That's Brass. This work is dedicated to the Blechreiz brass quintet on their 10th anniversary. Each musician is pushed to the limits in this very challenging composition. Rhythmically exposed passages that mesh together in a continuous sixteenth-note groove, alternate with solo passages and a catchy chorus. In the middle of the composition a waltz suddenly sounds?but the ensemble is brought to its senses by the tube player?s evident disapproval and the music soon returns to the original style. Demanding, tongue-in-cheek and witty passages with a funky groove are the ingredients of this new work by Otto M. Schwarz for brass quintet.

The arrangement was commissioned and recorded by 'Prisma' (members of the Vienna Philharmonic and Vienna Symphonic Orchestras). It can also be heard on 'That's Brass' (Oculus Brass Quintet, FMCD 90101). Medium / Brass quintet (2 trompettes, Cor, Trombone, Tuba)

Two fantastic pieces; J.S. Bach's Jesu Joy Of Man's Desiring and Vivaldi's Allegro from Double Trumpet Concerto. In both of these Baroque Gems it is essential that an appropriate tempo is set immediately and maintained without effort. The arranger suggests metronome values around 84 for the Bach piece and 116 for the Vivaldi.In the Bach always have awareness of where the melody lies and give careful consideration to whether the dotted quaver - semiquaver rhythm is played with a triplet feel or in strict time. In the Vivaldi the solo parts could be played on just about any pitch of Trumpet though it would be best if the twosoloists could use the same pitch of Trumpet whatever that may be. Players that own natural Trumpets and never play them might see this as an ideal opportunity to let them off!The Latin section needs to be played with good rhythm and a sense of fun. The shock notes is Trumpets Horn and Trombone bars 73-74 are best omitted unless absolutely tight.

Suite for Brass Quintet No. 2. Even as a young musician, Otto M. Schwarz played numerous works in the baroque style on the trumpet. Inspired by these student days, he is now composing new works ?in the style of??. We open with a festive Intrada, or entrée, followed by a Galliarde in 6/8 time. The regal and dramatic Sarabande is capped by a rapid 6/8 Finale. This is music that transports us back to the baroque era, when the royal houses of Europe were still centres of power throughout the globe.

4 Original Pieces for Brass Quintet. Palaces, castles and chateaus ? we associate music with all these buildings, whether for exhilarating celebrations, high holidays and tournaments: these are all occasions that would have been unthinkable without music and for which there were dances in many different rhythms. This is exactly the kind of music we find in this newly written composition.

Contemporary British composer Brian Kelly has composed a series of place-inspired suites including the Cuban Suite and the New Orleans Suite. The Suite Parisienneâ??s four movements suggest the Paris of years gone by Quartier Latin Promenade Memoire Moulin Rouge in music that shows a deep understanding of brass instruments and a lively sophisticated setting of melodies that are almost but not quite French tunes. The solistic opportunities for each instrument are generously shared and the three livelier movements make a brilliant frame for the longing tone of the Memoire movement.