Empire Brass
Empire Brass | |
|---|---|
 Empire Brass performing in 2006 | |
| Background information | |
| Origin | Massachusetts, U.S. |
| Years active | 1971–present |
| Members |
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| Past members |
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| Website | www |
Empire Brass is a brass quintet from the United States. The group was founded in 1971. The original members met at Tanglewood Music Center (in Lenox, Massachusetts) in 1970.[1]
Description and history
The quintet chose its name after performing in New York City.[1] (New York is the Empire State.) They continue to tour regularly in North America, Europe, and Asia. They have been the Faculty Quintet-in-Residence at Boston University since 1976.[2]
The Empire Brass have appeared on Good Morning America, Today Show and Mister Rogers' Neighborhood.[3] They also make joint concert appearances with organist Douglas Major.[4]
Members
As of May 2015, its members include:
- Derek Lockhart, trumpet
- Eric Berlin, trumpet
- Victor Sungarian, French horn
- Greg Spiridopoulos, trombone
- Kenneth Amis, tuba
Previous members include:
- Rolf Smedvig, trumpet, founder; died April 27, 2015[1]
- Sam Pilafian, tuba, founder; died April 5, 2019.[5]
Discography
- A Bach Festival
- Fireworks
- Joy to the World, Music of Christmas
- Baroque Music for Brass and Organ
- Greatest Hits
- Empire Brass with The Master Chorale of Tampa Bay
- Glory of Gabrieli
- Empire Brass Quintet and Friends - American Brass Band Journal
- Passage
- King's Court and Celtic Fair
- Firedance
- Music of Gabrieli
- Bernstein & Gershwin
- Romantic Brass
- The World Sings: An Empire Brass Christmas
- Royal Brass
- Mozart for Brass
- Braggin' in Brass
- Class Brass
- Class Brass - On the Edge
- Music for Organ, Brass & Percussion
- On Broadway
- Vivaldi: The Four Seasons
- The Empire Brass Plays Annie
- Empire Brass Quintet (Hovhaness, Hindemith, Bohme, Dvorak)
- Christmas with the Master Chorale & Empire Brass
- Pachelbel:Kanon & Other Baroque Favorites
References
- ^ a b c "Rolf Smedvig, 62; virtuoso trumpeter who cofounded renowned brass quintet". Boston Globe. May 5, 2015. Retrieved May 8, 2015.
- ^ Wise, Brian (April 28, 2015). "Rolf Smedvig, Trumpeter Who Founded Empire Brass, Dies at 63". WQXR-FM. Retrieved May 8, 2015.
The quintet was a co-winner of the Naumberg Chamber Music Award in 1976 and had also begun a long-term residency at Boston University.
- ^ Woodstra, Chris; Brennan, Gerald; Schrott, Allen (2005). All Music Guide to Classical Music. Hal Leonard Corporation. p. 417. ISBN 9780879308650.
- ^ Acton, Nancy (April 21, 2006). "Major weekend treat for organ music lovers". The Royal Gazette. Retrieved May 8, 2015.
- ^ Sandomir, Richard (April 12, 2019). "Sam Pilafian, Tuba Maestro of Multiple Genres, Dies at 69". The New York Times. Retrieved December 4, 2020.
External links
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| National | |
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