CRYSTAL RECORDS – Brass Ensembles
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"probably
the world's best brass catalog", says Fanfare
“Crystal
is the go-to place for wind and brass chamber repertoire”, says Gramophone
An LP classic is reborn as a spectacular CD.
CD102: When the first LP of the
Los Angeles Brass Quintet was released in 1967 it set high standards to which
other quintets could strive. This recording introduced fabulous trumpeter
Thomas Stevens and tuba player Roger Bobo to the world, along with Miles
Anderson on trombone, Mario Guarneri on trumpet, and Ralph Pyle on horn. Now on
Compact Disc with additional pieces from the LABQ’s 2nd LP, the playing still
proves to be some of the best brass playing anywhere.
This CD, CD102, features
Paganini Three Caprices, Bartok Suite from For Children, Wilder Brass Quintet
No. 1, Hindemith Morgenmusik, Schmidt Variations on a Negro Folk Song, Cheetham
Scherzo, and pieces by J.S. Bach, and Pezel. UPC 009414710222 BUY NOW
“Brass quintet playing at a near peerless
level can be heard on this CD release of LP recordings from 1967 and 1968 by
the Los Angeles Brass Quintet…Despite the passing of decades, the Los Angeles
Brass Quintet recordings still present an exceptional level of performance.” International Trombone Association Journal (Greg Spiridopoulos)
The players were all members of the Los Angeles
Philharmonic at the time this recording was made. Formed in 1966, the LABQ
toured the U.S. and Europe, playing its last concert in 1975, At the time they
retired from the orchestra, Thomas Stevens had been principal
trumpet for 25 years; Roger
Bobo tubist for 25 years. All of the players had long tenures with
the Los Angeles Philharmonic and continued after retirement from the orchestra
to perform and teach throughout the world.
Stevens and Bobo have
four solo CDs each on Crystal Records. They are considered some of the finest
solo brass recordings ever made.
CD102 Sound samples (mp3 files) Click on the link
to hear up to 35 seconds of the movement shown.
(to return to this
page after listening to samples, please use your browser back button)
Pezel: Five Dances I. Intrade II. Sarabande III. Bal IV. Sarabande V. Gigue Paganini:
Three Caprices I. Moderato II. Sostenuto, Andante III. Theme and Variations Bartók:
Suite from “For Children” I. Children at Play II. Children’s Song III. Play IV. Children’s Game V. Study for the Left Hand VI. Quasi Adagio VII. Allegro Robusto Wilder:
Brass Quintet I. Trumpet Prelude II. Horn Elegy III. Tuba Showpiece IV. Trombone Lyric V. Toccata VI. Finale Hindemith:
Morgenmusik I. Massig Bewegt II. Langsame Viertel III. Bewegt Bach: Fantasie in C Major Air pour les Trompettes Prelude & Fugue in E Minor Schmidt:
Variations of a Negro Folk Song I. Theme II. Fanfare III. Ostinato IV. Chorale V. March VI. Fugato Cheetham: Scherzo
BONUS: To have a little joy
to help alleviate CoronaVirus anxiety, hear the entire Intrade from
Pezel’s Five Dances, performed by the Los Angeles Brass Quintet: Thomas Stevens
and Mario Guarneri, trumpets; Ralph Pyle, horn; Miles Anderson, trombone; and
Roger Bobo, tuba. Los Angeles Brass Quintet Pezel Five
Pieces Intrade
Another LP classic on CD from the Los Angeles
Brass Quintet, now with the Los Angeles Percussion Ensemble; Stanley Chaloupka,
Harp; and Sharon Davis, Piano.
CD109: The third LP from the Los Angeles Brass Quintet,
released in 1974, also garnered attention for its spectacular playing and
exciting repertoire. Now on CD109, the playing and recording quality are still
among the best. Brass performers, same as on the first LABQ LP and CD, are
fabulous trumpeter Thomas Stevens and tuba player Roger Bobo, along with Miles
Anderson on trombone, Mario Guarneri on trumpet, and Ralph Pyle on horn. The
Los Angeles Percussion Ensemble, the brass players, and Stanley Chaloupka,
harpist, were all members of the Los Angeles Philharmonic at the time this
recording was made. Sharon Davis is a famous recording artist and touring
pianist.
CD109. William Kraft, Nonet for Brass Quintet and Percussion; Frank
Campo, Madrigals for Brass Quintet; Rayner Brown, Concertino for Harp and Brass
Quintet; William Schmidt, Concertino for Piano and Brass
Quintet. UPC 009414710925 BUY NOW
These works were all written for the Los Angeles
Brass Quintet. The Kraft Nonet is unique in its instrumentation and its 22
minutes are an exciting listening experience. Rayner Brown was Dean and State
Chairman of the American Guild of Organists. He wrote a wonderfully listenable
piece for this recording. William Schmidt is well known for his hundreds of
works for brass and woodwinds, which are staples in the repertoire for concerts
throughout the world. Frank Campo was a Professor at California State
University Northridge for 25 years, and his many works are performed regularly.
"Nonet for Brass and Percussion by
William Kraft, heard here under the
composerճ baton, is a superb piece, uncompromising and massively exciting...
