Historic Brass

The American composer Fisher Tull (1934–1994) was also an arranger, teacher, and trumpet player. Upon graduating from high school in Waco, Texas, Tull played for a while in a dance band prior to enrolling at the University of North Texas and earning a bachelor’s degree in M usic E ducation . He stayed at the University of North Texas to pursue additional studies and earned a master’s degree in Music Theory and Trumpet Performance. At the tender age of twenty-three, Tull began teaching at Sam Houston State University in Huntsville, Texas in 1957. He would later earn a PhD in Music Composition (also at the University of North Texas) and serve as chair of the music department at Sam Houston State University from 1965 until 1982. Fisher Tull Tull earned numerous awards for his compositions from ASCAP, the Chicago Symphony Orchestra and the National Flute Association. His piece for wind band, Toccata , earned him the 1970 American Bandmaster’s Ostwald Award. Tull is perhap

Toru Takemitsu  (1930-1996) was a Japanese composer. He first heard Western art music when a military officer played a record for him and his fellow soldiers. After the war, in 1948, Takemitsu began studying composition with Kiyose. Takemitsu would remain largely self-taught in all things composition. Toru Takemitsu Takemitsu's greatest influences include Debussy and Messiaen. The timeless quality of their music can be heard in his music. Like them, he composed music with ambiguity: using modal melodies to mask the harmony for example. His 1957 Requiem caught the attention of Igor Stravinsky and this helped Takemitsu receive more recognition. Toru Takemitsu In 1964, he was invited to contribute to a series of lectures in Hawai'i by the East West Center. Another composer present, one who was a generation older than Takemitsu, was John Cage . The two exchanged many ideas but interestingly, Takemitsu was already employing some of Cage's most unique approaches: ind

The early brass instrument known as the  serpent was a recent focus on the Historic Brass blog. It would later evolve into the ophicleide (which roughly translates to "keyed serpent"). True to its etymology, the ophicleide is a bass instrument similar to the serpent but now instead of holes in the instrument, there are key s.  The ophicleide was patented in 1821 by  Jean Hilaire Asté  (sometimes he is known as Halary or Haleri) who was an  instrument maker in France. Ophicleide In my research, the name Tony George keeps reappearing as one of the foremost authorities on this instrument. Here he demonstrates an ophicleide. Search for ophicleide on YouTube and you will be rewarded with over four-thousand videos. There were several distinct advantages which the ophicleide provided over the serpent. Ophicleides are made of metal and therefore louder than serpents. Second, the key system was easier to use than the holes because the keys were more ergonomically placed.

This post is about another period-specific group: The Dodworth Saxhorn Band. So you probably are familiar with the horn and are probably familiar with the saxophone - so what is a saxhorn? Adolphe Sax (1814-1894) was a Belgian inventor who contributed a lot to music throughout his innovations. The saxophone family, his invention, is named after him. He also influenced the development of the tuba and euphonium via other instruments like his saxhorns . Wikipedia  also has some interesting information. So, now that everyone knows about saxhorns, I would like to introduce the Dodworth Saxhorn Band. The Dodworth Saxhorn Band in period dress. The Dodworth Saxhorn Band  is modeled after a similarly-named Dodworth band that was well-respected ensemble whose heyday was in New York City from 1840 to 1880. This ensemble was reborn in 1985 thanks to the avid instrument collector Alexander Pollock. Today's Dodworth Saxhorn Band is based out of Ann Arbor, Michigan. The band only uses

This spring, I interviewed a representative from the Lake Wobegon® Brass Band. Here is their YouTube Channel and here is their website . I asked some questions regarding their ensemble's history. Lake   Wobegon® Brass Band promotional photo The gentleman I interviewed is named Brett Krohn and he is a cornet player in the Lake Wobegon® Brass Band. He has been involved with the band for most of it’s existence.  He has played second cornet, repiano cornet, flugelhorn, and currently plays solo cornet three.  In regards to the below interview, Krohn said that  The responses are just from my perspective.  I don’t know that they fully represent our band or our other leaders.  I hope the information is helpful. 1.       How do you describe the  Lake Wobegon® Brass Band ? What is their goal? The Lake Wobegon® Brass Band is a British  style brass band committed to performing fine brass band literature.  Our mission statement: “To promote British brass band music throughout the M

The serpent. Readers with o phidiophobia  fear not - there will be nothing to do with any actual leg-less creatures in this post.  This post is all about the musical instrument known as the serpent. This quirky instrument was developed during the Renaissance and in recent decades has been enjoying its own Renaissance. Traditionally, serpents are made of wood but still classified as a brass instrument due to the use of the brass-style mouthpiece. Their ancestors include cornetti and their purpose was to strengthen bass voices in liturgical music such as chant. A serpent with chorus  Doug Yeo, retired bass trombonist with the Boston Symphony Orchestra, has become one of the world's foremost authorities and performers on serpent. Modern serpents are often made of materials other than wood. I have even seen them constructed from plastic plumbing pipe (PVC). Here is Doug Yeo with three serpents Closer view of a serpent with keys Closer view of a serpent without k

Rayner Brown was born in Des Moines, Iowa in 1912. At age 14, Brown would move to California and live there for the rest of his life. He attended the University of Southern California where he completed a B.M. in organ and a M.M. in composition. He studied with Hanns Eisler and Lucien Cailliet. He would go on to teach at Biola University for thirty years until his retirement in 1977. Brown's primary instrument was the organ therefore he maintained various church positions as well some notable leader positions in organ guilds. Therefore, it comes as no surprise that much of his compositional output involves the organ. His catalogue includes over two-hundred compositions including a Requiem Mass for Winnie the Pooh. Throughout his career,  Brown was asked to compose numerous commissions, received multiple Ford Foundation grants and was even the recipient of ASCAP awards for a surprising fifteen years straight. Rayner Brown  passed away in 1999. The Music of Rayner Brown - Los Ang