Catalogue | Organ

Organ + brass instruments = a stunning musical experience

And so too is this CD, produced by the brass quintet International Brass with Elmar Lehnen at the monumental Seifert organ at St Mary’s Basilica in Kevelaer. Under the title “Ajoutez la trompette!” they present arrangements of works from the French Romantic school.
But it is perhaps not the massive concentration of acoustic effects that will remain most enduringly in the mind. Just as impressive are the intimate, lyrical passages, whether in the Adagio of Alexandre Guilmant’s Sonata No. 5, performed by the organist and quintet together, or in the “Prière à Notre Dame” (Prayer to Our Lady) from the “Suite gothique” by Léon Boëllmann. Also in some of the six miniatures from Louis Vierne’s “24 Pièces en style libre”, played in a version for brass only, the lyrical tone is intriguing. Finally, in the “Offertoire” by Louis-James-Alfred Lefébure-Wély, also performed on trumpets, horn, trombone and tuba only, we find a combination of powerful march-like elements and sustained arcs of lyrical melody.
The originals are already very much focused on tonal qualities, but the listener may discover new facets in these arrangements. It is striking how natural these pieces appear when performed with the artistry of modern brass players, just if they were tailor-made by their composers for these instruments. They form a stylistically interesting and enriching addition to the ever-growing repertoire for brass – but most of all they are a sheer pleasure to listen to!

The five members of International Brass, Willy Huppertz (trumpet, Netherlands), Waldemar Jankus (trumpet, Latvia), Wilhelm Junker (horn, Germany), Thomas Lindt (trombone, Germany) and Matthew Hall (tuba, United Kingdom), were trained at conservatoires and colleges in their home countries. All five are freelance musicians.
Elmar Lehnen is organist of the Papal Basilica of Our Lady at Kevelaer.

• American Record Guide | Kilpatrick | January 9, 2008

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• Australian Hi-Fi | John Sunier | January 5, 2008

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