Empire Brass: Russian Brass- Full Album

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.
The Complete Ewald Quintets, Recorded in 1977.
Rolf Smedvig and Charles A Lewis Jr., Trumpet
David Ohanian, Horn
Norman Bolter, Trombone
Sam Pilafian, Tuba
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!!
Symphony in B-flat for Brass Quintet:
• Moderato (0:03)
• Adagio, non troppo lento (5:16)
• Allegro moderato (9:12)
Quintet No. 2 for Brass:
• Allegro risoluto (13:10)
• Thema con variazioni (18:12)
• Allegro vivace (25:25)
Quintet No. 3 for Brass:
• Allegro moderato (30:02)
• Intermezzo (35:36)
• Andante (40:50)
• Vivo (44:52)

[@getherpetr]

*Symphony in B-flat for Brass Quintet:* • Moderato (0:03) • Adagio, non troppo lento (5:16) • Allegro moderato (9:12) *Quintet No. 2 for Brass:* • Allegro risoluto (13:10) • Thema con variazioni (18:12) • Allegro vivace (25:25) *Quintet No. 3 for Brass:* • Allegro moderato (30:02) • Intermezzo (35:36) • Andante (40:50) • Vivo (44:52)

[@jaegertiger384]

Danke Schoen for listing the movements AND their location (min:sec) within the recording. The BEST !!!

[@greatvib3s]

Absolutely phenomenal sound from this group, but my GOD Sam Pilafian... such a divine sound! May he and Rolf Smedvig rest in peace.

[@ThePumpkin506]

Sam Pilafian, the tuba player of Empire Brass, has died today. I have no words except Rest in peace, Sam.

[@BrianJohnstonTrombone]

Bold statement from me, but I believe that he was the G.O.A.T. Chamber music Tubist.

[@SKBottom]

@@BrianJohnstonTrombone I don't think that's an unreasonable thing to say at all. Definitely up there with Chuck Dallenbach. After that, I guess it could be largely a matter of taste. Sam certainly had a more prolific solo career.

[@SKBottom]

@@jamesliu1001 Arnold Jacobs was a specialist. I'll take Sam for versatility. Unless, you can show me an album or a tour that Arnold Jacobs ever took with a jazz combo.

[@creightonjensen4210]

@@jamesliu1001 I see both as extremely important to tuba playing in America, in part because they each were very successful pedagogues. However, I see Jacobs as a pioneer of orchestral tuba playing, whereas Sam was the pioneer of tuba in the realm of chamber music.

[@1tang]

Rest in Peace Sam Pilafian, you were a legend on the tuba, and you inspired me and my generation of tuba players greatly.

[@dmntuba]

I bought this album in High School from a Record Bar in Myrtle Beach and it BLEW ME AWAY!!! How can brass instruments make such beautiful music? I went on to study with Sam and perform with the Empire Brass. Rest in peace my friend.

[@donaldlaplante4740]

During the 1970-71 school year at the Boston University School of Fine and Applied Arts I had the privilege and pleasure of playing tuba in the Boston University Brass Quintet. Rich Raffio played first trumpet, Rolf Smedwig played second trumpet, Jim Lauderbach played horn, and Marshall Stith played trombone. Among the numerous pieces of literature that we practiced and performed was the Ewald Quintet that starts off this album. It has always been a favorite of mine and hearing brings back many good memories. Don LaPlante

[@warrenwernick9169]

What must have that been like? Wow. Jealous.

[@MrRevbev]

On another level, I rehearsed and played this with the Lowell State College Brass Quintet. Happy days . . .

[@Savurov-nz9zj]

I was at B.U. studying composition and theory with John Goodman, Joyce Mckeel and Gardner Read during those years and knew Smedvig and Smith. I loved writing for brass. What a great group of guys you were. And I too considered it a privilege and pleasure - just to be around players like you. Good memories indeed !

[@ChrisHaas1]

Rest in Peace, Sam. Thanks for the beautiful music.

[@holton345]

Rest in peace, Sam Pilafian. The tuba world just lost a titan. You will be missed by all of us.

[@jennifercochranwilcox687]

Wow, I had no idea. RIP indeed. Words can't describe the sadness... Much love...

[@joejohnson151]

Thanks for posting this very clean copy of the original vinyl. This is possibly the perfect quintet album. Every articulation, phrase, release, and chord are just perfect. This is tight playing that is also extremely musical. I had the chance to study with these guys at Tanglewood and BU in the 80's. Hard to believe that Rolf and Sam are now gone.

[@canalquintetosombrass]

We had the honor to were coached by Mr. Smedvig here in Brazil.

[@chriscombest]

Rest In Peace, Sam.

