Western Brass Quintet
Scott Thornburg and Stephen Jones, trumpets
Lin Foulk, horn
Daniel Mattson, trombone
Deanna Swoboda, tuba
Monday, January 31, 2011
5:30 pm
Recital Hall, School of Music
Program
Four Monteverdi Madrigals Claudio Monteverdi
Che se tu seʼ ʻl cor mio (1567-1643)
Cor mio, mentre vi miro trans. Daniel Mattson
Longe da te, cor mio
Io mi son giovinetta
Games for Brass (2003) C. Curtis Smith
III. Charades (The Chase) (b. 1941)
IV. Endgame: Perpetuum Mobile Modo Lyrico
Par Monts Et Par Vaux (Over Mountains and Valleys, 1959) Michel LeClerc
I. La colline aux épilobes (Hillside of flowers) (1914-1995)
II. Sous-bois (Forest undergrowth)
III. Jeux de la Lienne (Play of dangling threads from a loom)
IV. La chapelle dans les pins (The chapel in the pines)
V. Danse de la Follerie (Mad dance)
~ Intermission ~
Bis (1963) Eugene Bozza
(1905-1991)
Le Soleil de Mitia (2006) Jean-Marc Boudet
(b. 1957)
Distant Dancing (1992) Richard Peaslee
(b. 1930)
Western Brass Quintet
Founded in 1966, the Western Brass Quintet is one of the most distinguished brass
chamber music ensembles still active in the United States today. The ensemble has
performed around the world including concert tours in Russia, Thailand, China, Sweden,
Germany, as well as concerts in prestigious American venues such as the Kennedy Center
and Carnegie Hall. The Quintet is a resident faculty ensemble in the School of Music at
Western Michigan University. Members are Scott Thornburg and Stephen Jones, trumpets;
Lin Foulk, horn; Dan Mattson, trombone, and Deanna Swoboda, tuba.
Following their concerts at Carnegie Hall, the New York Times review raved that "The
Western Brass Quintet gave unremitting evidence of their individual talents and ensemble
training; chords were precisely weighted and registered, instrumental blends were
sensitively arranged, and there was rarely a tentatively attacked or released note." The
New York Concert Review describes them as "exhibiting a remarkable flair for the
Renaissance style, ...with remarkable facility and technique." Following their recent
performance at the 2005 International Trumpet Guild Conference in Bangkok, the published
review asserted that "the Western Brass Quintet is not just another "academic" brass
chamber ensemble; their performance was equal to that of any "professional" brass quintet.
This is a superb group..."
Committed to promoting the composition of significant works for the brass quintet, the
ensemble has premiered numerous works including Landscapes by the Pulitzer Prize-winning
composer Karel Husa, Masques by Ramon Zupko, Nodding Music by Elgar
Howarth, Plays and Rimes by Curtis Curtis-Smith, Pro and Contra Dances by Ramon
Zupko, Vox Naturae (with orchestra) by Ramon Zupko, Dark Matters by Mark Schultz,
Games for Brass by Curtis Curtis-Smith, and Quintet by Richard Adams. Audiences have
described the Quintet's performances of the latest in brass chamber music repertoire as
polished, exciting, daring, and musically satisfying. Additionally, an interest in performance
practices for the music of the Renaissance and Baroque has inspired several significant
arrangements of music from these periods by Western Brass Quintet members. Two full-length
compact discs have been recently recorded by WBQ (all premiere recordings) and
are available through Summit Records.
