Wes10brass are a 10-member symphonic band of highly-talented brass players from the orchestras of North Rhine-Westphalia in Western Germany. Some of them also play with orchestras such as the Philharmonia, Concertgebouw, Mahler Chamber Orchestra, Anima Eterna Brugge, Taverner Consort and Players, Amsterdam Baroque Orchestra and the Orchestre des Champs Elysées. Their connections with period instrument ensembles are put to good use in this, their second album.

Harry Ries, their HIP expert, brought along trumpets and trombones from the late Renaissance and early Baroque, unlocking the unique sound of narrow-bore, valveless instruments for the whole band. Selecting a programme of music from these times, they experimented with intriguing combinations of period and modern instruments, as well as the spatial dispositions which many composers of the time were writing into their music. About half of the arrangements are made by wes10brass members themselves and are new.

The resulting collection of pieces at first sight resembles the well-trodden path of now-defunct but pioneering groups such as David Munro's Early Music Consort and the Philip Jones Brass Ensemble. But while there are indeed some favourites such as music from Michael Praetorious' 'Terpsichore', the Monteverdi 'Toccata' and the Giovanni Gabrieli pieces, there is a deal of unfamiliar but excellent material from Girolamo Fantini (1600-1675) and Cesare Bendinell (c. 1542-1637) who were new to me. Anthony Holborne's Suite 'The Fairie Round' works very well in Roger Harvey's arrangement for 4 trumpets, 4 trombones, horn, tuba and percussion. Not many people are aware that this music was included on the famous Golden Disc which NASA despatched on the Voyager 1 and 2 space craft, now in the "Heliosheath" - the outermost layer of the heliosphere beyond Pluto (where the solar wind is slowed by the pressure of interstellar gas) and still transmitting data. Holborne's suite presents some very fine, expressive solo work; my favourite movement being 'Last Will and Testament' which is deeply emotional. One wonders what the unlikely alien coming upon one of the Voyagers would think of it...

Biber's 'Sonata Sancti Polycarpi' (for 4 trumpets and four trombones with drums) features 2 choirs of paired trumpets, and is possibly one of the most ornate works for Baroque trumpet. Thrillingly dramatic, the spatial separation of the echo effects in multichannel is remarkable. Humour is also a feature of these players; note that 'Lo Canarie' in the Praetorius Suite begins with a liquid-sounding bird whistle, followed by some very avian high trills on trumpets.

As in their début disc (Blech aus dem Westen, very british - wes10brass), Wes10brass play with superbly crisp ensemble, lively rhythms and brilliant technique, whether on period or modern instruments. Those pieces in which period trumpets or trombones appear are marked with asterisks in the track list, and it is fascinating to hear the timbral differences when both ancient and modern instruments play together. Conductor Michael Forster directs with panache in the dances and due ceremony in the more formal compositions. Belgian percussionist Koen Plaetinck is an expert in period percussion instruments, working for a number of well-known HIP ensembles. His contribution to this disc adds greatly to the atmosphere and realism of the arrangements.

As with their first SA-CD, wes10brass are recorded in the Immanual Church, Wuppertal, which gives the right sense of scale and space for the brass ensemble's sound to blossom into, and Ars again provide a brilliantly realistic 5.1 sound. Varied spatial configurations of players also contribute to the entertainment value of this disc. The booklet gives much information on the music in German and English, with quite detailed biographies for each player. There is an error, however, in the 'Impressum' on the back page, where the recording date is stated as July 2012, a month after the release date! This is corrected on the back insert of the jewel box to July 2011.

Without doubt, another unmissable album for lovers of classical brass band music, and those with an interest in Late Renaissance and Early Baroque styles.

Copyright © 2012 John Miller and HRAudio.net

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