Empire Brass: Baroque Brass- Side A

Empire Brass Quintet Recording. I claim no commercial rights to the recordings. I want to make these important recording(s) available for the educational listening of a larger audience, since they are out of print and, thus, no longer easily available.
Recorded in St. George's Russian Orthodox Church in Brookline, Mass. 1977.
Rolf Smedvig and Charles A Lewis Jr., Trumpet
David Ohanian, Horn
Norman Bolter, Trombone
Sam Pilafian, Tuba and Euphonium
I post this with the knowledge and support of Norman Bolter and Sam Pilafian.
In my opinion, these are some of the best brass quintet recordings of all time! The musicianship of this group is absolutely outstanding. If you are a fellow brass player, hearing this recording is essential!! I hope it is as engaging and inspiring for you as I find it to be! Enjoy!!

[@Oswald_Anthony]

The best music never dies...

[@Allegro-wp8xf]

I was lucky enough to attend a concert given by Empire Brass when they did a UK tour at Watford town hall. They were superb.

[@JoeRailfan]

And now Sam Pilafian is gone too (RIP, 1949-2019). One more good reason to preserve this recording.

[@BelaZoltan]

A fabulously talented group of musicians. As a young music student, I listened to these recordings religiously. Sadly, the brilliant Rolf Smedvig is gone now. Also, dear John Daverio, who wrote the notes and was one of my teachers, passed a few years ago now, too. Thanks for preserving this record, it means so much to me.

[@NZGZYZMZ]

いやー懐かしい♪ このレコード… 何度も聴いた記憶♪ これは、宝物の音源ですよ 😊

[@ВалерийНаконечный-я6л]

Организация исполнения такова, что кажется играет один (утонченнейшего уровня ) МУЗЫКАНТ, с легкостью обходящий проблематику духового интонирования ! Представляется некий удивительно гармоничный и совершенный инструмент. Здорово ! Достойно восхищения ! Низкий поклон мастерам-ансамблистам такого уровня !!!

[@TrumpetManinNC]

Thanks for posting. So, so great to hear it. I wore this album out when I was a teenager. I actually worked on it as Sam's tuba-warmer and general gopher with my brass quintet in Western Mass. We were playing in the first Empire Brass Symposium back in 1979. Rolf was the center of the world -- well, as he'd tell it, of course -- and absolutely peerless. I relish the memory of hearing Charlie Lewis giving him sh*t -- and Sam buying us all greasy-spoon diner hamburgers after the first recording session.

[@Ives831]

Would love to hear more about Charlie giving Rolf grief!!!

[@jimleff6615]

I was there, as well, and it's just as you say. Rich, remember when they first read down Jack Gale's "West Side Story" arrangement, and when it was Rolf's time to play the lead verse on "I Feel Pretty", we all erupted into laughter? Tough crowd! All these years later, I understand that Rolf walked such a tightrope, instrumentally, that he needed to frame himself a certain way. While the other four all gave him sh*t (Charlie was just the most flagrant), they all understood that that level of beastly trumpet playing could never come from humility. Sam was fantastic, and taught me the most, but Rolf was Neil Armstrong.

[@TrumpetManinNC]

@@jimleff6615 I remember like it was yesterday. Rolf wore those very metrosexual clogs. He was a rockstar and Sam was, without doubt, the coolest tuba player in the world. RIP, guys.

[@TrumpetManinNC]

@@jimleff6615 Jim, are you a tuba player? I wonder if you remember the Tuba Synchronized Swimming Team with Charlie Villarubia, Thom (dear God, what was his last name??), and me down at the BSO beach with 9 tubas, including Sam, playing the Sleeping Beauty Waltz? Tim Morrison did the MCing, recorded by Bill something-or-other, the EBQs assistant. Tragically enough, I lost the video through the years, but it was a nearly mind-blowing event, if you didn't see it. Amazing, creative times.

[@jimleff6615]

@@TrumpetManinNC No. Trombone. I was the youngest, while you were one of the eldest (it's all relative). So I was not on the swim team, though I was first-call for greasy spoon outings. I actually became a restaurant critic (after 15 years NYC music freelancing), and tried to contact Sam in later years to swap food tips. Never heard back...but not hearing back was part of the mystique of Sam. I just heard about his death, and it hits a bit hard. You're learning so much all the time at that age, so it's easy to think of a certain person as being just one constituent in the greater stream. But I realize, with hindsight, that Sam pushed an enormous amount of who/what I eventually became into my reach. I've discussed this with Marcus Rojas and he feels the same. I think we all do. RIP Sam, RIP original EBQ, and how on earth are these recordings not in print??

[@sergebushman690]

RIP Sam, enjoyed his leadership and presence at Boston University in the mid 80's!

[@robertlivingston6964]

I bought this LP when I was a music student for the grand total of $1.00 have not stopped listening to it. Sam P just blew me away on Contrapunctus IX.

[@skymarshallmarz5573]

I was introduced to the Empire Brass in the late 70s with this recording. I set aside my Canadian Brass and these guys were the ones i listened to after that(though the new Canadian Brass are superb now)

[@jdraven0890]

OK I'm not the only one :) I was blown away by The Canadian brass when I was younger (High Bright, Loud and Clear?) but realized there were better players, and better recordings.

