Back when American brass sections didn't sound cookie-cutter identical. I LOVED this! THe Philadelphia section of that era always had the shimmer...lovely! All those lovely Ormandy recordings on CBS bear testament. The Chicago and maybe Cincinnati of the era were more muscular, but what these guys lay out is fantastic, total music.
KING OF THE B FLAT... none other than the great Seymour Rosenfeld doing what he did best -- PLAY! I remember Sam Krauss (Principal Trumpet from the late '40's and '50's -- and continuing through the '70's). I listened to SO many recordings of the distinctive Philadelphia Sound.... as Gil Johnson would "sing" above the rest of the orchestra at times -- such as in Saint Saens Symphony No. 3 - Finale (among other large scale productions). I was a student of Don McComas (Asst Principal to Gil in the '70's) for several years while attending the New School of Music, and went to high school with David Wetherill (who became Principal Horn in '78 - with perfect pitch). I am so thankful that I was exposed to the Philadelphia Orchestra and all of the excellence that it embodied.
Gil was my teacher at the University of Miami in 1995 after I left the school I would make regular trips back to see him and get his unbelievable guidance. He truly gave his full attention and feeling to everything he did, and I am so glad to have known him. Sadly when I was younger I did not value his friendship the way I wish I would have and I will never forgive myself for not spending more time with him before he passed. He would tackle the issues, conversations, and problems no one else wanted to. I miss him dearly!
Dan, I went to UM in the early to mid-1980s but was not in the music department per se but took lessons from Gil! The most beautiful sound of any of the great classical players! The consummate player! Very serious and driven about his teaching and results! Of course, he was always, let say a connoisseur of spirits! lol He loved to talk about fishing and was great but if you did not come prepared to the lesson he would get super mad lol Eventually one day he kicked me out because i forgot to practice some etudes haha. He didn't care that he lost income, he was so driven that way! A great person!
Wow, Roger, I grew up in the Philadelphia area watching Mike Douglas and, of course, the Philadelphia Orchestra. Those brass albums on Columbia Records were spectacular! The Christmas albums even made their way onto Muzuk in the malls! Yay Mr. Torchinsky and colleagues!
so great to see this - sound quality not great but footage classic, thank you for the upload. Chris Tedesco here, I studied with Gil Johnson fall of 79' thru spring of 83' and remained friends with him til he passed....his beautiful playing and vibrato is rivaled by no one...great to hear him talk again.......he had a way with words.......
My family had a subscription to the Philadelphia Orchestra when they played at Carnegie Hall. For years and years I listened to every note that Gil Johnson played in utter amazement. I also had the pleasure of looking at the other side of the hall where the family of Eugene Ormandy sat. His niece went to high school with me and I had a big crush on her for two years. That's why my memories are double sweet.
Thanks for posting, Roger. Nolan Miller was my horn teacher for several summers when I came from college 45 years ago. I've stayed in touch. He retired from the Philadelphia Orchestra in 2005 after some 40 years (24 years as principal). He died in the spring of 2013. Many Philadelphia area horn players played in a horn ensemble at his funeral.
My family had a subscription to the Philadelphia when they came up to Carnegie Hall. I listened to Gil Johnson for many years and he never was less than wonderful. Being a trumpet player myself my attention was always drawn to him when it wasn't focused on the niece of Eugene Ormandy who sat with her family in the box opposite from us.
Thanks for this. Tyrone was simultaneously my teacher and very close friend. And what a wonderful sound. The Philly brass were unique among the top orchestras in the polished beauty of sound, mixing perfectly with the amazing string section. What a treat. I still have a vivid memory of the final chords of Mathis Der Maler under Ozawa. Glorious.
Thanks to Roger for the upload. We were at Curtis together the 1968-69 school year. Roger helped me adjust to my new surroundings that year and I appreciated his support. Hearing Mr. Johnson speak in this video is a real treat! He was a great trumpeter and a fine teacher! He had a great sense of humor and believe me, having me as a student, he needed it! Larry Weeks and I have the distinction of being the first two students to graduate from Curtis under Mr. Johnson in ‘71. Tragically, Larry died in a plane crash in September of ’97 … great trumpeter - great guy! I still have a letter from Gil telling me that he mailed a letter of recommendation to a college where I taught just after graduating from Curtis. It is a little frayed around the edges these many years later, but I have always appreciated his thoughtfulness. That was Gil!
