Other News about Fine Arts Brass
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See our Out and About page for recent photos of FAB
...and here's some older news
- A New CD with Worcester Cathedral Choir
- Sir Malcolm Arnold's death is announced
- Catch us on Songs of Praise
- The Complete Brass Chamber Music of Sir Malcolm Arnold
- 'Around Five'
A New CD with Worcester Cathedral Choir
After our recent collaboration with Adrian Lucas and the Worcester Cathedral Choir in December 2006, we are to join the choir again for a CD of the wonderful music heard over those three consecutive Son et Lumiere concerts. The CD will be out in time for Christmas 2007. Watch this space for more details.
Sir Malcolm Arnold's death is announced
It is with great sadness that we hear today of Sir Malcolm Arnold's death. As many of you will know our latest CD (to be released next week) is the complete brass chamber music of Sir Malcolm Arnold. Our concert on October 1st at the Barber Institute of Fine Arts, Birmingham University was also to celebrate the composer's pending 85th birthday later in October in addition to our own 25th birthday anniversary. The concert will still be going ahead and will now be a special tribute to Sir Malcolm's life and work. The concert is at 3pm (click here for information) and tickets can be purchased directly from the Barber Institute on 0121 414 7333 or by
Catch us on Songs of Praise
- but not just yet......
We've just got back from Chester Cathedral after a weekend recording what will be two great shows for the BBC's flagship religious programme, Songs of Praise. It felt particularly odd playing 'We Three Kings of Orient Are' in the middle of June, but needs must when you record a programme a full six months before it's scheduled broadcast. The first show to be broadcast (recorded on Sunday 18th June) will be aired on BBC 1 on September 10th this year and the second (recorded on Monday 19th June and featuring school choirs from all around the UK) will get it's airing during Epiphany on January 7th 2007.
Article last updated: 14 May 2006
The Complete Brass Chamber Music of Sir Malcolm Arnold
...finally gets off the ground!
After months of planning and several false starts, we've finally made a start on what will be our next CD. We decided to get the biggest work out of the way first - Sir Malcolm's epic 20 minute warhorse, The Symphony for Brass. The occasion also served as a big reunion for FAB as who better to fill in the extra players required to perform the piece than ALL the FAB members over the years. It was great to see some old faces like founder trumpeters; Andy Culshaw and Bryan Allen. We also had Simon Hogg playing his trombone alongside the current FAB trombonist, Katy Pryce. Founder Horn player and musician extraordinaire; Stephen Roberts was also there to conduct. And even Richard Sandland put in an appearance to lend a critical ear in the recording booth. His comments throughout the day - good and bad - helped everyone play their best. The current FAB team - with the brilliant Tim Thorpe standing in for an indisposed Chris Parkes on horn - return to Monmouth in early June to complete the recording. The CD will be released in time for Sir Malcolm's 85th birthday celebrations in October. The photograph taken on the day has from left to right - Simon Lenton, Angela Whelan, Bryan Allen, Andy Culshaw, Tim Thorpe, Stephen Roberts, Richard Sandland, Sam Elliott, Lyndon Meredith, Kevin Pitt, Simon Hogg and Katy Pryce.
'Around Five'
Our next world premiere.
The title of our next world premiere has been announced, called rather aptly, 'Around Five' is has been written by the respected Dutch composer Bernard van Beurden for the combined forces of a solo brass quintet (Fine Arts Brass) and a 25 piece wind orchestra of 5 flutes, 5 saxes, 5 clarinets, 5 bugles and 5 Percussion. We are to work on the new piece with the band during our visit to Holland in late May and then we shall return in late July to give the premiere. Whilst we are in Holland in May we are also giving a series of educational concerts and masterclasses. Bernard van Beurden was born in 1933 in Amsterdam and studied violin and viola at the Amsterdam Conservatory of Music, continuing his studies in composition with Rudolf Escher and Ton de Leeuw. Upon graduating he continued as instructor at the preparatory academy of the Amsterdam Conservatory of Music as well as teaching at the theatre school in various other capacities. In 1969 he founded the Muzisch Lab, a workshop for amateur musicians. From 1970 to 1980 he gave workshops on contemporary music in The Netherlands and throughout Europe, as well as producing many family concerts. During this period he also worked in radio, producing numerous programmes on new music. In 1978 he was appointed professor at the Rotterdam Conservatory of Music. Since 1980 Bernard van Beurden has concentrated his efforts on composition and at present works exclusively as a composer. Bernard van Beurden's compositions cover a wide range of genres: music for radio, television and theatre; chamber, choral and orchestral music but he has a clear preference for music for wind instruments.