'Music for Brass': New Williams work for Brass Ensemble

[indy4 159]

When was that announced?

[Miguel Andrade 1,527]

If memory serves, that was on one of Gloria Cheng's messages for those who subscribed to his kickstarter campaign.

[indy4 159]

I just searched "Gloria 2015" and "Gloria spring" and "Gloria year" in my email inbox and I didn't get anything...I don't remember her ever mentioning a date for release

[JohnnyD 1,537]

Another concert piece by Maestro John Williams; awesome!

[Maurizio 5,893]

I just searched "Gloria 2015" and "Gloria spring" and "Gloria year" in my email inbox and I didn't get anything...I don't remember her ever mentioning a date for release

She mentioned it on her FB page:

Great film composers writing for solo piano. CD release in early 2015 on Harmonia mundi USA, Film to be shared on Youtube as soon as it's ready, Pics to be shared here.

https://www.facebook.com/gloriachengpiano/media_set?set=a.10203440867443558.1073741829.1268902340&type=1

[Jay 42,494]

So back to the subject at hand, this event is happening in about 6 hours, eh?

Is anyone here attending?

http://gmc.sonoma.edu/event/2170779-national-brass-ensemble-in-concert

[King Mark 3,834]

I'm waiting for the You tube video later tonight

[indy4 159]

I'm here right now. Second half is about to start, which opens with JWs "Music for Brass"

[Incanus 5,858]

Report! Report! REPORT!

[King Mark 3,834]

yeah report

[indy4 159]

Okay, here are my thoughts!

I REALLY enjoyed the composition. The piece, as I mentioned before, is titled "Music for Brass" (although it also requires some percussion). If I had to categorize it, I'd definitely say it fits in the "Fanfare for Fenway"/"For the President's Own" realm. It's more focused than the latter, but offers more variety than the former. I'm not great at judging these types of things, but I'd say it's maybe 4-5 minutes in length.

The opening begins with a rhythmic idea that bears some resemblance to the opening of "For the President's Own." The first section is variations on this idea. It's almost minimalistic in its repetition. I do remember thinking that JW may have gone on a bit too long with this idea.

There are a couple of REALLY powerful, adrenaline-pumping climaxes, as in "For the President's Own," and a few false endings. There's also a bit of the fast trumpet tonguing that is so prevalent in JW's action film music--it was very cool to hear JW's concert and film personas mix so directly. There's also a weird but awesome tuba solo, which quickly becomes a tuba trio (that's right, the piece calls for 3 tubas).

Here are the program notes (written by JW):

Throughout my musical life, I've been instructed and inspired by the great brass players that I've been privileged to work with and to write for.

Because of the breadth of their exposure to so many musical genres...classical, jazz, big band ensemble, military and brass band tradition, pop, rock 'n roll, and on and on...our American brass players are the most versatile and finest in the world.

The invitation to write a piece for the National Brass Ensemble gave me an opportunity to salute the members of this preeminent ensemble, and "Music for Brass" is offered a a humble tribute to their wizardy.

The piece attempts to spotlight, separately and together, the diverse groups forming the ensemble...trumpets, horns, trombones, and tubas...and I hope in some small way it might capture some of the brilliant spirit of 'my friends pictured within.'"

The piece calls for:

- 9 trumpets

- 5 horns

- 5 trombones

- 2 bass trombones

- 3 tubas

- timpani

- "percussion" (from what I remember, this included chimes and xylophone)

It's so surreal to think I got to witness the world premiere of a JW concert work. Absolutely stunning! Cannot wait for the recording!

[Incanus 5,858]

Thank you for your thoughts indy4! Sounds like an intriguing and exciting piece! And thank you for giving your initial impressions as I am sure it is difficult to assess a new work intricately just after hearing for the first time. I hope we have a chance to hear this soon!

[nightscape94 967]

Thanks for the first-hand report!

[karelm 3,191]

Wow, sounds like a great piece! Looking forward to buying the CD. Thanks for the first hand account.

