Brendan Musk: My aim with Fanfare was to try to capture a snapshot of the musical possibilities that there are in a large brass group. I wanted to have some typical and almost cliché fanfare gestures at the beginning, and for these to be contrasted by a much more understated middle section. I also love the very different qualities of instruments in a group like this - trumpets and trombones can be very direct and punchy, and the beginning is a “battle in stereo” between the two quartets. On the other hand, the euphonium and horn are capable of a more mellow quality, and these instruments act as a soulful voice in the midst of the battle. Finally, there is resolution as the instruments come together for every brass player’s favourite resonant chord, B-flat major!
The album Stormchaser was recorded in 2015 by Carnyx Brass when all the members were still pupils at St Mary's Music School in Edinburgh - it is now a professional ensemble based in London and Edinburgh, managed by the charitable company Carnyx & Co. These three pieces were composed by an earlier generation of player composers in the group, commissioned and premiered at the Essen Philharmonic Hall in 2008.
21 авг 2024
