Brass quintet repertoire explained

Along with a concerted effort to commission new works for brass quintet since 1967 the bulk of any brass quintet's repertoire consists of arrangements of pre-existing music. Victor Ewald's four brass quintets are the first serious attempts at establishing a repertoire for the ensemble, though they do not stand up to typical string quartet repertoire of the same and preceding eras. The Chicago and New York Brass Quintets made sustained efforts to commission new works, and much of the original repertoire for brass quintet from the mid-20th century derives from their groundbreaking work. In the 1960s the mantle of creating a repertoire for brass quintet was taken up by the American Brass Quintet and the New York Brass Quintet, with both groups essentially establishing the brass quintet as a part of the chamber music field. Notably, only two brass quintets have ever been awarded the Walter W. Naumburg Chamber Music Award, considered by many to be the highest achievement in brass chamber music: The Empire Brass Quintet in 1976 and The Saturday Brass Quintet in 1990. But it was Canadian Brass that developed the pragmatic approach to repertoire allowed the ensemble to reach a wider audience. They developed a two prong approach to performance, developing a masterpiece approach to repertoire that popularized the brass quintet as an ensemble into what was essentially a "pops" ensemble. Meanwhile, the ensemble has been pursuing an aggressive 45-year commissioning schedule. Though this ensemble is seldom recognized for its achievement in the contemporary sphere, they have created well over 100 newly composed works for brass quintet, though few of the Canadian Brass commissions of original compositions have taken hold in the repertoire of other brass quintets.

It is generally agreed amongst brass players that the tuba is the dominant choice for brass quintets, with the ability to play smaller instruments such as bass trombone or baritone for certain repertoire such as Renaissance. The American Brass Quintet has always used bass trombone instead of tuba, and their extensive commissioning has validated use of this instrumentation. It is not uncommon for composers to write interchangeable parts for tuba and bass trombone to enable both types of quintets to perform their work.

Brass quintet repertoire

• Bruce Adolphe, Triskelion^[1]
• Efraín Amaya Brass Quintet^[2]
• Gilbert Amy, Relais^[3]
• Malcolm Arnold, Quintet for Brass, Op. 73^[4]
• Alexander Arutiunian, Armenian Scenes^[5]
• Daniel Asia, Brass Quintet
• Milton Babbitt, Counterparts^[6]
• Jan Bach, Laudes^[7]
• Jan Bach, Rounds and Dances
• Jan Bach, Triptych^[8]
• Jason Bahr, Divergence^[9]
• Jason Bahr, Eagle Fanfare
• Drew Baker, Kiln for brass quintet & piano
• Leonardo Balada, Mosaics^[10]
• Stephen Barber, Multiples Points on View of a Fanfare
• Stephen Barber, Gone Is the River
• Edward Barnes, Variations for Brass Quintet
• Robert Beaser, Brass Quintet^[11]
• Irwin Bazelon, Brass Quintet^[12]
• Luciano Berio, Call^[13]
• Derek Bourgeois, Sonata for Brass Quintet^[14]
• Henry Brant, The Fourth Millennium
• Robert Russell Bennett, Arabesque
• Leonard Bernstein, Dance Suite for Brass Quintet^[15]
• Larry Bitensky, For Then and Now for brass quintet
• William Bolcom, Quintet
• Darijan Božič, Kriki (The Cries)^[16]
• Eugène Bozza, Bis
• Eugène Bozza, Sonatine for 2 C trumpets, 1 horn, 1 trombone, and 1 tuba.^[17]
• Alvin Brehm, Quintet for Brass^[18]
• Howard J. Buss, Concord, Chromatic Fantasy, Sonic Fables (brass quintet & one percussion), Sonata K.380/Scarlatti,D., Tribute to Stephen Foster
