Chandos Records – Released June 27th 2025
World premiere recordings and established favourites from both sides of the Atlantic.
This album combines pieces for the core quintet with works for extended brass forces, plus piano in the case of Florence Price’s Octet for Brasses and Piano. The majority of the pieces here receive their first commercial recording, the two Britten premières bringing two long-forgotten pieces out of the Britten Pears Archive, in Aldeburgh, into the sunlight. Alongside these new discoveries are performances of established favourites by Sir Malcolm Arnold and Joseph Horovitz, staples of the brass chamber repertoire for more than half a century. The selection of composers spanning most of the twentieth century, and from both sides of the Atlantic, gives the album a refreshing contrast of musical traditions and styles.
Onyx are again delighted to be joined on this recording by John Wilson in directing the larger works, and pianist and good friend, Viv Maclean, specifically for the Price.
Full Track List:
*Directed by John Wilson
Roaring Fanfare* – Sir William Walton (world premiere recording)
China Gates – John Adams arr. David Gordon Shute
Funeral March* – Benjamin Britten (world premiere recording)
Octet for Brasses and Piano* – Florence Price (world premiere recording)
Quintet No.1 for Brass Quintet – Sir Malcolm Arnold
Novelette in Fourths – George Gershwin arr. Timothy Jackson
A Fanfare for June 30th* – Benjamin Britten (world premiere recording)
Prelude, Polonaise and Promenade – Gordon Langford
Flourish on the Morris Call* – Ralph Vaughan Williams (world premiere recording)
Music Hall Suite – Joseph Horovitz
Dance Suite – Leonard Bernstein
Onyx Brass would like to thank the following for their very generous donations to make this recording possible:
Katherine Arnold
Vaughan Williams Foundation
William Walton Trust
Royal College of Music Research Department