[@danielsanchez2155]

Holy Molly Pilafian was always a beast

[@dougray30]

I never had this LP but most of the music was included in a 3LP boxed set I had called Splendor of Brass. I have been humming a few of these tracks for 30+ years without remembering the actual pieces nor who performed them. All my efforts to locate the boxed set since then have been failed. And then today I suddenly thought "Empire Brass Quintet" and now my soul is satisfied. I think much of the LP is on a EBQ CD so I'll try that....

[@bruckner7]

Phantastic brass recording with Rolf Smedvig (1952 - 2015) Thanks for uploading

[@benlapointe4028]

Every time I listen to this I am nearly brought to tears at how magnificent the tuba pedals are at 25:45. I hope that some day I am able to be as good as Sam Pilafian and play works that feature the low end of the tuba (and that I can keep getting away with playing stuff down the octave in class).

[@shovelmasterfunk6709]

I bought this LP shortly after it was available. One of only a handful of recordings that I've heard that I consider to approach flawless. So well done that nothing interferes with the emotional content of the music.

[@rr7firefly]

This music is wonderful. I was drawn to this type of music in college. Something clearly different (an escape?) from the music that was then popular. The timelessness of the Baroque provided an internal refuge, a lyrical landscape that I carried around with me.

[@cjtuba1]

Thanks so much for uploading, great to hear this wonderful ensemble, myself (as a tuba player) love the lovely smooth tones and pedal notes played by Sam.. Really appreciated. Chris, Ex Welsh Guards Tuba Player, UK.

[@TimothyReeves]

I love love love this album. Used to have it on cassette. Wonderful playing by all.

[@hrender1]

My favorite album from college. Much appreciated!

[@krimhildburgund7634]

Many thanks for the wonderfull music from my youngster time. It means a lot to me and I am very thankfull!!!

[@okeyjeff]

This is really some special stuff. thanks for posting

[@JoeRailfan]

I have this on vinyl, a gift from my wife many years ago. Unfortunately the pressing quality was not good and it is now too warped to play. Somebody needs to find the master tapes for this recording (if they still exist), clean them up and re-release this LP in digital format! One of my all time favorite recordings--the Empire Brass were (and still are) phenomenal players. Thanks for sharing.

[@jaegertiger384]

Agreed, but Joe Biden is President...

[@MWOOBOG]

Thank you for uploading ! I also think these are the best brass quintet recordings. I feel very regretful that sheet music of these recordings are not available now.

[@LyleFrancisDelp]

I *think* I may this one on cassette as well.

[@janfriedman651]

Thank you so much for sharing, Jonathan...I am enjoying listening to this fabulous brass...I love it...

[@nancyvizza4417]

Incredible...just incredible!

[@jethrohyppolite975]

Flawlessly done .

[@palette_1563]

Thanks Brass Player

[@TheJamesalden]

Thanks so much for posting this wonderful recording...since it's been quite a while since the last time that I had updated the one playlist that gets listened to so seldom...that I thought it time to hear it again...since I do enjoy this kind of music quite a bit...and this upload is a rather nice addition...THANK YOU!!!....

[@solonemanuelwhitetigernava571]

I would have like you put the list with the themes they are playing...awesome interpretation...

[@trishbirchard1270]

TOUJOURS DE GRACIAS !!!!

[@christopherswidrak3306]

this is the soundtrack of my preteen and teen years

[@dougray30]

Anyone have a track listing for this version of the LP to match the video?

[@darrellcrenshaw9339]

OMG!!!!! Please tell me where or how can I buy this!! I do not have this in my collection yet!!!!!! I need this!!! I am a baroque dude, and I love this!!!!!

[@sandromoretti1671]

Geweldig brass quintet. Very good. Bravissimi. S. Moretti

[@luislorentearencibia3688]

Does anyone know to which work the Aria de Haendel belongs? Thank you

[@hidziki9484]

Can I get this music score?

[@clarkeweigle8860]

I am not sure if the fault is in my ears, headphones, memory, or the recording, but I can't hear the triangle on the Pezel Bal. I can hear it 2 tracks later on the Des Prés. Did I imagine it used to be there? Or is there a hole in my hearing? I listened to this LP a lot in years gone by.

[@60strumpeter]

One person has a tin ear.

[@aarnetahtimeri4890]

I can't make out the arranger for Contrapunctus IX from the picture. Any ideas who he/she might be?

[@clarkeweigle8860]

That is the Robert King edition.

[@bobmarlatt6676]

@@clarkeweigle8860 Incorrect. It is the John Glasel arrangement. Copyright 1959.

[@clarkeweigle8860]

@@bobmarlatt6676 You are so right

[@driftr3004]

Is that a horn or trombone doing the runs in the first piece?

[@palette_1563]

What is the first piece?

[@brianduffy6254]

@Rick Clark Would you be able to send it by email?

[@lukeskyboner]

23:21

[@SordidGuy]

Why is there such horrible, rumbling bass in the recording???!!! It's IMPOSSIBLE to enjoy this wonderful music!