• Morley Calvert, An Occasional Suite^[19]
• Morley Calvert, Suite from the Monteregian Hills^[20]
• Elliott Carter, Brass Quintet
• Elliott Carter, A Fantasy about Purcell's "Fantasia upon One Note"^[21]
• John Cheetham, Brass Menagerie^[22]
• John Cheetham, Scherzo^[23]
• Jack Cooper, Scenes for Brass^[24]
• Georges Delerue, Vitrail^[25]
• Carl Della Peruti, Sounding for Brass Quintet^[26]
• Robert Dennis, Blackbird Variations^[27]
• Anthony DiLorenzo, Fire Dance^[28]
• Lucia Dlugoszewski, Angels of the Inmost Heaven^[29]
• Jacob Druckman, Other Voices^[30]
• Jack Curtis Dubowsky, Brass Quintet No. 1^[31]
• Jack Curtis Dubowsky, Due North^[32]
• Jack End, 3 Salutations^[33]
• Donald Erb, Three Pieces for Brass Quintet^[34]
• Donald Erb, The St. Valentine's Day Brass Quintet^[35]
• Alvin Etler, Quintet^[36]
• Alvin Etler, Sonic Sequence^[37]
• Victor Ewald, Quintet no. 1 in B-flat minor (Op. 5)^[38]
• Victor Ewald, Quintet no. 2 in E-flat major (Op. 6)'^[39]
• Victor Ewald, Quintet no. 3 in D flat major (Op. 7)^[40]
• Victor Ewald, Quintet no. 4 in A-flat major (Op. 8)^[41]
• Eric Ewazen, Colchester Fantasy^[42]
• Eric Ewazen, Frost Fire^[43]
• Eric Ewazen, Western Fanfare^[44]
• Brian Fennelly, Brass Quintet No. 3 (Velvet and Spice)^[45]
• Brian Fennelly, Locking Horns-Brass Quintet No. 2^[46]
• Brian Fennelly, Prelude And Elegy For Brass Quintet^[47]
• Myron Fink, A Suite of Antiques
• Malcolm Forsyth, Golyardes' Grounde
• Lukas Foss, Night Music for John Lennon In Memory of December 8, 1980, for brass quintet and orchestra^[48]
• Sean Friar, Kindly Reply for brass quintet (2016)^[49]
• Kenneth Fuchs, Fire, Ice, and Summer Bronze^[50]
• Jack Gallagher, Toccata for Brass Quintet^[51]
• Jack Gallagher, Celebration and Reflection^[52]
• Elliot Goldenthal, Brass Quintet No. 2^[53]
• Daniel Grabois, Zen Monkey^[54]
• Edward Gregson, Quintet for Brass
• Yalil Guerra, Carnaval for brass quintet
• Edmund Haines, Toccata
• John Halle, Softshoe^[55]
• Piers Hellawell, Sound Carvings from the Bell Foundry
• Howard Hersh, "Tag!"
• Anders Hillborg, Brass Quintet^[56]
• Edward Hirschman, Four Bridges
• Alun Hoddinott, Ritornelli 2^[57]
• Vagn Holmboe, Quintet No 1, Op. 79^[58]
• Vagn Holmboe, Quintet No 2, Op. 136^[59]
• Eres Holz, Vier Schatten
• Joseph Horovitz, Music Hall Suite^[60]
• Eric Hudes, Pentaptych^[61]
• John Huggler, Quintet^[62]
• Jason Huffman, Christmas Tree
• Karel Husa, Divertimento for brass quintet^[63]
• Karel Husa, Landscapes^[64]
• Stephen Jablonsky, Streets of Laredo (2018)
• Stephen Jablonsky, Danny Boy (2019)
• Stephen Jablonsky, Memorial Day (2019)
• Edward Jacobs, Passed Time
• David A. Jaffe, Descent into Flatland
• Phillip Johnston, Sleeping Beauty
• Collier Jones, Four Movements for Five Brass^[65]
• Michael Kamen, Quintet^[66]
• Jan Koetsier, Brass Quintet, Opus 65
• Sonny Kompanek, Killer Tango^[67]
• Peter Korn, Prelude and Scherzo^[68]
• Pablo Kunik, "Locura" Opus 11 for Brass Quintet (2022)
• Kyle Lane, Sonata for Brass Quintet
• Michel Leclerc, Par monts et par vaux^[69]
• Tania León, Saoko^[70]
• Edwin London, Brass Quintet^[71]
• Raymond Luedeke, Brass Quintet – Complexities and Contradictions^[72]
• Witold Lutoslawski, Fanfare for CUBE^[73]
• Witold Lutoslawski, Mini Overture^[74]
• Peter Machajdík Arching Sentiments for brass quintet^[75]
• Frederik Magle, Intermezzo for Brass Quintet
• Frederik Magle, Lys på din vej (Light on your path) for brass quintet and organ
• David Maslanka, Arise!^[76]
• Grace-Evangeline Mason, As Bronze ^[77]
• Ludwig Maurer, Four Songs for Brass^[78]
• Ludwig Maurer, Twelve Little Pieces for Brass Quintet^[79]
• Francis McBeth, Four Frescos^[80]
