10 Recordings Featuring the Best Brass Playing Ever

[@BrianJohnstonTrombone]

That Chicago Bruckner 4 is really nice

[@trinkanchanavasita89]

Can’t wait for the 10 recordings featuring the best percussion playing!

[@francispanny5068]

I imagine quite a few will feature the Philharmonia Orchestra. They've got a phenomenal percussion section.

[@ScottHughes-n4u]

That Alpine Symphony with Solti and the Bavarian Radio Symphony is my favorite Solti recording. It's a wonderful coincidence that it was recorded in Munich which was Richard Strauss's home town. The radiance in the brass and the entire orchestra after the storm is so beautiful I'm always moved to tears. Solti and the Bavarian Radio Orchestra gave us a really beautiful performance!

[@jasonwong07081]

Shostakovich 1 & 7 with bernstein and the CSO! Especially the 7th, with its flabbergastingly commanding brass section.

[@swimmad456]

The Chicago brass section has always been amazing but I am always blown away by Konzertstück For 4 Horns with Dale Clevenger, Richard Oldberg, Thomas Howell, Norman Schweikert under Daniel Barenboim. A belter.

[@francispanny5068]

I thought that was Claudio Abbado conducting.

[@garygary-tp9hc]

Excellent talk. Thank you.

[@petertaplin4365]

Respighi's Roman Festivals with Cleveland and Maazel. The brass go bonkers and it's absolutely thrilling in it's abandon AND precision at the same time!

[@DavidJohnson-of3vh]

As a brassman I greatly appreciate this. I recall an article I read in an old issue of The Instrumentalist ( I still have it somewhere) in which the author roamed around Europe checking out brass sections and soloists. He claimed that regardless of the nation he visited, or the ensembles he heard, the trumpets that were always magnificent where the guys from the then Czechoslovakia.

[@figgymoonpowda]

I am very excited to check these out. Thank you for enriching our lives and turning us on to new things - prompting us to re-listen to things in a new way. It's made a difference for me, and I am sure for some others in ways you cannot imagine. The encouragement to actively listen to recordings, without distraction on its; own, can be a remedy for our internet/media dopamine overloads and all the ill effects that can have... adhd, depression, anxiety, insomnia. My deepest appreciation and thanks.

[@DavesClassicalGuide]

You're very welcome. Thank you for watching, and listening!

[@steveeliscu1254]

When I was at music school (Eastman 1968 to 1972), the big brass excerpt was the ending of Wagner's Das Rheingold with Solti and Vienna. Not only gutsy as hell, but reportedly played while the players were somewhat drunk on wine!

[@timmckay6367]

THE greatest Entrance of the Gods into Valhalla ever recorded. Solti and Culshaw

[@markfarrington5183]

Bud Herseth's trumpet solo at the end of the Reiner/Chicago SONG OF THE NIGHTENGALE. Tonal purity: like staring through several fathoms of clear water - and still discerning the ocean floor.

[@ScottHughes-n4u]

You're absolutely right. That's my favorite Herseth solo. Extraordinarily beautiful!

[@Bobbnoxious]

Here's an odd one, but worth it: Charles Gerhardt conducting his National Philharmonic in Franz Waxman's film music for RCA. A studio pickup ensemble, perhaps, but hot damn you could almost FEEL the brass section, which is first rate throughout. Highlights include the alto sax solo in the "A Place in the Sun" suite and the wailing horns in "The Ride to Dubno" from "Taras Bulba".

[@scuunjieng]

I find the brass in Nielsen’s Espansiva amazing and sustained for practically the whole first movement. Was so impressed by the volume when I watched Gilbert and the NYPhilharmonic play it

[@DavesClassicalGuide]

I was there too. That was really powerful!

[@scuunjieng]

@@DavesClassicalGuide honored by your reply. I enjoyed it so much went back the next day. After all they hadn’t played it since Bernstein in 1965

[@marknewkirk4322]

I would humbly submit that the Boston SO / Steinberg Hindemith recording on DG would be on my list. The brass playing in both the Mathis der Maler Symphony and the Concert Music for Strings and Brass is just superb. The particularly wonderful quality about the Concert Music is that the brass play with such poise and variability that one easily forgets there are no woodwinds in the piece.

[@DavesClassicalGuide]

I agree completely. That's an amazing recording.

