About the Program
The American Brass Quintet continues a celebration of the 250th anniversary of the United States with a program of American music. The concert begins with a brief nod to the past, John Dowland’s lively Earl of Essex Galliard/ Can She Excuse My Wrongs before focusing on living American composers. Dan Coleman and David Biedenbender are moving pieces that have earned significant places in ABQ’s repertoire. Philip Lasser’s work was commissioned by Juilliard in honor of ABQ’s 30th anniversary as ensemble-in-residence and intersperses poetry among the movements that reflects the American spirit with a powerful and positive message. Reena Esmail is an American of Indian heritage who uses Hindustani modality in her piece Khirkiyaan. Closing the program is one lively chapter of Book of Brass by one of the foremost American composers, Jennifer Higdon. Diverse in many ways, this program is a great representation of American culture at its finest.
About the Artists
The American Brass Quintet is internationally recognized as one of the premier chamber music ensembles of our time, celebrated for peerless leadership in the brass world. “The most distinguished” of brass quintets (American Record Guide), ABQ has earned its stellar reputation through its celebrated performances, genre-defining commissioned works, and an ongoing commitment to the education of generations of musicians.
A recipient of Chamber Music America’s highest honor, the Richard J. Bogomolny National Service Award for significant and lasting contributions to the field, the group’s rich history includes performances in five continents, a discography of over sixty recordings, and the premieres of over one hundred fifty contemporary brass works. Since its founding in 1960, the commissioned works of esteemed composers have contributed significantly to both contemporary chamber music and the foundation of the modern brass quintet repertoire. Such composers include Elliott Carter, Eric Ewazen, Jennifer Higdon, Anthony Plog, Huang Ruo, David Sampson, Gunther Schuller, William Schuman, Joan Tower, Charles Whittenberg, and John Zorn, among many others. The Quintet’s Emerging Composer Commissioning program, with grant assistance from the Jerome Foundation, produced brass quintets by rising stars Gordon Beeferman, Jay Greenberg, Trevor Gureckis, and Shafer Mahoney. Among the Quintet’s recordings are eleven CDs for Summit Records since 1992 including the latest release, “Perspectives”, featuring four works commissioned for the ensemble.
Committed to the promotion of brass chamber music through education, the American Brass Quintet has been in residence at The Juilliard School since 1987 and the Aspen Music Festival since 1970. Since 2000, ABQ has offered its expertise in chamber music performance and training with a program of mini-residencies as part of its regular touring. Designed to offer young groups and individuals an intense chamber music experience over several days, ABQ mini-residencies have been embraced by schools and communities throughout the United States as well as internationally.
The New York Times wrote that “among North American brass ensembles none is more venerable than the American Brass Quintet.” Through its acclaimed performances, diverse programming, commissioning, extensive discography and educational mission, the American Brass Quintet has created an unparalleled legacy in the brass field.
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