Rayner Brown

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 Angeles Brass Society

Brown has two significant works featured on the 2003 album "Philharmonic Brass" by the Los Angeles Brass Society and the Los Angeles Philharmonic Brass Ensemble.
https://uiowa-naxosmusiclibrary-com.proxy.lib.uiowa.edu/catalogue/item.asp?cid=CrystalCD121
These are his 5 Pieces for Organ, Harp, Brass and Percussion and his Fantasy-Fugue. The 5 Pieces... is roughly nineteen minutes long and the Fantasy-Fugue is more like five minutes long.

Philharmonic Brass - LA Brass Society & LA Phil Brass Ensemble

Interestingly enough, there is more music by Rayner Brown featuring harp with brass. Here is the Budapest Brass Quintet performing Rayner Brown's Concertino for Harp and Brass Quintet: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=isEx6vLRyjM This single-movement composition is roughly eleven minutes long.

Budapest Brass Quintet

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