[@richardtomasek]

There is a great recording of the Concert Music with Hindemith conducting the Chicago Symphony. This was shortly before he died, but the brass with Herseth on top and Jacobs on the bottom play it like no other. The trumpets are Herseth, Chicowicz, Kaderabek, and Bob Rushford. It is on KZbin.

[@marknewkirk4322]

@@richardtomasek Thank you!

[@ScottHughes-n4u]

It was recorded in prerenovation Orchestra Hall when the acoustics were outstanding. The 1966 renovation ruined Orchestra Halls' acoustics. The natural resonance and luster were destroyed. The Chicago Tribune called it an "Acoustical Calamity". An unbelievable blunder!

[@dmntuba]

Thank you for focusing on brass...first class list...and thanks for mentioning the Tuba 👍😅 A few recordings that I would add to the list...if I may😊 * Holst Planets/Mehta LA Phil. * Alphine symphony/Mehta LA Phil. * Finlandia/ Ashkenazi Philharmonia *Wagner Ring /Solti Vienna Last, but not least (kind of a sleeper) Tchaikovsky Romeo & Juliet/Maazel Cleveland Brass Bonus...Vaughn Williams Tuba Concerto/Previn, Fletcher, LSO Keep on Listening 👍

[@morrigambist]

I love Kubelik's brassy performance of Janacek's Msa Glagolskaja.

[@rg3388]

The admirable energy of Solti's Alpine Symphony makes many other recordings seem tame. In this work, I don't want an "elegant" performance that evokes an image of someone hiking up a mountain in white tie and tails.

[@rg3388]

One lesson I learned (possibly from Solti): Often, the brass should yield and make room for the strings. Sometimes, it's not that the strings should capitulate, but that the brass should not be restrained and the string should have to fight their way into the orchestral texture. The trick is to judge which situation is which.

[@folanpaul]

Malcolm Arnold's symphonies, particularly the finale of Symphony 6 is a pure firecracker designed to highlight today's brass sections in all their glory, I think.

[@folanpaul]

Or Tam O Shanter perhaps? (I forgot to mention the overtures)

[@MichaelBurrow-j2n]

He was a trumpeter.

[@Rozsaphile]

John Williams's brass-heavy scores deserve a cheer, as played by top talents in Hollywood and London. There's a wonderful video of Sarah Willis (horn in Berlin Philharmonic) describing the joys and challenges of playing for Williams in concert. Doing so many of the big overtures and finales in one program was grueling. Williams offered to pay for the players' dental bills!

[@ramnjw]

David, Thank you for highlighting these brass selections. I must say I have not heard some of them. The Performance of The Rite of Spring 😮 amazing. The Dresden Statskapelle certainly pulled out all stops. I would say the best musically and recording I have heard truly magnificent..

[@rwtrpt]

Glad to see so much love for the Bavarian Radio Symphony on this list. I think Hannes Laubin (trumpet) should be as much of a household name as Phillip Smith or Bud Herseth (i’m talking of course about the households of orchestral trumpet players…)

[@videogamelover8404]

Thanks so Much Dave! Such an awesome video!

[@jakenowell5211]

Shostakovich 7 with Chicago should definitely be included

[@michaelhartman8724]

Oh, YEAH!

[@nicholasjschlosser1724]

Great list. Two more I'd add are Previn's recording of Shostakovich's 4th Symphony with Chicago. The chorale in the last movement (with the pounding timpani ostinato) features some of the most powerful, sustained brass playing I've ever heard. I'd also add Bernstein's DG Tchaikovsky "Pathetique" with the NY Phil, especially the lower brass in the third movement.

[@richardtomasek]

These are all excellent choices. You could pick any number of Chicago Symphony recordings under Reiner and place them here. The brass in Symphonia Domestic is astonishing! There is some distortion in the recording itself, but Reiner knew when to let them play!

[@Warp75]

I was listening to the Janáček the other night it’s a total stunner. Love some brass

[@timmckay6367]

I have never heard the Kubelik recording until today!

