Chicago Symphony Orchestra Brass Quintet

 Hello everyone! Today I'd like to look through some of CSO brass quintets repertoire. In 2026 they released their newest album, Apex. Lets begin with their rendition of Suite for Brass Quintet: March by Verne Reynolds.

CSO Brass Quintet with Principal Trumpet Esteban Batallán, horn David Griffin and trumpet John Hagstrom; trombone Michael Mulcahy and Principal Tuba Gene Pokorny.

Recorded in Tokyo’s Kioi Hall, the Chicago Symphony Orchestra Brass Quintet presents Apex. Among the tracks are Enrique Crespo’s Suite Americana No. 1, J.S. Bach’s Toccata, Adagio and Fugue in C Major BWV 564 (arr. for brass quintet by F. Mills), the overture from Verdi’s opera Nabucco (arr. for brass quintet by M. Pierobon) and the third movement from Shostakovich’s String Quartet No. 3 in F Major, Op. 73 (arr. for brass quintet by D. Sipe).

Next lets listen to a live performance of Ewald 1 by the 1966 CSO brass quintet.

Recorded live in 1966 featuring Adolph Herseth, Vincent Cichowicz, trumpets; Richard Oldberg, horn; Frank Crisafulli, trombone; and Arnold Jacobs, tuba.

Program notes: Ewald’s first quintet was composed ca. 1890. It is cast in three movements. The first movement is the most substantial, composed in sonata form with two clear themes and a development section. The second movement begins with a beautiful Adagio, contrasted by a very aggressive Presto section, finally returning to the Adagio. The effect is a dramatic ABA which combines a slow movement with a scherzo, normally separate movements in large-scale works. The uplifting finale brings the work to a triumphant end.

To finish off lets listen to Chicago Symphony Brass Ensemble perform J. S. Bach's "Sarabande and Minuet".

Performed by Adolph Herseth, Reynold Schilke, trumpet; Hugh Cowden, french horn; Frank Crisafulli, trombone; and Arnold Jacobs, tuba.

Thanks for listening everyone. Stay curious!