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
- FAB to give premiere of a new work by John McCabe.
- Naji Hakim to write for December 10th 2005
- The Complete Brass Chamber Music of Malcolm Arnold
- Fine Arts Brass to be 'Artists in Residence' at the Birmingham Conservatoire
- Gramophone magazine gave us a great review in their September '04 edition
FAB to give premiere of a new work by John McCabe.
as part of our Flander's Festival recital in September 2005
We are delighted to announce that we shall be giving the world premiere of a new brass quintet by arguably one of the most respected composers of brass music writing today; John McCabe. John intimated several years ago that he'd like to write another brass quintet (his first - 'Rounds' -dates from the 1970s), and we were flattered when he approached us, via his publisher, to see if we'd be interested in giving the premiere. As is often the case, nothing much happened further until we were approached by the Flanders Festival Director to perform as part of the Festival in September 2005. During negotiations over programming, it was suggested by us that John had shown interest in writing for our medium once more and we were ecstatic that the Festival were keen to commission John on our behalf. We are looking forward to working with Mr McCabe on this new piece over the coming months.
Naji Hakim to write for December 10th 2005
We've just had word that our concert in Winchester Cathedral on December 10th 2005 will feature a specially commissioned work from Naji Hakim. Naji has been on our wish list of composers to commission for some time, so it's great news that we'll get to give the world premiere of a piece by him. Naji has chosen to set the text of Jesu Redemptor Omnium for brass quintet and SATB choir. Given the amount of concerts we perform with choir, and especially at Christmas, we feel sure it's a piece that will get lots of performances over the years. More details to follow.
The Complete Brass Chamber Music of Malcolm Arnold
Work has started on our next CD for Nimbus Records. We spent two happy afternoons at the Nimbus studios in Monmouth at the beginning of March putting down Brass Quintet's 1 & 2. We shall be returning to Nimbus very soon to add the Sea Shanties, Padstow Lifeboat and the individual 'Fantasies' for Trumpet, Horn, Trombone & Tuba. That then leaves the mighty 'Symphony for Brass' to do sometime after Easter with the full compliment of extra trumpets and trombones. These extra players will be made up of the FAB founder members and all conducted by Stephen Roberts. We are hoping to release the CD by the end of the year.
Fine Arts Brass to be 'Artists in Residence' at the Birmingham Conservatoire
Birmingham Conservatoire's new Head of Brass, David Purser, has invited us to become ‘brass quintet in residence’ at the Conservatoire from September 2005. Our appointment will coincide with a new course being set up for postgraduate brass musicians specialising in brass chamber music. We have been invited to give our first performance at the Conservatoire in April 2005 as part of the Conservatoire’s brass Day.
Although this exciting collaboration is still in it’s early planning stages, it is hoped that FAB will give regular performances & masterclasses throughout the academic year with the students who opt to take a specific interest in brass chamber music. David is also keen to utilise the individual talents of Fine Arts Brass and so has expressed a wish that the members could also take individual classes in their respective instruments. We have recently given an interview to Music Teacher magazine outlining what will be our exciting involvement in shaping the next generation of brass groups.
Gramophone magazine gave us a great review in their September '04 edition
Top British classical CD review magazine, Gramophone, gave us a wonderful review late last year to coincide with the re-release of our 1999 Baroque CD for Nimbus. The reviewer, Jonathan Freeman-Attwood compared our performances to the The Philip Jones Brass Ensemble and the Canadian Brass and we have to say on the whole we didn't fair too badly! This CD has met with particular acclaim since it's initial release as can seen by reading some of it's reviews.