I worked at the Robin Hood Dell in the Summers of 1964 and 65 on the cleanup crew. It was great to watch the rehearsals as I was picking up trash from the Concert the night before. I often ate lunch with Clarence Mayer, French Horn, who retired around then. I remember Gil Johnson, Dee Stewart, Abe Torchinsky, and Seymour Rosenberg. 1965 was the first year they called it the Philadelphia Orchestra under a new contract rather than the Robin Hood Dell Orchestra. I remember the first day Maestro Ormandy appeared for rehearsal in 1965, how many of the players who used to show up right at starting time for other conductors were there early practicing their parts. Respect. Mason Jones was the First French Horn at the time and the Union Representative, also a well respected figure. Manny Roth was some kind of Union secretary who would occasionally join the percussion section to give the bass drum a rap or two. Anshel Brusilow was Concertmaster and the Pasquale family had just joined the Orchestra. Interesting time .
The premier recording of Scheherazade was under Ormandy with Anshel Brusilow as Concertmaster performing the exposed solos. I was fortunate enough to be in the University of North Texas Chamber Orchestra under the direction of Brusilow, but unfortunately never considered auditioning for study under Gilbert Johnson at University of Miami.
So happy that many of his students responded so positively! Were any of you in Florida when, at the end of my masterclass for him, I asked to try the C trumpet that he played when he left the Philadelphia Orchestra? After playing a few notes and having asked what he would take for it, he ended up giving it to me on the spot and it is one of my real treasures from him. The most important treasure he gave me was a display of his beautiful sound and musicianship week after week during my student years at Curtis!
Roger Blackburn I remember that, Roger! You played some very enjoyable barbershop quartet tunes that afternoon (if I remember correctly). I was Gil's graduate assistant at the time and remember you and another member of the orchestra telling us all a few stories from his tenure in the orchestra that afternoon. Thanks so much for sharing; it's great to hear him play but even better to hear his voice again.
What a joy to see and hear Gil again! he was a marvelous teacher in addition to being a phenomenal trumpet player! Thank you so much for posting this video!
Thank you so much for the post. It is amazing to get to see my grandpa play. Never got to witness his mastery other than when he taught. He is missed dearly.
Adding to the "chorus"...thank you for posting this. Having grown up listening to the PBE's otherworldly Christmas LP, it is really exciting to get to see them in action.
A new name to me (a Brit) but clearly held in high esteem by those in the know. Something's just occurred to me and it maybe trite but he appears to be of the same generation as Adolph Herseth. The names of both tell of German lineage. Coincidence?
Mr. Blackburn, Thank you very much for sharing! It is great to see these guys in action. I was wondering if you, or anyone might know who did the arrangements used for the Philadelphia Brass Ensemble's Festival of Carols album. They mostly seem like 4 part chorales, but there is often a horn descant, or added line.
Adam, The arrangements for the entire Philadelphia Brass Festival of Carols album were done by Andrew Kazdin. I called him one day when he was the sound engineer for the NY Phil broadcasts to see if the arrangements were obtainable. Not surprisingly he said no but he did indicate that he basically used the Rasmussen Christmas Quartet books and added a fifth part to it (often the horn descant as you noted). My dad Sid Mear was principal trpt in the Rochester Philharmonic and played briefly with the Phila Orch after the war so whenever Philadelphia was in town the entire trumpet and string bass sections would come over to our house for dinner. Gil, Seymour and Sam Krause was playing 4th ( I think) at the time. It was so GREAT to see them on that old Mike Douglas clip. Brought tears to my eyes. My own brass quintet used to play those two Gabrieli and Bach pieces ALL the time though not as well as these guys. Wonder why Mason Jones wasn't playing that day!!
I'm curious. Was the sextet the standard performance and recording lineup they settled upon? Would make sense I suppose given 6 players would've constituted a musically flexible and portable ensemble ( and a lot easier to rehearse than a full size symphony orchestra!) I see it includes a euphonium which is unusual but again makes sense given its range and " voicing".
Written like a true idiot jwhill7! You have no idea what you are talking about! Typical weak loser player has the audacity to criticize one of, if not, the best Principal Trumpet player any orchestra has ever had! You sir are simply an ignoramus!
Back when American brass sections didn't sound cookie-cutter identical. I LOVED this! THe Philadelphia section of that era always had the shimmer...lovely! All those lovely Ormandy recordings on CBS bear testament. The Chicago and maybe Cincinnati of the era were more muscular, but what these guys lay out is fantastic, total music.
I knew Gil Johnson when he was professor of trumpet at the University of Miami School of Music. Such a nice guy and a great artist. RIP Gil.