• Kevin McKee, Escape^[81]
• Kevin McKee, Vuelta del Fuego^[82]
• John Melby, 91 Plus 5 for brass quintet and computer^[83]
• Jerome Moross, Sonatina for Brass Quintet^[84]
• Robert Nagel, This Old Man March^[85]
• Lior Navok, Gitz & Spitz Suite
• Clint Needham, Abstract Mosaics^[86]
• Per Nørgård, Vision^[87]
• Leroy Osmon, "Introduction and Allegro"
• Hermeto Pascoal, Timbrando
• Robert Paterson, Dash^[88]
• Robert Paterson, Shine^[89]
• Vincent Persichetti, Parable for Brass Quintet^[90]
• Tom Pierson, Brass Quintet^[91]
• Anthony Plog, 4 Sketches for Brass Quintet (Quintet #1)^[92]
• Anthony Plog, Mini-Suite for Brass Quintet^[93]
• Anthony Plog, Mosaics for Brass Quintet (Quintet No. 2)^[94]
• Anthony Plog, Animal Ditties VII for Brass Quintet^[95]
• Andre Previn, Four Outings for Brass
• Howard Quilling, Four Pieces for Five Brass
• Belinda Reynolds, Weave
• Verne Reynolds, Suite^[96]
• Peter Robles, Transcendent Tones, Fractured Forms
• Ned Rorem, Diversions^[97]
• Steven Christopher Sacco, Quintet for Brass^[98]
• David Sampson, Distant Voices^[99]
• David Sampson, Entrance
• David Sampson, Morning Music^[100]
• David Sampson, Strata (originally Quintet 99)^[101]
• Peter Schickele, Hornsmoke: a horse opera^[102]
• Adam Schoenberg, Reflecting Light^[103]
• William Schmidt, Variations on a Negro Folksong^[104]
• William Schuman, American Hymn: variations on an original melody^[105] '
• Elliott Schwartz, Three Movements^[106]
• Ralph Shapey, Brass Quintet^[107]
• Ralph Shapey, Fanfares^[108]
• Alexander Shchetynsky, On the Eve
• Faye-Ellen Silverman, Kalends^[109]
• Faye-Ellen Silverman, Quantum Quintet^[110]
• Reynold Simpson, Brass Quintet
• David Snow, Dance Movements^[111]
• Juan María Solare, Heroes of a Forgotten Kingdom
• Juan María Solare, Handwritten Runes
• Juan María Solare, Affirmation
• Juan María Solare, Hymn to Commitment
• Andrew Sorg, Mental Disorders
• Andrew Sorg, Voices In Da Fan
• Andrew Sorg, Prelude and Fugue in E minor
• Andrew Sorg, Existential Crisis
• Robert Starer, Evanescence^[112]
• Raymond Stewart, OK Chorale
• William Susman, The Heavens Above
• Elias Tannenbaum, Patterns and Improvisations for BQ and Tape
• Elias Tannenbaum, Structures
• Michael Tilson Thomas, Street Song^[113]
• Virgil Thomson, Family Portrait^[114]
• Bramwell Tovey, Manhattan Music, for brass quintet and orchestra or wind ensemble
• Bramwell Tovey, Santa Barbara Sonata^[115]
• George Tsontakis, Brass Quintet
• George Tsontakis, Hansel
• Joseph Turrin, Fanfare for Five for brass quintet
• Joseph Turrin, Soundscapes for brass quintet^[116]
• Joseph Turrin, Solarium for brass quartet and piano^[117]
• Joseph Turrin, Sketches for brass quintet
• Vladimir Ussachevsky, Anniversary Variations
• Vladimir Ussachevsky, Dialogues and Contrasts for Brass Quintet and Tape
• Davide Verotta, 4 Movements for Brass
• George Walker, Music for Brass (Sacred and Profane)^[118]
• Dan Welcher, Brass Quintet^[119]
• Charles Whittenberg, Triptych^[120]
• Alec Wilder, Jazz Suite for brass quintet^[121]
• Natalie Williams, Land of Ages: fanfare for brass quintet.^[122]
• Charles Wuorinen, Brass Quintet^[123]
• Norman Yamada, Mundane Dissatisfactions
• Carolyn Yarnell, Slade
• John Zorn, Pulcinella
• Ramon Zupko, Masques for brass quintet and piano

Further reading

• O'Loughlin, Niall. "Modern Brass", The Musical Times, Vol. 123, No. 1678, 250 Years of Covent Garden (Dec., 1982), p. 851

External links

• American Brass Quintet Database
• Brass Quintet Discography
• brassapedia – brass ensemble resources

Notes and References

1. https://www.worldcat.org/oclc/28100510 WorldCat: Triskelion.
