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The Canadian Brass Concert

Published: 04 Jan. 2003, 19:09

A Canada based quintet, the Canadian Brass (CB), is to hold concerts in Korea, celebrating thirty years of performances. Their first ever Korean concerts will be at Seoul Arts Center on July 8 to 9. CB's 30-year anniversary album was recorded just after "Goldberg Variations" (BMG label) hit the record store which commemorates the death of Bach 250 years ago.

The quintet will play various familiar tunes, such as "Autumn" from "The Four Seasons" composed by Antonioni Vivaldi, "24 Caprices for Violin solo" by Niccolo Paganini, "Trumpet Tune" by Henry Purcell, "Adagio for Strings" by Samuel Barber, and "Goldberg Variations" and "Toccata and Fugue in D minor" by J.S. Bach. "Toccata and Fugue in D minor" is perhaps the most famous piece of the quintet, having recorded it numerous times.

Most of their songs are not composed for a brass band so the group arranges the compositions to suit brass music. Besides the classical side, they lighten the mood with music from George Gershwin's "Porgy and Beth," Duke Ellington's jazz, and timeless favorite from the Beatles.

The members of CB are; Jens Lindinemann on trumpet, Christopher Cooper with the French horn, Eugene Watts playing trombone, and Charles Daellenbach on tuba. A new member will join them for their Asian tour, filling in for Ronald Romm on trumpet.

The Canadian Brass is known for their legendary landmarks in brass music, their blend of virtuosity, spontaneity, and humor, and their endless efforts to hold live performance around the world. Especially talented interpretations of Baroque music, such as Antonio Vivaldi, Johann Pachelbel, and Henry Purcell. This must be the influence of the initiative member Eugene Watt who studied classic music at of New England Conservatory of Music.

What is appealing about BS is the vast range of the quintet's musical philosophy, "It has to be fun." This comes from Watts' experience leading a Dixiland jazz band. CB recorded numerous albums of jazz, blues, and pop music in addition to their usual focus on traditional melodies.

Launched in 1970 in Toronto, Canada, CB has recorded over 50 albums. "Celebration," the new album with the new work by U.S. composer Lukas Foss, has recently finished being recorded with the Warsaw Philharmonic and will be on sale soon.

The concert will be 3 p.m. on July 8 and 7:30 p.m. the following day. For more information, call 02-2273-4455.

by Lee Chang-jik