20th Century Double Brass Quintets??

Naptown Tuba · Post by **Naptown Tuba** » Wed Sep 06, 2006 9:15 pm

Guys,
After doing a Tubenet search and also looking at quite a few music publisher sites, I'm not coming up with much. Can anyone here suggest some 20th century double brass quintets that you have actually performed and consider worthwhile? Thanks.

Dennis K. · Post by **Dennis K.** » Thu Sep 07, 2006 11:56 am

I use a lot of my stuff in double quintet settings, but I don't think that is what you have in mind.

The two sources that come to mind are Kagarice Brass Editions and the Philip Jones editions (publisher escapes me...)

jimself · Post by **jimself** » Thu Sep 07, 2006 12:41 pm

Hi,

This is Jim Self in Los Angeles.

I have a new piece for two antiphonal brass quintets called Polarities. It is 4 minutes and would be a rousing concert opener. Mod to adv. level.

www.bassethoundmusic.com/store.html

Check it out.

Naptown Tuba · Post by **Naptown Tuba** » Thu Sep 07, 2006 10:37 pm

Many thanks to Dennis, Justin, and especially to Jim Self. You guys need to check out Jim's site just to see his "FLUBA". What a horn! Almost makes the photo look "doctored", but it's not. AWESOME

imperialbari · Post by **imperialbari** » Fri Sep 08, 2006 12:10 am

Interesting that the two pieces mentioned are antiphonal!

From an arrangers point of view the double quintet is a very problematic format if used in tutti.

Four trumpets are fine also because the higher pitched instruments allow for an upwards stretch of the range.

Two horns always are better than one (four would be even better).

Two tenor trombones are fine, but sometimes problematic without a bass trombone below them.

Two tubas always are two many in such small ensemble. If one of the tubists can double on euphonium and/or bass trombone, then the combining of two brass quintets may end up as a happy constellation. The other tubist then of course has to play a contrabass tuba.

A set up very close to this does exist in real life: German Brass.

They do not have a bass trombone, but their leader E. Crespo, alternates on euph, valved alto trombone, and tenor trombone.

Their solo trumpet is amazing, the trumpet section as a whole is very good, as are their horns. Crespo does some soloing. However I find the two other trombones and the tuba playing a bit too anonymously. They are not bad at all, but apparently have been asked to hold back a bit too often in their orchestral work.

Klaus Smedegaard Bjerre

sc_curtis · Post by **sc_curtis** » Fri Sep 08, 2006 1:32 am

Isn't Walter Hilgers in German Brass? I think he gets an amazing sound.

I have a few recordings of German Brass, and have seen a video of one of their concerts, as well as some solo recordings of Hilgers. From what I can tell, the low brass sound incredible! But, of course, I have not had the luxury of hearing them live!

I would suppose that orchestral playing would be a little different than playing in a chamber setting, but it is nice from time to time to hear a small group really rip out some awesome licks.