Brass Quintet No. 1

Program Notes

Written between 2009-2010, this work was inspired by the American Brass Quintet and its members, whose musicianship and pedagogy were tremendously influential to me (even as a non-brass player) during my formative years as a performer and composer. I listened to many ABQ recordings, and was fortunate to play alongside many members in the Aspen Music Festival orchestras when I was a student. As I got older and focused more on my composing, I asked the quintet if I could write a short piece to have them read. They encouraged me to send them sketches, and after they read the piece, I reworked many passages and ideas. It became very gratifying to see the piece take on a further life in the hands of many ABQ students in future performances, especially with the Back Bay Brass Quintet and the Kyodai Quintet. The first movement, Salute, begins with a horn motive that is developed by the ensemble in imitation. The movement tries to capture the noble quality of fanfares, while also letting the instruments sing out in melody. The second movement, March and Sing, is an alternation of passacaglias (repeating patterns) and chorales. It acknowledges the militaristic associations brass music has often had, closing with a quiet and reserved melody, like a lone trumpet saluting soldiers. The final movement, Tolling Bells, is built on successive bell tones in the brass, allowing them to cascade on top of one another, and ripple through the music with fast rhythmic interplay.

- Daniel Temkin