»Brass und Brahms«

Intimate soundscapes

From the very start of his compositional career, the work of the American composer, conductor and trumpeter Anthony Plog focussed largely on the writing of pieces for different types of brass ensembles. His »Trio for Brass« for flugelhorn, horn and trombone, written in 1996, conveys a striking impression of the surprisingly versatile facets of the sound of the various brass instruments.

In the years 1945 to 1975, the German Baltic composer, librettist and musicologist Boris Blacher was one of the most frequently performed contemporary composers in German-speaking countries, whose work – especially as a teacher of composition – exerted a lasting influence on the music of the 20th century. With its structure that can easily be grasped by the listener in terms of sound and with its intelligent, pointed instrumentation, Blacher's Divertimento for trumpet, trombone and piano displays almost all the essential features of his compositional style, which sometimes seems deliberately reduced.

The music of the American composer Alec Wilder represents a unique combination of different influences, blending the traditions of European serious music with jazz and American folklore. Countless artists, especially in the field of popular music (including the American singer and entertainer Frank Sinatra), are among Wilder's professed fans. His Suite No. 1 for horn, bass trombone and piano bears the composer's wonderfully sonorous imprint which, despite its indisputable artistic claim, never denies Wilder's closeness to popular culture.

Originally, Johannes Brahms intended to end his compositional career with the String Quintet in G major, op. 111, completed in the summer of 1890. In December 1890, he wrote to his publisher, Simrock: "With this slip of paper, you can bid farewell to my scores – because it is absolutely time to stop." Brahms gave his second string quintet a structure that was opulent in sound, sometimes even orchestral, with wide-spread chords, double stopping and tremoli. Even if – contrary to the composer's original intention – this was not to be his last work, it is nonetheless characterised by clear signs of departure. Accordingly, the atmosphere of the quintet – with the exception of the rhapsodic main theme of the opening movement – is largely marked by delicate moods, ranging from gracious resignation through to deeply felt sadness. Against this background, the sometimes very sonorously indulgent, in part even optimistic and friendly style of the work which flashes out of the score time and again seems all the more amazing.

Anthony Plog "Trio for Brass" for flugelhorn, horn and trombone
Boris Blacher Divertimento for trumpet, trombone and piano
Alec Wilder Suite number 1 for horn, bass trombone and piano
Johannes Brahms String quartet in G major, opus 111