The performance is impeccable, here and elsewhere. One notices the careful
balancing of simultaneities, the superb, consistent spot-on attack from all
players... There are three Madrigals by Frank Campo...The sheer accuracy of the
opening trumpet line is astonishing... The sound of a harp at the opening of
Rayner Brown's Concertino For Harp And Brass Quintet is quite a shock on first
blush. How surprising it seems in this context to find the sound of
harp and muted trumpet are so closely aligned. The recording balance helps;
each instrument clear as a bell...Finally, there comes William Schmidt's Concertino
For Piano And Brass Quintet. The writing here indeed speaks of fluency. Jazz,
post-Impressionism, and a goodly dollop of spikiness to combine to make for an
enjoyable romp, made all the more relishable thanks to the tightness of
ensemble between Sharon Davis and the brass" (Fanfare, Colin Clarke,
March/April 2019)
"This recording is terrific." (American Record Guide,
Kilpatrick, March/April 2019)
“Brass Roots is a hallmark of collaboration and musicianship,
and a welcome addition to our
library…challenging, virtuosic music.” (International Trombone
Assn. Journal, Jeremy Marks, April 2021)>
CD109 Sound samples (mp3 files) Click on the link
to hear up to 35 seconds of the movement shown.
(to return to this
page after listening to samples, please use your browser back button)
Kraft: Nonet for Brass Quintet I. Presto II. Andante III. Interlude 1 – Scherzo a Tre IV. Allegretto; quasi Scherzando V. Interlude 2 –Scherzo a Quatro VI. Maestoso e Rubato Campo:
Madrigals I. Indifference II. Unrequited Love III. Aria Perduta Brown:
Concertino for Harp and Brass Quintet I. Allegretto II. Adagio III. Allegro con brio IV. Adagio V. Allegretto Schmidt:
Concertino for Piano and Brass Quintet I. Allegro con Brio II. Largo III. Allegro con Spirito
CD121: PHILHARMONIC BRASS, Los Angeles Brass Society* & Los Angeles Philharmonic
Brass Ensemble**, conducted by Lester Remsen. Rayner Brown, Five Pieces for
Organ, Harp, Brass, and Percussion* (with Ladd Thomas, organ, and Dorothy
Remsen, harp; Rayner Brown, Fantasy-Fugue**; Fisher Tull, Liturgical Symphony*;
Fisher Tull, Variations on an Advent Hymn**; William Schmidt, Sequential
Fanfares**; Robert Henderson, Fanfare 1964**; various composers: Fanfares
1969*(Jeffrey Reynolds, Irving Bush, Frank Campo, Fred Dutton, William Kraft,
William Schmidt, Leonard Rosenman). UPC 00941471212-7 BUY NOW
Lester Remsen is one of the most influential brass players and teachers of the
20th century. His Los Angeles Brass Society and Philharmonic Brass, with as
many as 20 players each, were comprised of many of the best brass players in
Los Angeles.
Sound samples (uses
RealPlayer) Click on the link to hear up to one minute of the movement
shown.
Brown: Five Pieces Mvt 1 (Toccata) Mvt 2 (Adagio) Mvt 3 (Scherzo) Mvt 4 (Passacaglia) Mvt 5 (Fugue) Tull:
Liturgical Symphony Mvt 1 (Lento;
Allegretto) Mvt 2 (Pesante) Mvt 3 (Allegretto) Fanfares
1969 Mvt 1 (by J.Reynolds) Mvt 2 (by I.Bush) Mvt 3 (by F.Campo) Mvt 4(by F.Dutton) Mvt 5 (by W.Kraft) Mvt 6 (by W.Schmidt) Mvt 7 (by
L.Rosenman) Henderson: Fanfare 1964 Tull: Variations on an Advent Hymn Schmidt: Sequential Fanfares Brown: Fantasy-Fugue
CD122: The Venetian Brass Album. Members of the Los Angeles
Philharmonic and San Francisco Symphony Brass sections; Peter Sacco, tenor. Four, five, and eight part music by Andrea and Giovanni Gabrieli,
Guami, Correggio, Antegnati, Frescobaldi, Chilese, Bartolino, and
Lappi. Special bonus work: Peter Sacco, Three Psalms for
Brass Quintet and Tenor Voice. UPC 00941471222-6 BUY NOW
Music of the 16th
century lends itself very well to brass ensembles. This recording, originally
released on LP in 1978, features some of the best brass players around at that
time. Most of these players, including Thomas Stevens, Malcolm McNab, Miles
Anderson, Jeffrey Reynolds, and Roger Bobo have become icons of excellence in
the brass world.
Sound samples (uses RealPlayer) Click on the link to hear up to one minute of the movement shown.
Ricercar Del Duodecimo Tuono Canzon 6 Canzon Vigesima Terza a 5 Ricercar Del Sesto Tuono Canzon Vigesima Canzon 9 Canzon Vigesima Prima a 5 Canzon Secondavo Canzon Vigesimaquarta a 8 Canzon
Trigesigesimaseconda Canzon Trigesima a 8 Canzon 26 (La Negrona) Canzon Vigesimatottava Canzon Vigesimanona a 8 Psalm 13, How Long Wilt Thou Forget Me, O Lord? Psalm 18, the Sorrows Of Death Compassed Me Psalm 83, Keep Not Thou Silence, O God