2. http://www.efrainamaya.com/audio.html
3. http://www.worldcat.org/oclc/29048047 WorldCat: Relais.
4. Web site: Media - Berlin Brass Quintet . Berlin Brass Quintet . May 19, 2024 . The Quintet No. 1, op. 73 by Sir Malcolm Arnold is part of today’s standard repertoire for brass quintet and is one of the repertoire’s more popular works..
5. Web site: Alexander Arutiunian Armenian Scenes for brass quintet . Editions BIM . May 19, 2024.
6. http://www.worldcat.org/oclc/78064071 WorldCat: Counterparts.
7. http://www.worldcat.org/oclc/30948077 WorldCat: Laudes.
8. http://www.worldcat.org/oclc/778887878 WorldCat: Triptych.
9. http://www.worldcat.org/oclc/148116391 WorldCat: Divergence.
10. http://www.worldcat.org/oclc/751314781 WorldCat: Mosaics.
11. http://www.worldcat.org/oclc/51777299 WorldCat: Beaser Quintet.
12. http://www.worldcat.org/oclc/220654982 WorldCat: Bazelon Quintet.
13. http://www.worldcat.org/oclc/884079287 WorldCat: Call.
14. http://www.worldcat.org/oclc/881845035 WorldCat: Bourgeois.
15. http://www.worldcat.org/oclc/26997530 WorldCat: Dance Suite.
16. http://www.worldcat.org/oclc/781485810 WorldCat: Kriki.
17. http://www.worldcat.org/oclc/53246278 WorldCat: Sonatine.
18. http://www.worldcat.org/oclc/46338358 WorldCat: Brehm.
19. http://www.worldcat.org/oclc/21472366 WorldCat: Occasional Suite.
20. Book: Kinder . Keith William . And Harmony Abound: The Musical Life of Morley Calvert . 2022 . . Canada . 978-0-2280-0970-2 .
21. http://www.worldcat.org/oclc/959559425 WorldCat: Purcell.
22. Web site: Hyde . Paul . Greenville Symphony brass and string players spotlighted in chamber concert . Greenville Journal . July 12, 2024 . February 1, 2022 . "Brass Menagerie has become one of the most popular brass quintets,” said Phil Elkins, co-principle trumpet player with the Greenville Symphony..
23. Web site: O'Bannon . Ricky . A continuing opus: John Cheetham relishes a life of composition . The Columbia Missourian . July 12, 2024 . June 12, 2015 . Cheetham’s "Scherzo" has become a part of the standard repertoire for brass quintets..
24. http://www.worldcat.org/oclc/646288822 WorldCat: Scenes for Brass.
25. http://www.worldcat.org/oclc/78149894 WorldCat: Vitrail.
26. http://www.worldcat.org/oclc/24085643 WorldCat: Sounding.
27. http://www.worldcat.org/oclc/228144856 WorldCat: Blackbird Variations.
28. http://www.worldcat.org/oclc/1005696252 WorldCat: Fire Dance.
29. http://www.worldcat.org/oclc/15848843 WorldCat: Angels.
30. http://www.worldcat.org/oclc/29414284 WorldCat: Other Voices.