[@chadweirick67]

A minor footnote, but one that always plays me away : the NBC news theme by Williams..it's the insane triple tongue trumpet section and then horns. It's amazing

[@dvdlpznyc]

that solti alpine symphony has always been one of my favorite recordings, i remember in high school when i would sneak headphones under my shirt (years before everyone had earpods) i jogged two extra miles in gym glass just to finish listening to the whole thing... because my discman kept skipping... i've since had to learn recordings by karajan and thielemann and jansons just to justify ever bringing the piece up to people who don't take it seriously, but IT'S SO YUMMY

[@ericnagamine7742]

Many a low brass player would say that the Mehta LA recording of Alpine Symphony is something special along with the their Planets recording. If you want authentic sound for the Janacek, the Ancerl Czech Philharmonic remains untouched. The New York Philharmonic Mehta Mahler 5th features a special time of the orchestra with some amazing sound from Phil Smith on Trumpet, Phil Meyers on Horn, Joe Alessi and Don Harwood for Tenor/Bass Trombone, and Warren Deck on Tuba. If you really want to hear the CSO low brass play Bruckner, the excerpts disc they did remains really special. The Dohnanyi Ameriques was unbelievable live at Carnegie Hall.

[@francispanny5068]

There is also Mehta's recording of the Alpine with the Berlin Philharmonic on Sony (?), which is just as phenomenal, but I loved that Decca sound he did with LA.

[@LyleFrancisDelp]

You want a textbook exhibition of bass trombone playing, look no further than Jarvi's recording of the Kalinnikov 1st symphony. Hey folks, that's how it's supposed to be done.

[@kanpette]

Definitely an amazing player! I believe it’s Alastair Sinclaire, at least he has been there since 1990.

[@LyleFrancisDelp]

@@kanpette I believe the Kalinnikov was recorded in the 80s.

[@jtuba]

IIRC, the player from the 80s was named Bob Hughes, which became Bob Huge!

[@jwinder2]

@@kanpette This one was recorded in 1988.

[@barrygray8903]

Thank you for interesting and very appropriate choices. This avenue of classical music is near and dear to my heart, as I am a recovering trumpeter/cornetist. So glad you included Karajan's EMI/Warner Finlandia ; I had the opportunity to play in a performance of this back in the day with what was the a youth orchestra and I recall the conductor deliberately " staying out of the way" with regards to the brass (he was a string guy). So, our section let it rip.Great fun and very satisfying. I would probably include the Abbado/CSO recording of the Prokofiev Scythian Suite on DG. Unbelievable licks from Herseth and his colleagues.

[@avihalevi5042]

Dave: As always fun to listen to you..fun to listen.... You authentically express 'the joy of music' I liked your comments, the Barenboim Bruckner is marvelous...but it brought to mind (and ear) the Bohm Wiener Philharmoniker discs ...I remember my fist reaction when the Needle hit the groove on the 2 disc set my jaw dropped and made the price of two discs painless...I went back to listen to the Barenboim and Bohm..both great , but the Bohm still gives goosebumps..a trove Brass of treasures...

[@ocelotsly5521]

I love how Gustav Holst was a member of the Royal Scottish National Orchestra brass section (only for about two weeks, but still...)

[@TooBuz]

Janacek Sinfonietta with NY Phil/Masur is one of the most jaw dropping brass demonstrations. Phil Meyers in the 3rd mvt. Oh my!

[@graserclassical]

Love this, a great list of a variety of brass section sounds. Some folks noted the Bernstein Shosti 7 with CSO, which I agree with, but one addition would be the Masur - NY Phil Janacek Sinfonietta simply because something got into Phil Myers in the 3rd movement and the ridiculous obnoxiousness of the rips he plays there in the last two minutes has to be the most satisfying horn playing on record. If you don't know what I'm talking about, treat yourself right now. The only other would be the Lopez-Cobos Cincinnati recording of Respighi's Church Windows, just jaw-dropping brass playing especially in the bass trombones during the 2nd movement.

[@jrosen66]

The only recording my college library had of Alpinesymphony was the Bavarian Radio Symphony and no other recording I've heard has come close to it! I'm so glad to see that recording getting some love!

[@robhaynes4410]

The Honeck Mahler 1 is really fantastic. My only gripe is that the Ländler is treated like the Konzertstück. The horns are simply too loud. Gorgeously played though. All their other Mahler recordings on Exton are sensational, too. A pity they didn't record more of them.

[@distributorovkvlt-points5481]

Intrada's 1998 recording of Bernard Herrmann's score for Jason and the Argonauts has stunning brass and is fully worthy of the list.

