Posted by Ace on August 20, 2001 at 22:28:34:
In Reply to: Little heard brass recordings posted by Sean Chisham on August 20, 2001 at 10:15:01:
Sean,
Not a chamber work by any means, but the recording I most enjoy for exemplary brass playing is the 1989 Chandos release of the Franz Schmidt Symphony No.2 in E flat, Chicago Symphony Orchestra conducted by Neeme Jarvi. It's for BIG orchestra. There are many stirring moments of superb brass writing in this work, and the CSO players really nail it. The conclusion of the last movement is one of the most electrifying moments in all the large-orchestra literature. The brass, from top to bottom, produce a superhuman sound, particularly the trumpets. (I assume Bud Herseth is in the section. Have no idea who the tuba player is. May be more than one tuba.) I haven't seen the score to this work, but the dynamic marking must be fff. I'm no big fan of loud volume levels as such. However, when it is loud AND musically tasteful AND steel-bar solid, I am thrilled.