HoboTrumpet

Morning all,

This week at quintet rehearsal one of our members brought along a piece by Enrique Crespo (sp?) titled “Suite Americana.” What killer writing! Easily my favorite thing we’ve played other than all those Paul Nagle arrangements of old standards like “Chicago” and “Royal Garden Blues.” He mentioned that Mr. Crespo, a trombone player, performs in a group called The German Brass, along with Konradin Groth (sp?) from the Berlin Phil and other notable Teutonic toilers. He brought a cassette tape (unmarked) with a recording of the piece. Does anyone know if this record (on CD) is available in the U.S.? If I remember correctly, he said that the album has a couple of the Ewald Sonatas on it as well. I’d love to add this gem to my collection! I didn’t have any luck on Amazon.com, but I might have been searching under an incorrect name for the group or something.

I think The German Brass is performing at the ITG Conference this year too . . .

Later,

Andy

ecarroll

Andy,

"Teutonic Toilers" absolutely broke me up. Thanks for brightening my snowy NH morning...

You might find what you're looking for here: http://www.german-brass.de/german_brass/home/index.php

EC

HoboTrumpet

I picked up the phrase "Teutonic toilers" from an old Guckenheimer Sauerkraut Band album I have at home. Probably my favorite record of all time. A mock-German group from San Fran – headed by a department store mogul – that butchers classics and German favorites alike. Their performance of "The Stars and Stripes Forever" on "Music for Non-Thinkers" has me rolling on the floor every time. I hate that march with a passion, and they do it poetic justice – especially at the end where the guy starts singing the lyrics in German in the wrong key.

Anyway, thanks for the link. I'll check it out during my next scheduled time-wasting time at work. I found a album with Suite Americana, a couple Ewald things and even the Music Hall Suite on Amazon under a group called Das Rennquintett. Looks like that one is easily available in the U.S.

Tootsall

And I can most highly recommend the DVD "Bach for Brass" by the German Brass. What superb playing.

rowuk

Konni Groth has been out of the group for some time now. He also used to be the solo trumpet of the the Berlin Philharmonic.
The Rennquintett are players from the radio symphony orchestras in southwest Germany - a real class act! They had a very close friendship with Jan Koetsier - a not so well known but brilliant composer, especially for brass! He has an incredible piece for brass quintet and symphony orchestra. Their recording of it is first class!

frank

Chuck, that was you, huh?