Onyx Brass
Conductor: John Wilson
Featuring: Viv McLean (piano)
Chandos Recordings: 20399
Formed in 1993, Onyx Brass continues to bring a highly informed sense of polished understanding to their exploration of core as well as new repertoire, on this, their fourth Chandos release.
There are six premiere recordings featured, the quintet supplemented for some by percussion and piano, with conductor John Wilson also lending a baton in the direction. The performance substance never wavers; the crisp, articulated elegance balanced by an acute sense of stylistic nuance – coherent and considered.
Identity and intrigue
As the title suggests, the release offers an appreciation of works stamped by the Transatlantic identity of their composers – the defined Englishness of Walton, Britten, Arnold, Langford, Horovitz and Vaughan Williams balanced by the Americana of Adams, Price, Gershwin and Bernstein.
Intrigue too, especially in the personal timelines and purposes of the compositions themselves; from the ‘Roaring Fanfare’ of William Walton which marked a visit of Queen Elizabeth II to the Zoological Society of London in 1976 - complete with celebratory elephantine glissandi - to the last composition of Leonard Berstein, a somewhat sad cameo 'Dance Suite' of fleeting memories and dedications.
Fully formed
Some are fully formed such as Malcolm Arnold’s brilliant ‘Quintet No.1’ from 1961, which, like the composer, bubbles either with outward energy or sinks into sombre internal reflection.
It provides a fascinating counterpoint to the cabaret of gas-footlight delights of tenderness and wit found in Joseph Horovitz’s ‘Music Hall Suite’. His subtle characterisations of the skills of the dance hall performers and their brass interpreters are touched by genius.
It provides a fascinating counterpoint to the cabaret of gas-footlight delights of tenderness and wit found in Joseph Horovitz’s ‘Music Hall Suite’. His subtle characterisations of the skills of the dance hall performers and their brass interpreters are touched by genius.
Gordon Langford’s ‘Prelude, Polonaise and Promenade’ is also a 1970s time-capsule treat – the ease of the orchestration almost belies the true quality of its complete craftsmanship.
Nascent
Others are more nascent in time and place – the Vaughan Williams ‘Flourish on the Morris Call’, almost to the point of blink and you miss it.
Realised substance, even in small measure though with Benjamin’s Britten’s ‘Funeral March’ (1938), skilfully constructed by Bernard Hughes from a fragment sketch held at the archives at Adelburgh. ‘Fanfare for June 30th 1970’, written for a private farewell gala with its oblique series of operatic quotes, sees the light of day for the first time since the event.
David Gordon Shute maintains the evolving shifts in harmonic structure of John Adams ‘China Gates’ as well as adding minimalist textures and colouring to the emerging development of the material.
George Gershwin’s early ‘Novelette in Fourths’ (written in 1919, the same year of ‘Swanee’), is a ‘cakewalk’ strut with a Joplinesque feel, cleverly arranged by Timothy Jackson, whilst David Gordon Shute maintains the evolving shifts in harmonic structure of John Adams ‘China Gates’ as well as adding minimalist textures and colouring to the emerging development of the material.
Juxtaposition
The discovery in 2009 of a huge cache of works of the American composer Florence Price (1887-1953) has unearthed both gems as well as semi-precious nuggets of works that came close to obliteration.
It makes for a distillation of cultural perspectives, puzzling in outlook and connectivity at times, but still, as is this release as a whole, thoroughly absorbing.
Her ‘Octet for Brasses and Piano’ (1930) is a curious juxtaposition – almost two separate voices and ideas fused into one: the touches of Gershwin and Dvorak set against European classicism.
It makes for a distillation of cultural perspectives, puzzling in outlook and connectivity at times, but still, as is this release as a whole, thoroughly absorbing.
Iwan Fox
Play list:
1. Roaring Fanfare (William Walton)*
Conducted by John Wilson
2. China Gates (John Adams arr. David Gordon Shute)
3. Funeral March (Benjamin Britten. Completed by B. Hughes)*
Conducted by John Wilson
4. Octet for Brasses and Piano (Florence Price)*
Pianist: Viv McLean
Conducted by John Wilson
i. Tempo moderato
ii. Andante cantabile
iii. Tempo moderato
7. Brass Quintet No. 1, Op. 73 (Malcolm Arnold)
i. Allegro vivace
ii. Chaconne
iii.. Con brio
10. Prelude (Novelette in Fourths) (George Gershwin)*
11. A Fanfare for June 30th 1970 (Benjamin Britten)*
Conducted by John Wilson
12. Prelude, Polonaise & Promenade (Gordon Langford)
i. Prelude
ii. Polonaise
iii. Promenade
15. Flourish on the Morris Call (Vaughan Williams arr. Christopher Gordon)*
Conducted by John Wilson
16. Music Hall Suite (Joseph Horovitz)
i. Soubrette Song
ii. Trick Cyclists
iii. Adagio -Team
iv. Soft Shoe Shuffle
v. Les girls
21. Dance Suite for Brass Quintet (Leonard Bernstein)
i. Dancisca for Antony
ii. Waltz for Agnes
iii. Bi Tango for Mischa
iv. Two Step for Mr. B
v. MTV for Jerry
