American Brass Quintet
The American Brass Quintet is an American brass quintet founded in 1960. Unlike conventional brass quintets, the bass voice is provided by a bass trombone rather than a tuba. The Quintet has served as Ensemble-in-Residence at the Aspen [Music Festival and School] since 1970 and at the Juilliard School since 1987.
Members
Current
Past
Previous members are:Trumpet
Horn
Trombone
Bass Trombone
History
In its early days, the Quintet sought to differentiate itself from other brass quintets by dedicating itself to "music originally written for brass," and substituted a bass trombone for the conventional tuba voice.The Quintet has toured extensively, giving concerts in Europe, Central and South America, Asia, Australia, and all fifty of the United States.
The Quintet's repertoire blends classical works, often arranged by its members for modern performance by a brass quintet, with new works it has commissioned from contemporary composers including Samuel Adler, Bruce Adolphe, Daniel Asia, Jan Bach, Robert Beaser, William Bolcom, Elliott Carter, Billy Childs, Robert Dennis, Jacob Druckman, Eric Ewazen, Anthony Plog, Huang Ruo, David Sampson, Gunther Schuller, William Schuman, Ralph Shapey, Joan Tower, Melinda Wagner, and Charles Whittenberg. The group has released recordings of over twenty-five new works for brass quintet.