[@leestamm3187]

Agreed. That's an excellent recording. Herrmann always was an ace in leaning on the low brass and bassoons to create tension or power where needed in his scores. Plenty of both in JATA.

[@distributorovkvlt-points5481]

@@leestamm3187Well said, it's my favorite Herrmann score. Top-shelf Herrmann.

[@geraldmartin7703]

Herrmann's "Journey to the Center of the Earth" soundtrack.

[@distributorovkvlt-points5481]

@@geraldmartin7703 I can take or leave that one, it's certainly not bad though.

[@ScottHughes-n4u]

Those early Sibelius symphonies that Karajan recorded with the Berlin Philharmonic were recorded in the Philharmonie in 1981 in early EMI digital disaster sound. It's a shame because the performance of the Sibelius 1st has tremendous character. That big string tune in the last movement, despite the bad digital sound, shows off the gorgeous Berlin Philharmonic strings. Finlandia was always a showpiece for Karajan and the Berlin Philharmonic. They played it with more power, character and conviction than any other orchestra in the world. I have the EMI and the last one he recorded for DG in 1983. Love them both. Inspirationally powerful performances. My favorite Finlandias.

[@mhc2231]

Great list. I only know about 1/2 of these. I'll start digging in. For Sibelius, I've always LOVED the brass in the 5th symphony. Esp. as Leonard Bernstein highlights them. Thanks David.

[@markvaz9300]

I think an honorable mention would be Szell's recording on Sony of Wagner's Overture to Der fliegende Holländer. The brass sonority at the beginning is astounding!

[@kenjohnson1305]

Franz Schmidt 2nd Symphony with Chicago Symphony and Neevi Jarvi on Chandos

[@e.heckscher1576]

Mahler 2 & 3, Tchaikovsky 6, Bernstein/NY Bruckner 4 & 6, Hindemith Mathis and Metamorphosis, Blomstedt/SF Prokofiev Romeo and Juliet, Respighi Trilogy, Dutoit/OSM Alpine Symphony Ozawa/VPO (with brass fanfares!) Kallinikov 1, Jarvi/SNO Comedic mention: Solti/CSO Till Eulenspiegel when half the brass gets off by an eighth note going into the final climax.

[@jasonlinn]

The brass section in SF under Blomstedt's direction truly had one of the most incredible and rich sounds. My absolute reference Bruckner 6!

[@edwardcasper5231]

I'm almost certain that this particular Bruckner 4th was the very first recording DG ever made with the Chicago Symphony. And the engineers captured the brass section fabulously. It's about as close to the live sound of that era's brass section that can be found.

[@michaelhartman8724]

A number of the brass players in these sections passed through the St. Louis Symphony on their way to greatness: Chandler Goetting, 1st trumpet for decades in the Bavarian Radio Orchestra, Roger Lauver, best low horn player ever presently in Pittsburgh, Tage Larsen trumpet presently in Chicago, Gene Pokorny, tuba, presently in Chicago, Jennifer Montone 1st horn in Philadelphia, Chris Dwyer, 2nd horn in Philly, Steven Lang, 2nd trombone in Boston. Also, Mehta did Mahler 5 outstandingly with NY Phil. in St. Louis on tour with the American Orchestras on Tour program in the 1980s, subsidized by now defunct version of AT&T, an admirable program of visiting orchestras that needs to be resurrected by somebody (rich!).

[@javidlabenski5531]

Don't forget Amanda Stewart who was acting asst. principal trombone in NYP for a couple years and currently holds the same title in St. Louis.

[@michaelhartman8724]

in addition: new first trumpet and trombone players seem like real world beaters@@javidlabenski5531

[@billconover7250]

You mentioned the Jarvi/Scottish National Orch recording of Sinfonia Domestica, especially the last 10 minutes of the piece. I would add the Reiner/Chicago recording of the same piece where the famously irascible conductor really lets his thoroughbred horses run, just thrilling orchestral playing...

[@davidroberts7021]

And to Reiner and similar vintage Cleveland / Szell 😁

[@jackpedder8288]

The BRSO Sinfonietta was also my first instinct. Wonderful stuff! For Strings: Mahler 9. Karajan Berlin Phil. Woodwinds: Beethoven 6. Monteux, Vienna Percussion: Stravinsky Les Noces, Bernstein, English Bach festival whoojimajig

[@AdamCzarnowski]

Catacombs in the Muti Pictures, Reiner Fairy's Kiss and VPO brass in Siegfrieds Funeral Match Solti.

