Mnozil Brass

 For today’s blog post, I would like to talk about the Mnozil Brass group. 

A video of what they do can be found here: 

https://youtu.be/eYRMbj6U2Ww?si=GHk2rgjUnEE_DrGc


This group is far from an obscure group, a lot of young and old bass player know of them and what they do. But I find the whole concept behind the group to be really interesting. A group focused on live performances and comedy in their playing is something that you really don’t see a whole lot of, in really any genre of music, let alone a brass ensemble. 

Any idea this has lead me to is what about the idea of an ensemble with a specific concept behind them. For example, orchestras playing film music is currently pretty popular but with if you took that concept, and put it in a chamber music setting? Like arranging film music for brass quintet or septet, and focus on playing concerts themed around the film music you’re performing. There are clearly a lot of details to think about, but what I think Mnozil’s success shows is that there’s a market for more intimate performances that have a bit a theme to them. 

Honestly, I think the idea of doing a themed concert like this in collaboration with one of the local theatre like the Filmscene could be a really cool idea. Again, a lot of details to work out, but I think creative thinking like this is a way to set ourselves apart in the modern music landscape. Anyone can put on a recital, and anyone can make a CD, but who is going put on a performance that the average person can go to, beside paying a lot of money for an orchestra ticket? I’m curious what my colleagues thoughts are on this. 

Comments

  1. Ryan BanksApril 16, 2025 at 9:49 AM

    Thanks for your post Brady. I love the Mnozil Brass. I had the chance to hear them live back in 2015 when I went to Montana All State. They are very talented but also very funny. I think they do a good job promoting the brass world.

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  2. Matthew DulasApril 19, 2025 at 12:14 PM

    The Mnozil Brass represent everything that's great about musicians. I had the pleasure of hearing them live while at South Dakota State University. They're clever with their acts and incorporating humor into their playing. Their musicianship is also off the charts, which means the humor isn't covering up for anything. I was able to converse with them for a little bit and they asked me about good bars in town. Lovely chaps, hopefully I can see them live again.

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