31. http://www.worldcat.org/oclc/501738137 WorldCat: Dubowsky quintet.
32. http://www.worldcat.org/oclc/1001833819 WorldCat: Due North.
33. http://www.worldcat.org/oclc/2536643 WorldCat: Three Salutations.
34. http://www.worldcat.org/oclc/1024240 WorldCat: Erb Three pieces.
35. http://www.worldcat.org/oclc/631177066 WorldCat: Valentine's Day.
36. http://www.worldcat.org/oclc/852863562 WorldCat: Etler Quintet.
37. http://www.worldcat.org/oclc/78428604 WorldCat: Sonic Sequence.
38. http://www.worldcat.org/oclc/819572576 WorldCat: Ewald 1.
39. http://www.worldcat.org/oclc/51759191 WorldCat: Ewald 2.
40. http://www.worldcat.org/oclc/44224324 WorldCat: Ewald 3.
41. http://www.worldcat.org/oclc/908113225 WorldCat: Ewald 4.
42. http://www.worldcat.org/oclc/988659816 WorldCat: Colchester Fantasy.
43. http://www.worldcat.org/oclc/56944904 WorldCat: Frost Fire.
44. http://www.worldcat.org/oclc/959555877 WorldCat: Western Fanfare.
45. http://www.worldcat.org/oclc/55203389 WorldCat: Velvet and Spice.
46. http://www.worldcat.org/oclc/224003047 WorldCat: Locking Horns.
47. http://www.worldcat.org/oclc/77659105 WorldCat: Prelude and Elegy.
48. http://www.worldcat.org/oclc/9583850 WorldCat: Night Music.
49. Web site: http://www.seanfriar.com/kindly-reply . www.seanfriar.com . May 22, 2021.
50. http://www.worldcat.org/oclc/875579069 WorldCat: Fire, Ice, and Summer Bronze.
51. http://www.worldcat.org/oclc/56389691 WorldCat: Toccata.
52. http://www.worldcat.org/oclc/34541537 WorldCat: Celebration and Reflection.
53. http://www.worldcat.org/oclc/148234819 WorldCat: Goldenthal 2.
54. http://www.worldcat.org/oclc/48934473 WorldCat: Zen Monkey.
55. http://www.worldcat.org/oclc/50530482 WorldCat: Soft Shoe.
56. http://www.worldcat.org/oclc/987783161 WorldCat: Hillborg quintet.
57. http://www.worldcat.org/oclc/8653276 WorldCat: Ritornelli 2.
58. http://www.worldcat.org/oclc/148111641 WorldCat: Holmboe 1.
59. http://www.worldcat.org/oclc/682066039 WorldCat: Holmboe 2.
60. http://www.worldcat.org/oclc/244950703 WorldCat: Music Hall Suite.
61. http://www.worldcat.org/oclc/497414295 WorldCat: Pentaptych.
62. http://www.worldcat.org/oclc/563193 WorldCat: Huggler.
63. http://www.worldcat.org/oclc/317687511 WorldCat: Divertimento.
64. http://www.worldcat.org/oclc/688581221 WorldCat: Landscapes.
65. http://www.worldcat.org/oclc/145063597 WorldCat: Four Movements for Five Brass.
66. http://www.worldcat.org/oclc/940154993 WorldCat: Kamen Quintet.
67. http://www.worldcat.org/oclc/924077009 WorldCat: Killer Tango.
68. http://www.worldcat.org/oclc/31081180 WorldCat: Prelude and Scherzo.
69. http://www.worldcat.org/oclc/760052856 WorldCat: Par monts et par vaux.
70. http://www.worldcat.org/oclc/902063089 WorldCat: Saoko.
71. http://www.worldcat.org/oclc/2068067 WorldCat: London Quintet.
72. Web site: Crystal Records New Mexico Brass Quintet.
73. http://www.worldcat.org/oclc/53201098 WorldCat: Fanfare for CUBE.
74. http://www.worldcat.org/oclc/938195787 WorldCat: Mini Overture.
75. https://www.machajdik.com/ARCHINGBRASS.html
76. http://www.worldcat.org/oclc/35951275 WorldCat: Arise!
77. Web site: As Bronze. 11 November 2018.
78. http://www.worldcat.org/oclc/2536545 WorldCat: Maurer Four songs.
