Episode #76 of the "DCD Classical 'Cast" has, I think a heroic quality to it. The Ensemble Pegasus, Tokyo is a wonderful collection of extraordinary brass players who, under the direction of Norihasa Yamamoto, turn in one thrilling performance after another on a new Musica Rediviva release.
Appropriately titled "A Flourish of Brass," this SACD presents an aspect of brass ensemble playing that's seldom explored. Yamamoto arranged works by Mahler, Brahms, and even Johann Strauss for the Ensemble Pegasus. In each case, the music lays well on the instruments while capturing the essence of the original.
This release is a Super Audio Compact Disc, so if you have an SACD player, you'll experience the full impact of this wonderful ensemble. But not to worry if you don't -- "A Flourish of Brass" is a hybrid SACD, so it will play just fine on a regular CD player (and sound pretty good, too).
- Ralph
This program we play:
Paul Dukas: Fanfare pour preceder "La Peri"
Ensemble Pegasus, Tokyo
Musica Rediviva
N. Yamamato: Four Japanese Songs Suite, Nos. 2 & 3
Ensemble Pegasus, Tokyo
Musica Rediviva
Paul Hindemith: Morgenmusicck for Pinoer Musiktag, mvts. 2 & 3
Ensemble Pegasus, Tokyo
Musica Rediviva
J. Strauss (arr. Yamamoto): Pizzicato-Polka
Ensemble Pegasus, Tokyo
A Flourish of Brass
Musica Rediviva
Brahms: (arr. Yamamoto): Choralvorspiel "O Welt, Ich muss dich lassen"
Ensemble Pegasus, Tokyo
Musica Rediviva
Mahler (arr. Yamamoto): Adagio - Was mir die Liebe erzahit
Ensemble Pegasus, Tokyo
Musica Rediviva
"Die Kunst der Fuge" was Johann Sebastian Bach's compendium of his contrapuntal skill. The work starts with a very simple subject, and moves through an increasingly complex series canons and fugues.
