Favorite Musical Moments — Quintet Edition

[the elephant]

Post your favorite single movements or short pieces in the quintet literature here. You may also post TE 4tet pieces, too.

[the elephant]

I play almost daily in one of two professional quintets with colleagues who are miles above my head, as far as skills and talent. I am lucky to have worked with these people for three decades now.

With that in mind, there is a lot of quintet lit that I love, along with a lot that I DON'T love.

My favorite (well, right now, at least) is the 2nd movement of the Malcolm Arnold "Quintet" (Chaconne). There is some really meaty playing in that thing, with one massive moment of power that gives me chills when it goes really well. Last night's rehearsal was one of those moments. I was excited by that until I fell asleep a few hours later.

Wow!

And that tuba/horn intro is to die for…

[the elephant]

I grew up listening to both the Canadian brass and empire. It's hard to pick one moment

I shed a tear in February when I clicked on a hornsmoke video, not knowing I would see Ryan Anthony in it. Miss him

Empire brass. West side Story
Canadian brass. Tuba tiger rag

[the elephant]

TE quartet

Dances by John Stevens

[bloke]

Though we may be tired if it...

When particularly good trumpet players are on board - and the corporate ensemble possesses particularly good time - I enjoy playing the "development" section of the final movement of the old warhorse, "Quintet" by Malcolm Arnold.

Very few recital attendees have ever heard the piece...and - down deep - we know this.

[the elephant]

Dances by John Stevens

We had a sort of an "All-Star" quartet at North Texas that played this on three of the members' recitals. (Not mine, I never went back to school after I got my gig, and had already done my recitals before we formed this group.)

We improvised the cadenzas.

What a great piece. I had nearly forgotten about it. Thanks!

[bloke]

Improvising on those changes in mvt. II ...??

What a great idea !!!

[Mary Ann]

Listening to --- Empire Brass, West Side Story. That is the CD that caused me to take up the horn.

Playing -- not being at pro level, we can't manage the Arnold (we tried.) What we have done is the Ewalds.

[the elephant]

Improvising on those changes in mvt. II ...??

What a great idea !!!

If you were thinking I meant the Arnold, it was a tuba-only quartet, and I was talking about Mark's ref to the Stevens "Dances" which has optionally improvised cadenzas. It is a great piece for four tubas. Sorry if I was unclear. I have edited my comments.

[MikeS]

Around thirty years ago, when I was younger, more foolish, and a better player than I am today, I did the James Harbison “Christmas Vespers.”* The second movement, based on Come Now, Savior of the Heathens (Nun komm, der Heiden Heiland) is sublimely beautiful. I got goosebumps every time. The whole piece is, I think, really brilliant. It takes an insane level of focus and concentration to pull it off, though. There is no way I could play it today.

*Full disclosure, I played the trombone part.

[windshieldbug]

Playing Eug6ne Bozza's Sonatine with the Delaware Symphony Brass Quintet.

[arpthark]

Playing Eug6ne Bozza's Sonatine with the Delaware Symphony Bass Quintet.

Tuba, bass trombone and two double basses?

[bone-a-phone]

I've been on a quest for the last year to find playable quintet music that isn't part of the academic canon. Stuff you can get away with playing in public and general schmoes might tolerate. I do have an appreciation for the standard lit, Suite from the Monteregian Hills is a particular favorite for a number of reasons. But I've developed a wider taste when it comes to quintet music. Orchestral reductions, jazz adaptations, show tunes, hymns, rock tunes, we've got this whole tradition of stuff we can draw from in addition to the stuff that's been specifically written for quintet.

[windshieldbug]

Playing Eug6ne Bozza's Sonatine with the Delaware Symphony Bass Quintet.

Tuba, bass trombone and two double basses?

Freudian slip...

[ronr]

There’s a great arrangement of When I’m 64 out there. Also, you can never go wrong with a little Bankelsangerlieder.