[@GG-cu9pg]

Wonderful Dave! Can’t wait to listen. How about woodwinds?

[@furdiebant]

Love Dresden’s brass!

[@juandavidforerocaviedes1968]

Great topic! Can I as a fellow percussionist ask for a similar video with timpani and percussion on the spotligth? Thank you for sharing your love for music.

[@jg2977]

The brass in Mehta/NYPO Mahler 5 is amazing, but Barenboim/Chicago is right up there too.

[@hendriphile]

And Solti Chicago

[@kevinmoore734]

OT Does anyone remember the movie, 70's/80's? where the protagonist was obsessed with old recordings of British brass band music? I think the actor was Dustin Hoffman.

[@GG-cu9pg]

Any Honeck/Pittsburg performance will do!

[@jg2977]

I just listened to the Mahler 3 today, and wow! I’m going to listen to M1 next.

[@GG-cu9pg]

@@jg2977 Wonderful! Have you heard their Eroica and Dvorak 8? If you enjoy a different performance of Beethoven’s 9th, Honeck does some odd tinkering, which I admit to enjoying, but the hard-hitting brass is well worth hearing even if you don’t like the oddities.

[@robertbubeck9194]

The recent Honeck/Bruckner Symphony No. 9.

[@pictureplane9195]

Has anyone downloaded the Honeck Pittsburgh Mahler 1st? The first movement is listed at :50 seconds, so I don''t know whether that is a typo, or if they have cut about 16:30 minutes out of it. Other than Amazon, that seems to be about the only way to get it.

[@dennisbade3874]

Naxos music library gives 17:14 which is confirmed by the PDF booklet. It seems to be complete as I listen… iTunes Music also shows :50!! The Amazon streaming file is truncated after :50, who knows why??!!

[@MrWxerby]

May I also add Zarathustra with New York and Sinopoli.

[@barryguerrero6480]

Jean Martinon/Chicago Mahler 3 is pretty strong in the brass as well.

[@danellewilbraham]

Barenboim Buckner cycle = Bud Herseth as principal trumpet ❤

[@tlewis171]

Just to let you know, I just enjoyed your recommendation of Solti's version of "An Alpine Symphony"

[@DavesClassicalGuide]

Cool, thanks!

[@HassoBenSoba]

Von Karajan/Berlin - Pictures at an Exhibition (1966). Great Gate of Kiev...like it or not, you'll never hear a brass section sound like this.

[@HassoBenSoba]

When I posted my "like it or not" comment on Karajan, I figured on getting negative reaction from brass players. But from an imaginative sonority/conceptual standpoint, Karajan..for better or worse....created a unique, "non-standard" brass sound in Great Gate that MUST be heard, if only for curiosity's sake. LR@@janacek2549

[@xrrsss]

Dave, I have a question, was Mahler leading to atonality? Or would Mahler become atonal? Thanks for the video!

[@DavesClassicalGuide]

No and no!

[@xrrsss]

@@DavesClassicalGuide Thanks for answering

[@tbarrelier]

I'm sure you haven't forgotten Dennis Brain. He counts as a brass player, n'est pas?

[@DavesClassicalGuide]

If you'd have watched the video you could have answered your own question. Watch first, talk later please.

[@tbarrelier]

@@DavesClassicalGuide You're right, Dave. I just looked at the list and made an assumption. Sorry!

[@Richard-b5r9v]

The Chicago Symphony Orchestra had a great Brass section. Dale Clevenger on French Horn along with Bud Hirsch on Trumpet

[@EddieJazzFan]

Bud Herseth

[@natga8943]

love herseth. one of the greatest musicians to ever live

[@jmbrannigan]

Don't forget Jay Friedman on trombone, Charlie Vernon on bass trombone, Arnold Jacobs and Gene Pokorny on tuba. Wow, they had one heck of a brass section!

[@EddieJazzFan]

@@jmbranniganAnd Kleinhammer!

[@leestamm3187]

@@jmbrannigan Friedman and Pokorny are still playing with the CSO.