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.
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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.
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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
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Seven
of the best brass quintets in the world playing important and exciting works. |
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Sound samples (uses RealPlayer) Click on the link to hear approximately one minute of the movement
shown.
Liadov-Glazuonov: Fanfares Gabrieli: Canzone Anonymous: Die Bankelsangerlieder Speer: Sonata No. 4 Sonata No. 6 Arnold:
Quintet Mvt 1 Mvt 2 Mvt 3 Hovhaness:
Six Dances Solene Allegro Moderato Allegretto Allegro Con Spirito Moderato Allegro Brillant Dutton: Carnival of Venice Leclerc:
Par Monts et Par Vaux La Colline Aux Epilobes Sous-Bois Jeux De La Lienne La Chapelle Dans Les Pins Danse De La Follerie Horovitz:
Music Hall Suite Soubrette Song Trick Cyclists Soft-Shoe Shuffle Les Girls Brade: Allemande Kessel: Sonata 2
CD202: QUINTESSENCE, Annapolis Brass Quintet.
Ingolf Dahl,
Music for Brass Instruments; Francis McBeth, Four
Frescoes for Five Brass; Jindrich Feld, Quintette; Walter Hartley,
Orpheus; Wilke Renwick, Dance; J.S. Bach, Fuga IV and Contrapunctus VII. Plus Renaissance and Baroque music by Speer, Le Jeune, Finck,
East, Engelmann, and Holborne. UPC 009414720221
The Annapolis Brass Quintet was organized in 1971 as America's
first full-time performing brass ensemble. During the course of its 22-year
career the ABQ introduced brass chamber music to hundreds of thousands of
people throughout the world.
This
CD is a combination of two LPs, S202 and S206. Trumpets: David Cran, Haldon Johnson, Robert Suggs; Horn: Calvin Smith;
Trombone: David Kanter, Tim Beck; Bass Trombone: Robert Posten.
“The performances are magnificent: lines
gleam with each member of the Annapolis Brass Quintet enjoying his independence
as one of five equal voices…The articulation in the faster numbers is
remarkable, while the “Pavan” from that set is gloriously voiced, as is the
Annapolis Quintet’s performance of Bach’s Contrapunctus
VII (from The Art of the Fugue) and the Fugue from The
Well-Tempered Clavier…The shift to contemporary
music is swift and clear…Ingolf Dahl’s Music for Brass
Instruments is ambitious in its expressive scope and technically demanding
of its players, it is nevertheless joyous, especially in a performance such as
this. Dahl’s Finale is a Fugue, which is particularly skillful, including a meltingly
beautiful slow section…This CD is brass playing of the very first
order; it is truly great to have these recordings available again.” Fanfare, Jan/Feb 2022 (Colin
Clarke)
“vitality,
aggressive spirit, and a good grasp of ensemble” The
Instrumentalist
CD202 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)
Le Jeune Revecy Venir du Printemps Finck Greiner,
zanner East Desperavi Schein Suite No. 3:
I.Paduana II.Galliarda III.Courente Engelmann Paduana Soldat Galliarda Morosky Holborne Three Pieces:
I.
Galliard II.Pavan III.Galliard Bach Fuga IV Dahl Music for Brass Instruments: I.Chorale Fantasy
II.Intermezzo III.Fugue McBeth Four Frescoes for Five Brass: I.Brightly II.Dramatically
III.In A Burlesque Manner IV.Drammatico
East Peccavi Speer
Three Sonatas: Sonata 1 Sonata 2 Sonata 3 Bach
Contrapunctus VII
Feld Quintette: I.Allegro II.Adagio III.Scherzo IV.Andante Hartley Orpheus Renwick Dance
CD205: FI
NE ARTS BRASS
QUINTET. Ingolf Dahl, Music for Brass
Instruments; Anthony Plog, Four
Sierra Scenes; Robert Linn, Quintet for Brass
Instruments; Donal Michalsky,
Fantasia sopra M.F.V., and Fantasia alla Marcia. UPC
009414720528. BUY NOW
The Los Angeles-based Fine Arts Brass Quintet
concertized in the U.S. and Europe from 1968-1990. Anthony Plog and Russell Kidd,
trumpets; Robert Henderson, horn; John Daley, trombone; Alan Johnson, bass trombone.
"The Fine Arts Brass Quintet plays with robust,
outspoken style [with] expressive gesture." Philadelphia Enquirer
“Ingolf Dahl’s Music
for Brass Instruments…is higher in quality than almost anything else in the
(then) quintet repertory. Hearing this high-level group play the piece is very
satisfying. The recording includes three other works of high quality. Superb
players.” American Record Guide,
(Kilpatrick July/August 2021)
“Excellent collection of great works for brass
quintet, expertly performed by the Fine Arts Brass Quintet.” The Horn Call (May 2021)
CD205 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)
Dahl Music for Brass Instruments: 1. Chorale Fantasy 2. Intermezzo 3. Fugue Plog Four Sierra Scenes: 1. Mountains 2. Sunset 3. Temples 4. Sunrise Linn Quintet: Mvt. 1 Rhythmic Mvt. 2 Broad Mvt. 3 Spirited Michalsky: Fantasia sopra M.F.V. Fantasia alla Marcia
CD207:
ANNAPOLIS BRASS QUINTET. Allen Molineux,
Encounters; Karl Pilss, Capriccio; Jiri Pauer, Charaktery; Alexander Tcherepnin, Brass Quintet op.105; Peter Cabus, Varieties; Herman Stein, Mock March; Douglas Allanbrook, Invitation
to the Sideshow; Hernando De Cabezon, Two
Variations; Daniel Speer,Three
Sonatas; Johann Kessel, Sonata II; Stanley Friedman, Parodie; Robert Washburn, Five Miniatures for Five Brasses.
UPC 009414720726 BUY
NOW
The Annapolis Brass Quintet was the first full-time brass ensemble in
America. During the course of its 22-year career the ABQ introduced brass
chamber music to hundreds of thousands of people throughout the world.
This CD is a combination of two LPs,
S207 and S213. Four of this CD’s nine contemporary works were composed
especially for the Annapolis Brass Quintet. The 16th and 17th century works
come from manuscripts or reproductions held in the Library of Congress and,
except in the case of the Daniel Speer Sonatas, were transcribed for brass
quintet by members of the Annapolis Brass Quintet.
Trumpets: David Cran,
Robert Suggs; Horn: Arthur LaBar (S207), Marc Guy
(S213); Trombone: Martin Hughes (S207), Wayne Wells (S213); Bass Trombone:
Robert Posten.
CD211: CHICAGO BRASS QUINTET. Edmund Haines,
Toccata; James Hopkins, Brass Quintet No. 1; James Mattern,
Sonata Breve. PLUS these
exciting transcriptions for brass quintet of popular classical
works: De Falla, Miller’s Dance from The Three
Cornered Hat and Suite from El Amor Brujo; Bartok, Folk Song Suite; Mussorgsky,
Hopak; Shostakovich, Polka from The Age of Gold;
Scriabin, Prelude; Rimsky-Korsakov, Flight of the Bumblebee; Rossini, William
Tell Overture; Monteverdi, two works from Vespers. UPC 009414721129
The Chicago Brass Quintet,
formed in 1964, has established itself as one of the best brass quintets in the
world. This CD includes newly recorded works plus newly remastered favorites
from the group’s first LP. “one of the premiere ensembles of our
time” (ITG Journal). BUY NOW
Sound samples (mp3) Click on the link to hear up to 35 seconds of the movement shown. Monteverdi: Deus in Adjutorium