Our Review
As a former trumpeter in high school (marching band) and in college (swing orchestra), my love for brass runs long and deep. The Pittsburgh Symphony Brass ("PSB") sets the gold standard in such performances, and The Spirit of Christmas is a goose-bumply affair of brass brilliance. High and bright, this music will flash white-hot through your audio speakers. Magnificent!
The six PSB members (founder George Vosburgh, Neal Berntsen, William Caballero, Peter Sullivan, Murray Crewe, Eric Bubacz) are symphonic virtuosos. The playing is crisp, and the production values are outstanding. Unlike their first holiday album (A Christmas Concert) The Spirit of Christmas includes more than just songs arranged for brass; this new offering also has pieces arranged to include organ, tympani, and voice. As an added treat, the album offers Marvin Hamlisch's new song "Take Me To Christmas Past," exquisitely sung by Tami Fire, a talented young mezzo-soprano. Fire also provides her honey-like vocals to the intensely lovely "Coventry Carol, Lully-Lullay."
Although the music is definitely played in the classical style, the numbers are completely accessible and include a wide range of popular carols. The generous CD has 21 tracks, but most pieces are under two minutes in length. The longest cut is J.S. Bach's "Christmas Oratorio, Jauchzet, Frohlocket" (at almost eight minutes), providing triumphant fanfare that will raise the roof. Other pieces rock the listeners in gentle arms of the most mellow brass (i.e., "Away in a Manger," "It Came Upon a Midnight Clear").
PSB's The Spirit of Christmas will put anyone with a pulse immediately in the holiday spirit. Just hold onto your hats for Handel's "Hallelujah Chorus" and for the final sweet kiss of George Vosburgh's flugelhorn on "Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas."
--Carol Swanson
(Reviewed in 2005)
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From the liner notes:
Pittsburgh Symphony Brass are:
George Vosburgh: trumpet, piccolo trumpet & flugelhorn
Neal Berntsen: trumpet, piccolo trumpet & flugelhorn
William Caballero: french horn
Peter Sullivan: tenor trombone & euphonium
Murray Crewe: bass trombone
Eric Bubacz: tuba
Special Guests:
Timothy Adams: tympani & bells
Tami Fire: mezzo-soprano
Richard Webster: organ
Producer: Arnold Roth
Executive Producer: Lee Smith
Artistic Coordinator: George Vosburgh
Recording Engineer: Konrad Strauss
Mastered by Konrad Strauss
The Pittsburgh Symphony Brass was organized by George Vosburgh in 1994 with an emphasis on featuring some of the world's finest orchestral brass musicians playing in chamber ensemble. The result has been a unique blend of virtuosity with brilliant sonority usually associated with orchestral brass. The ensemble, who are members of the Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra, endeavors to stretch the limitations of performance and explore a wise range of musical expression rarely achieved in brass music.
George Vosburgh, celebrated soloist and lecturer, is internationally recognized for his virtuosity on the trumpet in recordings, concerts, and recitals.
Neal Berntsen joined the Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra trumpet section in March 1997 at the invitation of Lorin Maazel.
William Caballero joined the Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra as Principal Horn in May 1989, coming from the Principal Horn post with the Houston Symphony Orchestra.
Peter Sullivan: Formerly with the Calgary Philharmonic and the Toronto Symphony, Peter Sullivan has been Principal Trombonist with the Montreal Symphony Orchestra since 1990.
Murray Crewe: After studying for several years with master teachers and performers of the Chicago Symphony Orchestra, as well as performing jazz with some of the great big bands of the day, Murray Crewe began his symphonic career in 1984, joining the Orchestre Symphonique de Quebec. *** [Crewe joined] the Pittsburgh Symphony in the fall of 1993.
Eric Bubacz: A Pennsylvania native, Eric Bubacz is a graduate of the Curtis Institute of Music in Philadelphia. . . Bubacz also currently performs with the Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra, and in November 2001, he replaced Sumner Ericson as the tuba player of Pittsburgh Symphony Brass.
Pittsburgh Symphony Brass and Four Winds Entertainment are proud to present "The Spirit of Christmas." This splendid new recording features wonderful Christmas favorites arranged in magnificent settings that capture the joy and good cheer of the holidays, played as only Pittsburgh Symphony Brass can. Like their successful first holiday recording "A Christmas Concert," the new album offers popular carols in short festive arrangements for brass, but also adds to the program songs arranged for brass, organ, tympani, and voice. Sure to be a favorite is a very special new Christmas song "Take Me To Christmas Past," written by Marvin Hamlisch and sung by the talented young mezzo-soprano Tami Fire. Led by Grammy Award winner George Vosburgh and produced by the renowned Arnie Roth, Pittsburgh Symphony Brass performs on "The Spirit of Christmas" with the bold, virtuoso flair for which they have become so well known.
Pittsburgh Symphony Brass
The Spirit of Christmas
Artist site
Label: Four Winds
Length: 53 minutes
Genre: Classical
Release: 2003
Track List
| Song Title |
|---|
| Golden Bells |
| The First Nöel - (Traditional) |
| What Child Is This? (Greensleeves) |
| Take Me To Christmas Past (Marvin Hamlisch, Craig Carnelia)) |
| O Come, O Come, Emanuel |
| Hark! The Herald Angels Sing |
| Wassail Song (Traditional) |
| O Little Town of Bethlehem (Traditional) |
| Bring a Torch, Jeannette Isabella |
| J.S. Bach: Christmas Oratorio, Jauchzet, Frohlocket |
| Coventry Carol, Lully - Lullay (Traditional) |
| Corpus Christi Carol (Benjamin Britten) |
| J.S. Bach: Christmas Oratorio, Finale |
| Away In A Manger (Traditional) |
| It Came Upon A Midnight Clear (Traditional) |
| O Tannenbaum (Traditional) |
| Angels We Have Heard On High (Traditional) |
| O Come All Ye Faithful |
| Chocolate - Tchaikovsky: The Nutcracker |
| Hallelujah Chorus - Handel: Messiah |
| Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas (Hugh Martin, Ralph Blane) |