Brass Quintet in 1953, new career oppor- tunities have emerged for tuba players. I first heard the New York group during my undergraduate days at Eastman and was in- members. The late John Fletcher, tubist with the P.J.B.E., was one of the greatest musicians of our time. Through his virtuosic playing, artistry, and musical personality, he influenced composers and arrangers to add new dimensions to their trigued by the different styles of music, all of works for the tuba. which demanded extraordinary musicianship of Formed in 1964, the Saint Louis Brass Quintet each player. It was no surprise that all the quin- performed children's concerts in its beginning tet members were soloists in their own right. years for Young Audiences, Inc. In recent years The history of brass ensembles has been writ- the group has changed its concert format to pre- ten by a small number of outstanding groups. sent original music for brass from the 20th cen- The New York Brass Quintet rediscovered im- tury, baroque transcriptions, and lighter music portant old music by early masters and pio- with humorous demonstrations catering to a neered the commissioning of modern music, thus more general audience. presenting a unique repertoire of more than four For many years, my colleague David Hickman centuries of unusual brass music. They set a had dreamed of an all-American brass ensemble precedent for performing transcriptions of string similar to those in Europe and Japan. Drawing quartets and for commissioning new music. Per- on the talents of some of the finest players in forming in concert halls that had been limited to the country, he formed Summit Brass, an ensem- traditional string quartets, the quintet expanded ble of hand-picked players from principal posi- career possibilities for the tubist outside the sym- tions in major symphony orchestras together phony orchestra. By the 1960s colleges and uni- with leading brass soloists. Because of the virtuo- versities hired tubists to join their faculties to sic abilities and reputations of the members, the perform in brass quintets along with their other ensemble signed a three-record contract by Pro duties, and today there are hundreds of brass Arte even before the group played together. quintets that perform throughout the world. Summit Brass was featured on National Public Tubist Charles Daellenbach, one of the found- Radio one year after its existence, with the host ing members of the Canadian Brass, was inspira- of one program commenting. "Where else could I tional in mixing comedy with music. The group hear the principal trombones of the New York, provided virtuoso performances as well as de- San Francisco, and Los Angeles in one group in lightful entertainment, playing for audiences of one place?" thousands of people in settings such as Holly- The members host an intensive institute, the wood Bowl. Tubist Sam Pilafian has influenced Keystone Brass Institute in Keystone, Colorado, the direction of the Empire Brass Quintet with which focuses on both performance and career his exceptional jazz background. The virtuosic guidance for young players. Keystone is the only abilities of the players and their collective quali- institute where there are business seminars with ties as an ensemble have made it possible for the experts in the field of promoting, selling, and Empire to be presented in prestigious concert managing, as well as workshops and master series. Today, the success of the Canadian Brass classes with some of the best brass performers. In and the Empire Brass have proven that there is June of 1989 Keystone will expand to include a bright future for the tuba in the brass quintet. gifted high school students. The outstanding Philip Jones Brass Ensemble generated a wealth of transcriptions and commis- Soloist and chamber musician Daniel Perantoni is a pro- sions that .greatly improved brass literature. In fessor of music at Arizona State University. He performs addition to the quintet, Philip Jones featured a with the Saint Louis Brass Quintet, the Summit Brass, larger ensemble for its concerts; and, like all and the Matteson-Phillips Tubajazz Consort and is a brass groups, its repertoire was built around its consultant/clinician for Custom Music Company.
20 THE INSTRUMENTALIST / DECEMBER 1988
S tudent tubists who hope to work profes- sionally need to develop a good back- ground in all styles of music, from the classics to jazz in ensembles of all sizes. Once you have formed a chamber ensemble, how do hearsed, Gene Porkorny and I found that many passages sounded too overpowering and unclear when performed on our large bore CC tubas. Our solution was to use the F tuba for the higher parts and the CC tuba for the lower you make it succeed? My advice to student tub- parts. The compact and brighter sound of the F ists is to develop a focused and centered sound tuba combined with the more fundamental in order to blend equally with colleagues. By sound of the CC tuba produced more clarity listening carefully for balance and trying to and definition while maintaining a "good bot- make your partners sound good, you will all tom" for the ensemble. sound better. Learn to color your tone to suit Young musicians can benefit from performing the style of the piece, and when playing a in a small ensemble. With one or a few players transcription try to imitate the qualities of the on a part, students learn to listen more carefully, original instrument. For example, imitate the which improves awareness of intonation and qualities of the flute during a flutelike passage. rhythm. Everyone hears every note, so it is im- Swing like a walking jazz bass player while per- possible to hide in a section. Each student forming a bass line in that style. Think of the should develop a good relationship with the sound of Herbert L. Clarke when playing the other members of the group, both personally Carnival of Venice on the tuba. and professionally, because all are equal mem- bers and have to rely on one another for sup- Dynamics are softer in small ensembles when port. Being a team player is the key to a success- compared to larger groups. You are often re- ful ensemble. quired to play lightly with the agility of a cellist Today tuba playing has reached a new level of in a string quartet. Most professionals use expertise. It has advanced from the traditional smaller equipment to produce this lighter and demands of bands and orchestras to include the more focused sound. These parts are usually requirements of solo playing and small brass written higher, similar to the range of a cello or ensembles. The success of chamber ensembles, bass trombone, so I use a large bore F tuba ex- like the modern brass quintet and larger brass clusively with the brass quintet. ensembles, continues to expand career opportu- When the members of Summit Brass first re- nities for the contemporary tubist. D Photo by Wayne Brill, courtesy of Imeilochen