Chicago Symphony Low Brass Ensemble Music

 For this post, I want to take a look at another oddity of a release, and that's a video that was made by the low brass of the Chicago Symphony Orchestra. The video consists of them playing arrangements of classical pieces arranged for the ensemble and some orchestral excerpts. 

Link to Video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lpfQQPwCmzc&list=LL&index=66&t=702s 

This is similar to the J. J. Johnson album where in the modern landscape, it's pretty common to find videos like this being made by orchestra sections, playing music and putting them onto Youtube or other music streaming services. But as far as I can tell, this was likely made on the 1990's, where none of that existed. But yet here you have a fully produced video, that must have had some sort of commercial release. My guess is that they made it for educational purposes, likely to give reference recordings for certain orchestral excerpts, or just generally to make a great low brass section recording at a time where things like this were hard to find. 

The playing in the video is great, but my favorite part is honestly they arrangements of orchestral works. It's so nice to hear a low brass section play things that aren't "low brass" things. You know, large forte sections with unison melodies or large block chords. Instead you get to hear arguably one of the best orchestra low brass sections in the world play music. You can see how they communicate, and respond and make a golden sound. When Jay Friedman starts a piece, there is never any doubt from the ensemble. 

So how does this fit into the public eye? Well, a video like this was made and released for sale in some way. I doubt that the Chicago Symphony orchestra would make something like this just to try and sell it to trombone players back in the 1990's. Again, videos like these are pretty common to find online, and I actually thing it's a great thing for many reasons. For one, anyone can find them and listen to them. I think its an important way to keep orchestral brass music in the public eye in at least some way. These videos are also invaluable resources for trombonists trying to find great references to what a low brass section can sound like. It's easy to hear what a loud section can play like, less so to have a sound like this in your ear. 

Comments

  1. Maxwell GradisherApril 28, 2025 at 4:21 PM

    I appreciate that even though the video was produced in the 90's it provided a great example of the versatile of the trombone in an orchestral setting. I like how you provide incites into how peoples perceptions of brass music is the emphasis on blocked chords and large sounds.

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