[@strallen30]

In college I had the honor of studying for a whole year with the great Norman Bolter, one of the founding members of the Empire Brass. One of the most memorable times in my life.

[@Bambouk]

Norman became my neighbor 2 years ago. We play together occasionally. He is a most remarkable man indeed.

Great stories

[@kenhoughton2594]

I had this album when I was a beginning tuba student in 1978. My original vinyl is long lost; this is a treasure to get to hear it again!

[@jraldne1]

Thanks again, Thank You...THANK YOU!!!...

[@robertray6816]

Simply magnificent! Thank you.

[@DLudwg42]

Victor Ewald: • Symphony for Brass in B♭, Op. 5 • Quintet No. 2 for Brass, Op. 6 • Quintet No. 3 for Brass Recorded 1977

[@victorsungarian6497]

Thank you for sharing this stunning recording of the Empire Brass and the late Rolf Smedvig!

[@gbeachy2010]

I'm brought to tears just learning, via this video, about Rolf's untimely death. What a consistent beautiful sound he had through the entire register. Made it sound effortless. He showed us another level of what was attainable. We heard this album soon after it was released and it still sets the standard. A cassette on which I recorded their performance on the radio program Saint Paul Sunday Morning is long lost. If anyone has a recording and can post it you'll be entertained and informed. They mentioned further Ewald pcs that may exist.

[@setharenstein8497]

Yes, indeed, Smedvig's sound was remarkable.

[@Ives831]

Any luck ever finding this performance? There’s a few St. Paul Sunday am performances but I only have later ones, no Ewald. Would love to hear!

[@gbeachy2010]

@@Ives831 thanks for reaching out. No sign of it. It included the second trumpet playing a brief Dble High C making the host lose it, laughing.

[@ChiSunChan]

Thank you for posting...it brings back a lot of my memories....I used to listen to this (cassette tape at that time) like almost everyday when I was undergrad student in Hong Kong.

[@mrscorpio4444]

Thanks so much for posting this. I had the album many years ago and could never find it. Brings back memories of my days at tanglewood, al, the same players except Norm already had left the group. Very special stuff

[@futurewarrior1]

This is one of my all-time favorite albums...thanks for sharing!!

[@annemarieborch61]

Thank you so much for posting this! I lost my cassette of this long ago. I spent 2 amazing summers with EBQ at Tanglewood long ago, and it's such a delight to hear this beautiful recording again and remember how much I loved them. If you've got any more albums to post, it would be great--Porgy and Bess and West Side Story perhaps?

[@jraldne1]

Though I am not a horn player by any means, still...listening to this recording is positively essential since I am a music lover, and this delights me to no end, as I expect that it would do the same with anyone else who has a rather deep appreciation for this kind of music...THANK YOU!!!....

[@pentacolo1968]

RIP Rolf :(

[@robertross8702]

This is one truly beautiful recording. I am so thankful that you posted it.

[@user-qc1ir4cs4m]

Представляется некий удивительный и совершенный инструмент ! Браво исполнителям !!!

[@callsean002]

thanks for sharing

[@kerrylorah6054]

RIP Sam.

[@jraldne1]

I just had to Thank You again...THANK YOU!!!....

[@ADMagazu]

R.I P. Rolf ... Xo

[@naturefruitmineralwater6307]

고맙습니다

[@canalquintetosombrass]

Amazing!

[@scottbean303]

Thanks Jon!!!!

[@TheJamesalden]

You couldn't be more right...THANK YOU!!...

[@willr3891]

Thanks norm

Great music!

[@jaegertiger384]

I remember, so FONDLY, playing the 1st Quintet... so lyrical and enjoyable in so many ways !!! It takes me back to 1972 when I was studying at the New School of Music (Philly) under the tutelage of Don McComas - when we played / performed it. I continue to practice an hour/day (plus compose) in order to honor Don and Alex Wilson... both who taught me so much about how to be a player who could perform at the highest level possible with style and authority (controlled breathing and vibrato).

[@rapidrrobert4333]

Rip Rolf

[@LyleFrancisDelp]

This is a very fine LP transfer. Are you aware of the digital transfer from cassette that’s been floating around for years? No surface noise, and it sounds amazing.

[@JonathanRandazzo]

No, I’m intrigued!

[@LyleFrancisDelp]

@@JonathanRandazzo I have a digital copy lying around here somewhere. Once I get my computer back from the shop, I will upload to KZbin.

[@brynjarhammer9882]

Could you please, wherever a youtube-search will find it, insert the name on the songs here? i think more people will "find" this jewel when searching for f.ex. V. Ewalds symphony. Thanks in advance :)

[@medievalmusiclover]

German brass The Best.