[JohnnyD 1,537]

I cannot wait to purchase the CD release of the Maestro's "Music for Brass."

[Jay 42,494]

Oh yea, I forgot a CD was confirmed!

[JohnnyD 1,537]

It is awesome!!!

[Thor 9,308]

Oh yea, I forgot a CD was confirmed!

Maybe I missed this piece of information, but where was a CD or, in fact, any recording confirmed for "Music for Brass"? Or did I misunderstand something?

[Jay 42,494]

Read the link in the main post of this thread!

[King Mark 3,834]

Geez I'm losing track of all these new pieces

[JohnnyD 1,537]

When will it be released?

[Thor 9,308]

Ah, yes it mentions a future CD recording in that article, but no date, alas. If the article was written back in June, they should probably have recorded it by now, right?

[Joe Brausam 228]

I would assume it would be a live recording of the concert. Most concert music in the US isn't done in studio recording environments anymore due to costs.

[Thor 9,308]

I would assume it would be a live recording of the concert. Most concert music in the US isn't done in studio recording environments anymore due to costs.

So if the recording was made in June, why is there no sign of a release now, 5 months later? (I have no clue about how album production timelines work, btw).

[indy4 159]

I was at the premiere and I'm 90% certain they said they'd be recording it in a studio

[JohnnyD 1,537]

I cannot wait for this. Any piece by the Maestro is exciting to hear.

[King Mark 3,834]

I was at the premiere and I'm 90% certain they said they'd be recording it in a studio

what's the 10% uncertainty? False memories?

[indy4 159]

Yeah

I'm 100% sure they said they'd be recording it, and 90% sure they said it'd be in a studio (I think Skywalker something?)

[Naïve Old Fart 11,667]

#show lots of things happening at once,

we need a montage#

[Code 000. Destruct. 0. 4,261]

Great venue choice. Maybe Ben Burtt will be there to fart directly into the decca tree for proper sonic ambience.

[Miguel Andrade 1,527]

Yeah

I'm 100% sure they said they'd be recording it, and 90% sure they said it'd be in a studio (I think Skywalker something?)

Yes, you are right, it is a studio recording, made at George Lucas' Skywalker Sound.

[Hlao-roo 390]

https://www.sfcv.org/article/san-francisco-conservatory-of-music-president-goes-on-the-record

As for that new record label and its debut release, close to [san Francisco Conservatory of Music President David] Stull’s tubist heart, he notes that aside from [san Francisco] Symphony trombonist Tim Higgins’ resetting of a collection of [Giovanni] Gabrieli canzones, madrigals, and magnificats, the disc will include a brand new fanfare, Music for Brass, composed and donated by an enthusiastic John Williams. The Gabrieli material, debuted in performance at the Green Music Center in Sonoma last June, will join the Williams’ material in a roll-out of the new label at Symphony Hall in Chicago on September 20, under the baton of Riccardo Muti, with a possible tour of the National Brass Ensemble to follow. Stull will be there. And his so-far unnamed label will then set itself, he promises, to "projects that wouldn’t otherwise be produced because the economics don’t exist to support them."

[Tom 5,616]

Does the "roll out of the new label" mean the CD will be released this fall?

[Maurizio 5,893]

Riccardo Muti conducting a Williams piece? Hell, YES!

[Mari 279]

I came across this tidbit today on trumpetherald.com:

This concert (September 20) will coincide with the release of our CD "GABRIELI" which will include sixteen new Tim Higgins arrangements of works by Giovanni Gabrieli and the fore-mentioned new work by John Williams. While the official CD release will not be until early October, this CD will be offered in a special “pre sale” at the concert venue only that day.

