
to the music of the season played by fine musicians. Both were
in great form at the Fox Valley Symphony’s December program
at Pickard Auditorium in Neenah on Saturday Evening.
Guest artists, The Chicago Brass Quintet, played with the symphony
on both old favorites and the world premiere of Maury Laws”
“The Christmas Suite.”
Laws has not lost his touch since writing and /or acting as
music director for such classic holiday favorites as “Rudolph
the Red Nosed Reindeer”, “Frosty The Snowman”
and others. The suite includes five movements.
“Save A Little Christmas” is a bright toe tapper
that uses piccolo trumpet and lovely lyric melodies in the low
brass. “Carol” is perhaps the most beautiful of
the movements, opening with a stunning horn line. The movement
is lush and touching.
“Waltz for Christmas” is distinctly Laws. The orchestration,
like many of the movements has a signature style and timbre
that readily identifies the composer.
Most of the program’s other works were arranged by The
Chicago Brass Quintet’s founder James Mattern. Mattern
is entertaining and personable, plays beautifully, and his arrangements
are tight. “The Nutcracker Suite” was used to introduce
the quintet to the audience. We were immediately struck by the
musicianship of the players. They are quick and clean with incredible
articulation. The rapid double and triple tonguing of trumpet
player Ross Beacraft and Matthew Lee is almost as impressive
as their ability to bring out the music’s emotional elements.
Gregory Flint makes his French Horn sing with lush lines. There
is nothing like the sound of a well-played horn and Flint is
good. Even the tuba player, Daniel Anderson, had his moments
to shine as a soloist.
“Christmas Around The World” includes seven Christmas
songs, both familiar and obscure. “Trioka” is a
Russian sleighing song that features the orchestra entire brass
section. “ Gesu Bambino” uses terraced dynamics
and dramatic crescendos for a singable melodic line.
Those who never have attended The Fox Valley Symphony’s
holiday concert should be sure to mark the 2002 calendar. This
was the concert of the season, filled with holiday ambience,
and some of the best music played in the Midwest.
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