KING OF THE B FLAT... none other than the great Seymour Rosenfeld doing what he did best -- PLAY! I remember Sam Krauss (Principal Trumpet from the late '40's and '50's -- and continuing through the '70's). I listened to SO many recordings of the distinctive Philadelphia Sound.... as Gil Johnson would "sing" above the rest of the orchestra at times -- such as in Saint Saens Symphony No. 3 - Finale (among other large scale productions). I was a student of Don McComas (Asst Principal to Gil in the '70's) for several years while attending the New School of Music, and went to high school with David Wetherill (who became Principal Horn in '78 - with perfect pitch). I am so thankful that I was exposed to the Philadelphia Orchestra and all of the excellence that it embodied.
Gil was my teacher at the University of Miami in 1995 after I left the school I would make regular trips back to see him and get his unbelievable guidance. He truly gave his full attention and feeling to everything he did, and I am so glad to have known him. Sadly when I was younger I did not value his friendship the way I wish I would have and I will never forgive myself for not spending more time with him before he passed. He would tackle the issues, conversations, and problems no one else wanted to. I miss him dearly!
Dan, I went to UM in the early to mid-1980s but was not in the music department per se but took lessons from Gil! The most beautiful sound of any of the great classical players! The consummate player! Very serious and driven about his teaching and results! Of course, he was always, let say a connoisseur of spirits! lol He loved to talk about fishing and was great but if you did not come prepared to the lesson he would get super mad lol Eventually one day he kicked me out because i forgot to practice some etudes haha. He didn't care that he lost income, he was so driven that way! A great person!
@@Puceter Too true! I hope you are doing well during this crazy time!
A talk show featuring a brass quintet with an album release is amazing. Fantastic!
Wow, Roger, I grew up in the Philadelphia area watching Mike Douglas and, of course, the Philadelphia Orchestra. Those brass albums on Columbia Records were spectacular! The Christmas albums even made their way onto Muzuk in the malls! Yay Mr. Torchinsky and colleagues!
GREAT STUFF!!
Seymour Rosenfeld was my trumpet teacher at Temple University from 1979 - 1982. Great to see him here!
Love this group. Studied with Seymour one summer. Gil with the most beautiful sound.
so great to see this - sound quality not great but footage classic, thank you for the upload. Chris Tedesco here, I studied with Gil Johnson fall of 79' thru spring of 83' and remained friends with him til he passed....his beautiful playing and vibrato is rivaled by no one...great to hear him talk again.......he had a way with words.......
Amazing! I didn't know this was out there. These guys represent a part of brass music playing that has become iconic.
Well played!
My family had a subscription to the Philadelphia Orchestra when they played at Carnegie Hall. For years and years I listened to every note that Gil Johnson played in utter amazement. I also had the pleasure of looking at the other side of the hall where the family of Eugene Ormandy sat. His niece went to high school with me and I had a big crush on her for two years. That's why my memories are double sweet.
Thanks for posting, Roger. Nolan Miller was my horn teacher for several summers when I came from college 45 years ago. I've stayed in touch. He retired from the Philadelphia Orchestra in 2005 after some 40 years (24 years as principal). He died in the spring of 2013. Many Philadelphia area horn players played in a horn ensemble at his funeral.
My family had a subscription to the Philadelphia when they came up to Carnegie Hall. I listened to Gil Johnson for many years and he never was less than wonderful. Being a trumpet player myself my attention was always drawn to him when it wasn't focused on the niece of Eugene Ormandy who sat with her family in the box opposite from us.
Thanks for this. Tyrone was simultaneously my teacher and very close friend. And what a wonderful sound. The Philly brass were unique among the top orchestras in the polished beauty of sound, mixing perfectly with the amazing string section. What a treat. I still have a vivid memory of the final chords of Mathis Der Maler under Ozawa. Glorious.
Thanks to Roger for the upload. We were at Curtis together the 1968-69 school year. Roger helped me adjust to my new surroundings that year and I appreciated his support.
Hearing Mr. Johnson speak in this video is a real treat! He was a great trumpeter and a fine teacher! He had a great sense of humor and believe me, having me as a student, he needed it!
Larry Weeks and I have the distinction of being the first two students to graduate from Curtis under Mr. Johnson in ‘71. Tragically, Larry died in a plane crash in September of ’97 … great trumpeter - great guy!
I still have a letter from Gil telling me that he mailed a letter of recommendation to a college where I taught just after graduating from Curtis. It is a little frayed around the edges these many years later, but I have always appreciated his thoughtfulness. That was Gil!
I worked at the Robin Hood Dell in the Summers of 1964 and 65 on the cleanup crew. It was great to watch the
rehearsals as I was picking up trash from the Concert the night before. I often ate lunch with Clarence Mayer, French Horn, who retired around then. I remember Gil Johnson, Dee Stewart, Abe Torchinsky, and Seymour Rosenberg. 1965 was the first year they called it the Philadelphia Orchestra under a new contract rather than the Robin Hood Dell Orchestra. I remember the first day Maestro Ormandy appeared for rehearsal in 1965, how many of the players who used to show up right at starting time for other conductors were there early practicing their parts. Respect.