Tickets for the concert went on sale June 5:

http://cso.org/TicketsAndEvents/EventDetails.aspx?eid=7391

Edited to add a review of Music for Brass posted on trumpetherald.com:

In a concert so thoroughly devoted to Gabrieli, the John Williams Music for Brass that opened the second half provided a welcome non-Renaissance clearing of the palate. A one-movement whirlwind composed for the entire 24-voice ensemble plus tympani and vibraphone, the piece bristled with staccato syncopations traded back and forth among the voices, quick slurred flourishes over fat tuba pedal tones, extended super-forte multiple-tongued passages, huge dynamic contrasts, flashy rhythmic dislocations--a real tour de force from one of our most brilliant living American composers. One wishes only that the percussionists had been more audibly exposed. Amidst the ovation that followed, one spectator's voice stood out: "Play it again!!"

[Miguel Andrade 1,527]

The CD will be distributed by Naxos.

[Maurizio 5,893]

Here's a link I just found:

http://naxosusa.com/fall-2015/gabrieli-national-brass-ensemble/

CD is being released on October 9

[Miguel Andrade 1,527]

Available earlier from the CSO store, or so I understand.

[Thor 9,308]

Hope it also gets available in iTunes, as the Williams piece is the only one I want, really (not that the other pieces aren't great as well; I'm sure they are).

[indy4 159]

Great! Excited to hear this again. I was at the world premiere and as I testified earlier in this thread, it's a great piece.

[mrbellamy 7,329]

Anybody else go to the CSO this afternoon? Fantastic concert (full house too!), simply incredible to see all these players gathered together. Flawless.

Riccardo Muti was unfortunately only there to conduct his beloved Verdi (stunning) while the ensemble players themselves admirably traded conducting duties for the rest. BSO Principal Horn James Sommerville conducted Music For Brass, which didn't let me down. This thing really moves, it struck me as more frenetic, energetic, colorful, perhaps just more fun than either "Fanfare for Fenway" or "For the President's Own". As indy4 mentioned when he heard it at the world premiere, it's more reminiscent of one of his modern action cues than an Americana-type fanfare, I think...more rhythmic than melodic, greater intensity, and it's got some of his sense of humor in there with the sudden dynamic changes and false endings, as well as some wonderfully odd, lowww tuba sonorities. Crowd seemed to like it, I think it's one of my favorites of his recent concert works, maybe since 2003 with Soundings and the Horn Concerto? One of the most enjoyable anyway, I'll have to give it another listen but it's pretty thrilling!

Also agree with the above quote that it was a good palate cleanser after 7 Gabrielis in a row and 12 total, and especially considering it came at the very end of the concert rather than starting the second half. That said, Tim Higgins' arrangements of both Verdi and Gabrieli were incredibly rich and I agree with a post on the trumpetherald forum that Gabrieli's "Canzon per Sonar Duodecimi Toni" featuring David Bilger and Jeffrey Curnow on trumpet was a particular highlight, probably the most virtuosic piece in the set.

Unfortunately had to duck out immediately so I couldn't join the fray clamoring for a CD but I'll definitely be ordering a copy next month.

[Thor 9,308]

Ooh, tantalizing. Thanks for the rundown, mrbellamy.

Waiting for October 9th to get here....

[#SnowyVernalSpringsEternal 10,949]

They let members of the orchestra conduct?

[Incanus 5,858]

They let members of the orchestra conduct?

Isn't it awful how we have come to that?

[#SnowyVernalSpringsEternal 10,949]

It's disrespectful!

[A24 4,814]

Theoretically speaking, you don't need a conductor.

[#SnowyVernalSpringsEternal 10,949]

Music isn't all about technique!

[Code 000. Destruct. 0. 4,261]

When the ensemble is small enough that everyone can be in "communication" with each other, you don't need a conductor. But when you have a big group, you need that focal point. It's more than just keeping time, a lot more.

[#SnowyVernalSpringsEternal 10,949]

Indeed!

[A24 4,814]

Theoretically speaking, if every musician knows his part and every other part very well, you don't need a conductor. There will be a more interaction between the musicians than with with a conductor, but yes, it might be a problem with very large orchestras (especially when augmented with choirs). It's no secret that orchestras can play the classic hits perfectly without a conductor.