Trumpets: Philip Shoptaugh (Musical Director), Glenn Appell, Dean Boysen, Noel Weidkamp; French Horn: Bill Eich; Trombones: Jim Jaffe, John Monroe; Bass Trombone: Todd Weinman; Euphonium: Mike Shannon; Tuba: John Taylor

1. What is BRAZZISSIMO?

BRAZZISSIMO is a brass "tentet" which is twice the size of a traditional brass quintet. The instrumentation is full enough to cover virtually all parts of a full symphonic orchestra. Yet there are no woodwinds or percussion.

2. Who should attend?

General Contra Costa Wind Symphony audience, music students and others interested in hearing a group of a size seldom assembled that produces a uniquely clear sound without woodwind or percussion. BRAZZISSIMO is of special interest to current and retired brass players.

3. What are BRAZZISSIMO's unique artistic values and benefits
to the Contra Costa Wind Symphony audience?

BRAZZISSIMO performs with a crisp, uncluttered feel. Since they assemble close to the audience and play without a conductor, they are the most "observable" of all symphonic groups. This allows the audience to see the music as it is played, as never before. Their conductor-less performance requires them to function as "one mind" in the manner of a chamber group. Of course, the audience will be able to compare and contrast the unique BRAZZISSIMO brass sound with full Contra Costa Wind Symphony music.

4. What does BRAZZISSIMO play?

10-part arrangements of classical fare in the wind symphony tradition. This concert will also include a contemporary piece "Homage to the Noble Grape," and a piece in concert with Contra Costa Wind Symphony, Hidas' "Concerto for Brass Quintet and Symphonic Band". The concert will commence with BRAZZISSIMO's striking rendition of Howarth's "Processional Fanfare, No. 1"

5. Where did this tradition come from?

The brass contingent of the modern orchestra consists of trumpets, horns, trombones and tubas. They act as a counterpoise to the woodwind instruments, which they also augment in a multitude of ways. In the German speaking world Harmoniemusik is the term used for a woodwind ensemble. This was a well-loved medium especially in 18th Century Bohemia and living on virtuoso transcription of Mozart opera tunes. A formation of trumpets, horns, trombones and tubas is called a Blechmusik (brass music) or the more dignified Blechbläserensemble (ensemble of brass players).

Since the Romans, brass ensembles have been tied to certain traditions. The corps of trumpeters to command attention, backed up by drummers, was indispensable adjuncts of every cavalry regiment. Hunts rode out with their own corps of horn-players to produce calls that would carry across open country. Trombone choruses were (and still are) assembled for less violent uses in church.

The admonitory and fear-inspiring sound of brass instruments was used on festive and ceremonial occasions early in music's development. The Intrada, first as a simply trumpet blast then later as a harmonized fanfare, would announce the approach of a person of high rank or simply the start of a musical occasion. In the medieval and baroque eras, composers went further by developing sonorities from different brass instrument groupings. They broke free from the aesthetic straitjacket of institutional subservience. These traditions continue to the current day in large brass ensembles.

[Adapted from an article by Peter Cossé on the Berlin Philharmonic Brass Ensemble]

6. How did BRAZZISSIMO come about?

Phil Shoptaugh, trumpeter, collected some new music for brass choir and took it to the 2001 Brass Chamber Music Workshop at Humboldt State University. Phil organized a late night freelance session to read this new music. The session was so enjoyable, that it was repeated two nights later. Since all artists were from the Bay Area, the group decided to continue playing this great music. Nine of today's players were in those original sessions. Phil and trombonist Jim Jaffe organized BRAZZISSIMO, and we began rehearsing September 2001.

7. Where did the name BRAZZISSIMO come from?

The name BRAZZISSIMO was chosen from a list of more than 300 names. The goal was a name which implied or suggested (1) a brass ensemble (hence the first part of the word), (2) a large ensemble - hence the "-issimo," and (3) a unique blend of classical and jazz musicians within the group who play all types of music - hence the "zz's." A single, "coined" word was desired, not a hackneyed phrase. BRAZZISSIMO was chosen to best describe this unique group.

8. Are there other groups like this?

Currently, there are three world famous brass tentets:
1. The London Brass;
2. The German Brass and
3. The Burning River Brass (Cleveland).
There are few other 10-piece brass groups performing regularly in the United States.

9. Why are there so few?

While there are thousands of brass quintets around the world, there are barriers for a successful "tentet," It is simply easier to get five players together than it is ten. The musical arrangements available for brass quintet number in the thousands, while the arrangements and original compositions for brass tentet number only two to three hundred. So sourcing music is a problem. Finally, most brass quintets rehearse in one of the player's homes, but a group of ten brass players is too big for most living rooms.

 

-- Chuck Carroll