Germanic brass & organ explored by Prime Brass

Prime Brass, the enterprising 10-piece brass ensemble in Cambridge have announced the programme for their annual concert with organ in King's College Chapel. Framed by a selection of spectacular fanfares by Richard Strauss, the concert will explore works by late Romantic Franz Schmidt and a 1960's reflection on Bruckner by German-Austrian composer Johann Nepomuk David.

Saturday 10 February 2007, 6.30pm
King's College Chapel, Cambridge, UK
Admission free

Spectacular Works for Brass and Organ
Prime Brass
Stephen Cleobury conductor
Oliver Brett organ
Peter Stevens organ

Richard Strauss Fanfare from 'Also Sprach Zarathustra', Op 30
Richard Strauss Fanfare zu Eröffnung der Musikwoche der Stadt Wien, Op 110
Johann Nepomuk David Introitus, Choral und Fuge über ein Thema von Bruckner, Op 25
Giovanni Gabrieli Canzon XVII à 12
Franz Schmidt Choralvorspiel zu Joseph Haydn's 'Gott erhalte'
Richard Strauss Festival Prelude, Op 61

For the third year running Prime Brass joins forces with the organ scholars of King's College, Cambridge, and Director of Music at King's, Stephen Cleobury, in a programme of spectacular works for brass and organ. Last year it was standing room only, and with admission free once again, and no fewer than eight horns, seven trumpets, six trombones, tuba and timpani, this is a concert not to miss.

Full details here.

The perfect practice mute?

I was pleasantly surprised by a new practice mute I tried at the ITF this summer. The Best Brass mute is tiny, but seems to work similar to the Denis Wick and Yamaha practice mutes in cutting the sound down significantly, but has a couple of really big advantages over them. Firstly it doesn't weigh a ton, so your arm doesn't feel like it's going to fall off. And secondly, somehow it feels pretty much as open as the normal instrument does, which is a great benefit to more natural practising.

Since then I've been looking online and gulping at the steep price with international shipping. But I'm very pleased to have just found out there is now a UK distributor with a much cheaper price. All those interested should check out Carol Jarvis' new website under 'Shop'.

Trumpet is just not cricket, claim Brisbane police

Trumpet player Bill Cooper has caused a storm in Australia on the first day of the Ashes cricket series. Normally heard freelancing with top London orchestras, Bill also plays for the Barmy Army, the official band of the British cricket supporters. The refrains of Jerusalem were not appreciated by Australian police who ejected Bill from the Brisban cricket ground on the first day of the Ashes with the threat of an arrest.

you don't have a right to cause a public nuisance, or to deny others a chance to enjoy the cricket.

The British supporters' response has been to threaten a boycott of the games until the test in Sydney, where the ground welcomes the musicians with open arms. Prominent British newspapers have joined the supporters in condemning the move:

Professional musician Bill Cooper, who has played fanfares for the Queen, was thrown out of the first Test in Brisbane after serenading Aussie fans with the tune from Neighbours.
The Mirror 24/11/06

Let's hope they let Bill play on. The way the cricket is looking at the moment, the British cricketers could do with as much support as possible!

LSO Brass feature James Maynard suite

The LSO Brass have released the programme for their upcoming recital in the Barbican. It's been a couple of years since the last one, and this could well be the last time we hear Maurice Murphy in a chamber setting. Although he's been set to retire for several years now, his job has actually been advertised now, so it seems likely that the legend's appearances at the LSO are now numbered.

The concert will feature new compositions from two players in the ensemble. Trumpet player Nigel Gomm has composed a fanfare to start the show, whilst trombonist James Maynard's Zoology will get its first full outing, following a tantalising preview of some of the movements at the LSO Brass mini-recital at LSO St. Luke's last June.

In addition to some intriguing Debussy and Prokofiev keyboard arrangements and the familiar Carnival of the Animals, LSO Brass will present an arrangement of Gershwin's Porgy and Bess Suite by jazz trombonist and composer Mark Nightingale. Will there be echoes of Gil Evans' fabulous arrangement for Miles Davis? No matter though, it all looks great!

Sun 18 Mar 2007, 7.30pm
Barbican Hall, London

Nigel Gomm Fanfare
Saint-Saens (arr Stephen Wright) Carnival of the Animals
James Maynard Zoology
Debussy (arr Christopher Mowat) Keyboard Pieces
Prokofiev (arr Paul Archibald) 6 Movements from Ten Pieces for Piano, Op 12
Gershwin (arr Mark Nightingale) Porgy and Bess - Suite

LSO Brass Ensemble
Tickets £6 £12 £18 from lso.co.uk

Every good orchestra has its own distinctive sound, and the LSO’s owes more than most to the expertise of its brass players. Here then is a chance to hear them on their own, holding centre-stage for once in a varied programme of original works and brilliant arrangements, among them Saint-Saëns’s famous musical menagerie, Debussy’s impressionistic Préludes, and the feast of gorgeous melody that is Gershwin’s Porgy and Bess.

Lindberg to record Pickard Concerto

John Pickard wrote his Trombone Concerto for Mark Eager in 1998. The piece for trombone, strings & percussion was recorded with the BBC NOW, but since Mark has retired from playing, the mantle of a studio recording of this piece has been given to Christian Lindberg. The composer revealed that Christian will go into the studio with the Norrköping Symphony Orchestra and Martyn Brabbins next January for a release on BIS with Pickard's orchestral works.

Brass at the Concertgebouw

Ivan Meylemans, Principal Trombone for the Royal Concertgebouw Orchestra, has announced he is leaving the orchestra from the end of the season to concentrate on his flourishing conducting career. But as a swansong, the 35 year old Belgian will be conducting the RCO Brass Ensemble for a new CD recording, to be released at the ensemble's Sunday morning concert in their famous concert hall.

The date for your diary is 18 March 2007 at 11am. More details here.