Ewald quintet Op. 8

[Alex C]

I've done my Internet search with no quick results, so I'd like to know if anyone knows where to get the Ewald Quintet no. 4 in A flat major (Op. - c. 1888.

This is not one of the three quintets recorded by Empire. This was supposed to be Ewald's first composition which was deemed too difficult for brass and was reworked for String Quartet. BVD Press has a transcription of the string quartet back to brass quintet, but I am looking for a version based directly on Ewald's original.

[BVD Press]

As far as I know, there is no version for Brass Quintet except the transcription. Maybe a new project for you!

[Jonathan Fowler]

Any chance that it was renumbered as Ewald Quintet 4?

[BVD Press]

Any chance that it was renumbered as Ewald Quintet 4?

It is sometimes referred to as Quintet 4. You could have quite a debate whether it was originally written for Brass Quintet.

[Alex C]

Second hand information: according to someone who has a photocopy of the original manuscripts, this quintet was originally written for brass (2 Bb soprano, 1 Eb alto, 1 Bb tenor and bass) but was considered beyond the abilities of the brass players of that day. Members of the Russian Five apparently encouraged him to rescore it for string quartet, his Op. 1.

Interestingly, there is a 1912 photograph showing Ewald playing tuba in a brass quintet.

No, I do not have the photograph but I am working on getting a copy. Things like this happen in slow motion.

[BVD Press]

Second hand information: according to someone who has a photocopy of the original manuscripts, this quintet was originally written for brass (2 Bb soprano, 1 Eb alto, 1 Bb tenor and bass) but was considered beyond the abilities of the brass players of that day. Members of the Russian Five apparently encouraged him to rescore it for string quartet, his Op. 1.

Interestingly, there is a 1912 photograph showing Ewald playing tuba in a brass quintet.

No, I do not have the photograph but I am working on getting a copy. Things like this happen in slow motion.

I don't when, but there were a series of Ewald articles in the ITG Magazine a while back (probably 20+ years ago at this point). It was very interesting reading and might have the picture you are referring to above. Somewhere I have the original score for the other three quintets and they were written for the above instrumentation. There is also a recording of three performed on the original instrumentation, but I cannot locate it right now....

You may have to try alternate spellings while doing research:

Viktor Vladimirovich Ėvalʹd
Victor Ewald
Viktor Ewald
etc.

Good look with the search!

[Michael Grant]

The ITG (International Trumpet Guild) issues you speak of are:

Vol. 18, No. 2 - December 1993
Vol. 18, No. 3 - February 1994
Vol. 18, No. 4 - May 1994

They give a history of Russian brass music with special emphasis given to Victor Ewald. Issue No. 4 from May 1994 will answer the questions you ask on the previous posts. The article from that journal is titled "The History of the Four Quintets for Brass by Victor Ewald". (Note the "four" in the title!). by Andre M. Smith. The first page of the article includes the picture of Victor with his tuba and his brass quintet. The previous posts are correct that the 4th quintet was in fact the 1st quintet and it was too difficult for the players. The article explains it all and it is well worth getting all three volumes from the ITG. They have back issues available and probably still have the three mentioned above. They might even have them on CD's now.

As for recordings, The Stockholm Chamber Brass (quintet) has a CD of all four Ewald quintets. It is:

'Sounds of St. Petersburg'
BIS-CD-613
A good recording with Lennart Nord on tuba.

Anyway, hope this helps with some of the questions. Enjoy.

[J.c. Sherman]

That recording is very special, and well worth the purchase. And while Ewald 4 is by no means unplayable, it does require Eb cornet and a strong set of players. The ensemble issues are immense. Further, the group has to be able to read in Fb. Yes, the 3rd movement is in Fb, NOT E. And I assert it's a darker key than E. Contemplate that during your next meditation!

4 is easily my favorite. 2 is too often maligned, but 4 is absolutely wonderful. Run, don't walk and get this recording!

J.c.S.

P.S. Canadian Brass has authoritative editions of the first three quintets, but I asked and they are preparing an edition of the 4th.

[BVD Press]

P.S. Canadian Brass has authoritative editions of the first three quintets, but I asked and they are preparing an edition of the 4th.

I saw it on their site, but it does not appear to be available through their distributor (Hal Leonard). Do you know if is available for purchase yet?

Having spent oodles of hours working on the set I did, I would love to compare it to what Canadian came up with!

[J.c. Sherman]

The Canadian 4 is not available yet. The gentleman I emailed predicted a 2010 release.

J.c.S.

[BVD Press]

The Canadian 4 is not available yet. The gentleman I emailed predicted a 2010 release.

J.c.S.

Oops. I meant 1-3 as well. Maybe they have not made it to the distributor yet?

[Alex C]

P.S. Canadian Brass has authoritative editions of the first three quintets, but I asked and they are preparing an edition of the 4th.

The Canadian Brass editions of the three quartets are edited for playability so they don't really qualify as authoritative. Wouldn't an authoritative version be am urtext edition?

Andre Smith's research is meticulous and he may be the most imminent brass scholar in the US today. Incidentially, he's a former bass trombonist of the Met orchestra. Not too shabby of a career.

[Pete Link]

Why that old Empire LP never made it to cd baffles me. It is easily one of the best BQ recordings I've heard.

[BVD Press]

Why that old Empire LP never made it to cd baffles me. It is easily one of the best BQ recordings I've heard.

I am 100% with you! Thy re-released some of the other albums, but not the Ewald. Maybe soon?

[Pete Link]

Why that old Empire LP never made it to cd baffles me. It is easily one of the best BQ recordings I've heard.

I am 100% with you! Thy re-released some of the other albums, but not the Ewald. Maybe soon?

That would certainly be a treat and educational tool for aspiring young players whom have not had the chance to hear the LP. I believe even some of the older Empire cds are even now out of print?

[J.c. Sherman]

Bloke, could you direct me to the PJBE album with Ewald 4 on it? I'd love to grab it!

J.c. (who loves the Ewald 1)

[BVD Press]

An Ewald Ebay CD auction if anyone is interested:

http://cgi.ebay.com/Stockholm-Chamber-B ... 500wt_1182

Not my auction, but this has been in my personal collection. It is a solid CD.