Washington Symphonic Brass

"Lascivious Monks and French Insurgents!"

Richard Westerfield, guest conductor
Phil Snedecor, arranger

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“Who needs voices, or the rest of the orchestra, when a group of such finesse is breathing new life into familiar delicacies?” —Gramophone

Monday, February 25, 2008
7:30 pm

Camp Concert Hall, Booker Hall of Music

The Washington Symphonic Brass is composed of some of the finest professional musicians in the Washington/Baltimore area. While the members are in constant demand for orchestral, solo and chamber music performances, they have assembled to play some of the great literature written for large brass ensemble. Formed out of a love of, and excitement about, this fine literature, the WSB performs throughout the Washington and Baltimore metropolitan areas, appearing at some of the great performance spaces on the east coast. Specializing in compositions written for large brass ensemble and percussion with organs, choruses and other instruments optional, the varied repertoire of the Washington Symphonic Brass covers five centuries. The Richmond concert features brass arrangements of Carl Orff’s Carmina Burana and Igor Stravinsky’s Rite of Spring.

Tickets: $30 adults, $28 seniors 65+, $15 children 12 and under, $22 UR employees, $8 UR students

Program:

Fanfare from "La Peri"
Paul Dukas

"March to the Scaffold
and the Witches Sabath"
from Symphonie Fantastique
Hector Berlioz

The Rite of Spring
Igor Stravinsky

Carmina Burana

Carl Orff

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Audience Reviews :: Washington Symphonic Brass :: Washington Symphonic Brass

7 Messages.
Washington Symphonic Brass Posted: February 25, 2008; 22:46 by: Samantha Liked them....the hall might be too small for their sound. I have worn a hearing aid for 50 plus years..removed and heard them easily even though I am profoundly deaf. Bill (via e-mail)
re: Washington Symphonic Brass Posted: February 25, 2008; 23:08 by: DAVID This combination & variety (mostly brass) of instruments superbly delivered a most dynamic sound. The quality was excellent and very well matched to the Camp Concert Hall. Brass is always very loud; but, very beautiful in its own distinctive way. I would encourage you to have them back. They, in fact, told me they would very much desire to return! Pam & Dave
re: Washington Symphonic Brass Posted: February 26, 2008; 07:40 by: Bruce Outstanding! Another fine example of the diversity of your programs. Hope you will bring them back.
re: Washington Symphonic Brass Posted: February 26, 2008; 09:02 by: Julie Great performance! I hope you'll have the Washington Symphonic Brass back again soon.
re: Washington Symphonic Brass Posted: February 26, 2008; 11:31 by: Robert Being a former trombone player in my high school band many years ago, I enjoy brass music and they were excellent. They kind of overwhelmed the hall a bit in the first half of the show, but the Carmina Burano showcased their skills, individual as well as group, better. I would like to hear them again, but with more variety--some baroque as well. It might be hard to get my wife to accompany me--after a stressful day at work, it was loud and too frenetic for her.
re: Washington Symphonic Brass Posted: February 26, 2008; 12:22 by: Site It’s easy to see why those folks enjoy their work. First, of course, they are good at it. Then, in this ensemble they get to show off and be the stars and blow loud ‘most all the time, instead of mostly sitting still and mostly listening to those effete string players. They are MUCH too loud for that hall. They need a large venue. When playing music written for brass, they are wonderful. The opening overture, the closing fanfare, and the climax to the Berlioz were nothing short of terrific. Their large numbers give the music a punch and clarity that just can’t be had from a quartet or quintet. Playing music written for orchestra was another matter. Let’s face it: Trumpets just don’t sound like violins and trombones, no matter how well played, don’t substitute for cellos. Even the Rite of Spring, which they played beautifully, was not well served by the absence of strings and the other winds. I would have been better pleased if they had stuck to music written for brass, which their size and skills serve beautifully. John (via e-mail)
re: Washington Symphonic Brass Posted: February 28, 2008; 11:15 by: Samantha We loved this concert. I never would have thought that 13 brass instruments could provide as much music of quality as they did. I wish they had recoded the complete "Rite of Spring" on CD. Dave Hubbard (via e-mail)
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