Venezuelan Brass Ensemble - Gran Fanfaria

This is a large brass ensemble (37 brass, 6 percussionists) hailing from Venezuela. They perform in concert settings, covering all styles, including Latin, classical, and jazz. This exciting video shows those three styles, and at the end, they all stand and wildly play "I've Got Rhythm" to the delight of the audience. What a show!

The Venezuelan Brass Ensemble was formed in 2003 from Venezuela's state youth orchestra system, so they are interestingly a state-sponsored group. They got their foot into the international scene in 2007 playing at the BBC Proms, and since then they have been playing all over Europe.

The Music of William Boyce

During my listening presentation we heard the Canadian Brass play a suite by William Boyce. This piece was on the same album as such standards as Scheidt's Galliard Battaglia, Mouret's Rondeau, and Bach's Air on the G String, so the presence of Boyce's music should come as a relief to well-listened brass players who are looking for something different.

Boyce is little-known to most people, but according to Grove, he was "the most technically accomplished and versatile English composer of the 18th century." Much of his fame came from his eight short symphonies that were originally written as introductions to theater pieces. Boyce was an admirer of Handel.

Here is a link to the first movement of his First Symphony in D.

Praetorius in the Brass World

Michael Praetorius (pictured right) is mostly known for his collection of folk/secular instrumental Renaissance dances called Terpsichore. Terpischore is the name of one of the nine muses of Greek mythology, the one associated with dance. He did not write the melodies in these piece but did arrange them for wind instruments; the counterpoint/voicing is his own.

Praetorius collaborated with the violinist/composer Caroubel, who was responsible for some 82 dances in Terpsichore. These dances were from the French tradition, and based off of pre-existing melodies.

I love these pieces. I've heard some of these dances since I was young, and like the innocent and light feel to them. I think it's good every once in a while to listen to music that isn't super-serious. It can be oppressive to listen to music out of a sense of duty or self-improvement.

During my listening presentation, we heard 2 "dance suites" arranged for the St. Louis Brass Quintet by the trumpeter, Allan Dean.

Listening on April 13

I brought in much arranged brass quintet music, from many different time periods. Arrangements from other ensemble types can open up your brain to different styles and types of writing. Although these pieces aren't meant for a brass ensemble to play them, a good ensemble is challenged to make the music speak as it was intended, and in this way arranged pieces can be a musical muscle-stretcher for the players. Some arranged music such as the Nutcracker and Carmen are great for engaging the audience. It's always fun for people, especially lay-people, to hear tunes they recognize, and a transcribed piece may be the only way to do that.

Listenings included:

St. Louis Brass
Praetorius - 2 "dance suites" from Terpsichore
Hindemith - Four Madrigals
Scheidt - Passamezzo variations

Bonesapart
Bizet - Carmen excerpts
Tchaikovsky - Nutcracker March

Canadian Brass
Boyce Suite

The Bollywood Brass Band

This brass band hails from the UK. They describe themselves as Indian-style, using such instruments as tabla and dhol drums, and performing the music of the greatest Indian films. Much of the spotlight during their shows is given to the drummers, who employ complex Indian rhythms as well as funk and hip hop rhythms.

Kočani Orkestar

Kočani Orkestar is a Romani brass band hailing from Kočani, Macedonia and is known for their blend of funk and Balkan brass. Their song "Siki, siki baba" is featured on the soundtrack to the movie Borat, even though the song has no connection with Kazakhstan. The band's leader, Naat Veliov, has actually filed a lawsuit against the makers of Borat for unauthorized use of their song!

This is my favorite group I've blogged about so far. Intricate, driving rhythms, even a little bit of Latin influence!

Jaipur Kawa Brass Band

Jaipur Kawa uses a brass ensemble in combination with Indian melodies and percussion. Most of their pieces have the brass playing all in unison on the melody/raga, but it makes for an interesting listen.

The creator and artistic director of Jaipur Kawa is Hameed Khan, a renowned musician who chooses their varied repertoire. The band includes a singer (who sings the melody and is the focal point of each track) a dancer and even a fakir (sword swallower). They often play in parades as well as on stage.