Mason Jones was the First French Horn at the time and the Union Representative, also a well respected figure. Manny Roth was some kind of Union secretary who would occasionally join the percussion section to give the bass drum a rap or two. Anshel Brusilow was Concertmaster and the Pasquale family had just joined the Orchestra. Interesting time .
The premier recording of Scheherazade was under Ormandy with Anshel Brusilow as Concertmaster performing the exposed solos. I was fortunate enough to be in the University of North Texas Chamber Orchestra under the direction of Brusilow, but unfortunately never considered auditioning for study under Gilbert Johnson at University of Miami.
Really wonderful to hear and see this, it brought back great memories! I studied with Mr. Johnson from 1977 - 1983, awesome man and great teacher.
I loved the album, played tenor slide trombone, and bass trombone, a long time ago in a galaxy far, far away...
Wow!! Thanks Roger for posting! So little footage of Gil along with Seymour and the rest of that great brass section from that era!
So happy that many of his students responded so positively! Were any of you in Florida when, at the end of my masterclass for him, I asked to try the C trumpet that he played when he left the Philadelphia Orchestra? After playing a few notes and having asked what he would take for it, he ended up giving it to me on the spot and it is one of my real treasures from him. The most important treasure he gave me was a display of his beautiful sound and musicianship week after week during my student years at Curtis!
Roger Blackburn I remember that, Roger! You played some very enjoyable barbershop quartet tunes that afternoon (if I remember correctly). I was Gil's graduate assistant at the time and remember you and another member of the orchestra telling us all a few stories from his tenure in the orchestra that afternoon. Thanks so much for sharing; it's great to hear him play but even better to hear his voice again.
What a joy to see and hear Gil again! he was a marvelous teacher in addition to being a phenomenal trumpet player! Thank you so much for posting this video!
Thank you so much for the post. It is amazing to get to see my grandpa play. Never got to witness his mastery other than when he taught. He is missed dearly.
Adding to the "chorus"...thank you for posting this. Having grown up listening to the PBE's otherworldly Christmas LP, it is really exciting to get to see them in action.
Thank you so much, Roger! Hearing Mr. Johnson's voice again has brought so many memories. Such a treat!
The "Greatest 2nd trumpet" player ever. But an even greater teacher and "humble genius".
Thank you, Scott. He was my grandfather and it warms my heart to know he made a difference in your life.
A new name to me (a Brit) but clearly held in high esteem by those in the know. Something's just occurred to me and it maybe trite but he appears to be of the same generation as Adolph Herseth. The names of both tell of German lineage. Coincidence?
Great piece of history. Pity about the audio distortions. Perhaps the OP could go back to the original and fix this??
Mr. Blackburn,
Thank you very much for sharing! It is great to see these guys in action. I was wondering if you, or anyone might know who did the arrangements used for the Philadelphia Brass Ensemble's Festival of Carols album. They mostly seem like 4 part chorales, but there is often a horn descant, or added line.
Adam,
The arrangements for the entire Philadelphia Brass Festival of Carols album were done by Andrew Kazdin. I called him one day when he was the sound engineer for the NY Phil broadcasts to see if the arrangements were obtainable. Not surprisingly he said no but he did indicate that he basically used the Rasmussen Christmas Quartet books and added a fifth part to it (often the horn descant as you noted).
My dad Sid Mear was principal trpt in the Rochester Philharmonic and played briefly with the Phila Orch after the war so whenever Philadelphia was in town the entire trumpet and string bass sections would come over to our house for dinner. Gil, Seymour and Sam Krause was playing 4th ( I think) at the time. It was so GREAT to see them on that old Mike Douglas clip. Brought tears to my eyes. My own brass quintet used to play those two Gabrieli and Bach pieces ALL the time though not as well as these guys. Wonder why Mason Jones wasn't playing that day!!
I'm curious. Was the sextet the standard performance and recording lineup they settled upon? Would make sense I suppose given 6 players would've constituted a musically flexible and portable ensemble ( and a lot easier to rehearse than a full size symphony orchestra!) I see it includes a euphonium which is unusual but again makes sense given its range and " voicing".
Highly respected musicians being treated with respect and it's not even PBS!
Gil Johnson takes too many breaths in the wrong places.
jwhill7 it doesn’t interfere with the phrasing though. He had a distinguished career so give him a little respect sir.
Written like a true idiot jwhill7! You have no idea what you are talking about! Typical weak loser player has the audacity to criticize one of, if not, the best Principal Trumpet player any orchestra has ever had! You sir are simply an ignoramus!
guess what