79. http://www.worldcat.org/oclc/755257974 WorldCat: Maurer Twelve Pieces.
80. http://www.worldcat.org/oclc/2032889 WorldCat: Four Frescoes.
81. http://www.worldcat.org/oclc/180106950 WorldCat: Escape.
82. http://www.worldcat.org/oclc/863244978 WorldCat: Vuelta del Fuego.
83. http://www.worldcat.org/oclc/82864865 WorldCat: 91 plus 5.
84. Turner, Charles. “Jerome Moross: An Introduction and Annotated Worklist.” Notes, vol. 61, no. 3, 2005, pp. 659–727. JSTOR, www.jstor.org/stable/4487438. Accessed 27 Mar. 2020.
85. http://www.worldcat.org/oclc/13755793 WorldCat: This Old Man March.
86. http://www.worldcat.org/oclc/814373839 WorldCat: Abstract Mosaics.
87. http://www.worldcat.org/oclc/911729090 WorldCat: Vision.
88. https://robertpaterson.com/dash
89. http://www.worldcat.org/oclc/988093496 WorldCat: Shine.
90. http://www.worldcat.org/oclc/2338967 WorldCat: Parable.
91. http://www.worldcat.org/oclc/52397148 WorldCat: Pierson Quintet.
92. http://www.worldcat.org/oclc/682167740 WorldCat: 4 sketches.
93. http://www.worldcat.org/oclc/5837489 WorldCat: Mini-Suite.
94. http://www.worldcat.org/oclc/45753557 WorldCat: Mosaics.
95. http://www.worldcat.org/oclc/50541159 WorldCat: Animal Ditties VII for Brass Quintet.
96. http://www.worldcat.org/oclc/1212769 WorldCat: Reynolds Suite.
97. http://www.worldcat.org/oclc/868240678 WorldCat: Diversions.
98. http://www.worldcat.org/oclc/228144849 WorldCat: Sacco Quintet.
99. http://www.worldcat.org/oclc/57212205 WorldCat: Distant Voices.
100. http://www.worldcat.org/oclc/55897752 WorldCat: Morning Music.
101. http://www.worldcat.org/oclc/52136363 WorldCat: Strata.
102. http://www.worldcat.org/oclc/16983732 WorldCat: Hornsmoke.
103. http://www.worldcat.org/oclc/1002254575 WorldCat: Reflecting Light.
104. http://www.worldcat.org/oclc/66191900 WorldCat: Negro Folksong.
105. http://www.worldcat.org/oclc/9023681 WorldCat: American Hymn.
106. http://www.worldcat.org/oclc/35140455 WorldCat: Three Movements.
107. http://www.worldcat.org/oclc/30388808 WorldCat: Shapey Quintet.
108. http://www.worldcat.org/oclc/671565616 WorldCat: Fanfares.
109. http://www.worldcat.org/oclc/688572320 WorldCat: Kalends.
110. http://www.worldcat.org/oclc/18469782 WorldCat: Quantum Quintet.
111. http://www.worldcat.org/oclc/77597637 WorldCat: Dance Movements.
112. http://www.worldcat.org/oclc/9030418 WorldCat: Evanescence.
113. http://www.worldcat.org/oclc/37656167 WorldCat: Street Song.
114. http://www.worldcat.org/oclc/688399288 WorldCat: Family Portrait.
115. http://www.worldcat.org/oclc/777885498 WorldCat: Santa Barbara Sonata.
116. http://www.worldcat.org/oclc/959638973 WorldCat: Soundscapes.
117. http://www.worldcat.org/oclc/60565548 WorldCat: Solarium.
118. http://www.worldcat.org/oclc/229853438 WorldCat: Sacred and Profane.
119. http://www.worldcat.org/oclc/10756409 WorldCat: Welcher Quintet.
120. http://www.worldcat.org/oclc/4583742 WorldCat: Whittenberg Triptych.
121. http://www.worldcat.org/oclc/681186027 WorldCat: Jazz Suite.
122. http://www.worldcat.org/oclc/224857645 WorldCat: Land of Ages.
123. http://www.worldcat.org/oclc/953564366 WorldCat: Wuorinen Quintet.