A large focus of this blog is looking at ensembles that have married together brass bands with hip hop elements, primarily rap artists. On occasion, however, some ensembles draw from the hip-hop influence without calling upon extra help.
The Broken Brass Ensemble covers Macklemore and Ryan Lewis' Thrift Shop. This is a prime example of why the brass family works so well with voice, both in a historical aspect of playing with choirs, but also in regard to the modern sense, with hip hop and other pop stars. Each time I listen, I can hear all of the lyrics just as clear as if Macklemore were saying them himself. This style is a great reference for a brass player trying to mimic the voice, showing them how to match articulation, timbre, and general effect that the voice has.
Overture for Euphoniums and Tubas Overture for Euphoniums and Tubas (2015) by Parker Gaims performed by MGySgt Mark Jenkins, MSgt Matthew Summers, GySgt Ryan McGeorge, and SSgt Hiram Diaz, euphonium MGySgt John Cradler and SSgt Simon Wildman, tuba Parker Gaims is a Washington, D.C. based clarinetist and composer whose compositions have been performed by the United States Marine Band, Northwestern University Symphonic Wind Ensemble, DePaul University Wind Symphony, Northwestern Clarinet Faculty, DePaul Clarinet Faculty, the Los Angeles Symphonic Winds, pianist Winston Choi, and members of every D.C. service band. The Overture for Euphoniums and Tubas is a piece that I was unfamiliar with until searching for pieces for ensembles that I was unfamiliar with. The amount of character changes is astounding and well composed. I appreciate the warmth and group sound of this type of ensemble and the versatility that the valved instruments allow for, great technical ...
During an Advanced Brassed Ensemble Literature class, we watched a video of a brass ensemble festival in Belgium in which a group performed with choreography on bicycles. It blew my mind, and I had to know more! Sources vary on how this tradition of bicycle ensembles or Velo Clubs came to be, but a few things are consistent among sources. In the 1890s, bicycles were beginning to be mass-produced, and with this, more and more people began riding in the streets. This came with an increase in the number of accidents. New legislation had to be put into place, and fast. The law called for a horn, bell, or bugle to be sounded when approaching intersections to warn pedestrians. Soon, these velo clubs all had at least one bugler who rode at the front of the pack, and then more and more people wanted to bring their horns, and this effect snowballed until the majority of individuals had horns with them while they rode. Over time, the purpose of the buglers changed to help organ...
While originally I was only going to write about brass bands and rap artists, it only felt natural to expand into the realm of brass bands with vocal accompaniment, as they often go hand in hand. One brass band that is doing it uniquely is the Dirty Dozen Brass Band . Many groups have dedicated beatboxers, rappers, or vocalists, and yes, The Dirty Dozen do have members of their group that sing or provide vocals from time to time; they often collaborate with existing artists and serve as not just a band's hornline, but as a collaborator on stage with numerous bands. Above is an example of just that! This is the Dirty Dozen with Elvis Costello. Costello is an English singer, songwriter, producer, author, and TV host who has run the musical gauntlet and performed in groups that perform a wide array of genres. This piece above highlights not just his versatility as a performer but also how wonderful brass blends with voice, in "That's How You Got Killed Before" off of th...
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