In memory of my friend Rolf Smedvig...all the wonderful times we spent together in Hong Kong and in West Stockbridge...yours and my family...You are always in our hearts.
You guys were the best there ever was, Jeff. You set a bar that none of us have been able to reach since. Feel so lucky to have seen you all play so many times.
Played this for my Brass Lit class today at Shenandoah and blew some minds. BTW Lance and I have interviewed Scott and Marty already for The Brass Junkies. You will be getting a call soon!
There’s a fascinating YT post with Empire playing an open rehearsal at Tanglewood in 88 or 89. It was filmed very nicely on a camcorder by Jon Dante (actually by his mom!)
Rest in peace, Rolf. Thanks, Jeff. We've never met, but I played (trumpet) in the very first Empire Brass Quintet Symposium at Tanglewood, way back when when Charlie Lewis was the other trumpet player in 1979. We even had t-shirts with the year, before they realized that they couldn't reuse them(!). I went again in '81, and then again when Tim Morrison was playing. The memories of worshiping at the feet of Rolf -- and laughing when Tim or Charlie or Sam told him to go f&^% himself -- are absolutely vivid. I loved the guy and wanted to smack him in the face for being so good. God rest his soul. He gave a lot of us a lot of music.
Rich Tapper I was there around the same time....Charlie on trumpet, Sam on Tuba, David on horn (he used to have a Porsche with the license plate 'bathtub' I think), don't remember who was on trombone.... Caught a ride from campus to the shed with Sieji Ozawa in a honda accord....waht a blast it all was.
Ron Lipson Probably Norman Bolter on trombone. Or Mark Lawrence a little later. Maybe Scott Hartman. When I was 15, there was a rehearsal down the hill at Indian Hill and the EBQ was in a hurry. David Ohanian threw me the keys to his black, convertible Porsche that we all envied him and asked me to drive it down to the rehearsal. I just stared at the keys in my hand for about a minute before he came to his senses and asked me if I could drive. Sorry, Rich. Maybe next time. That was all indeed a blast. All day long, every day.
Amazing. I went to Tanglewood with Simon Bolivar Symphony on 1987 as first oboe. In this concert I was already in Europe. There are many photos on the net. When I heard you the first time in 1987 you changed my life. In fact I was going to Boston University. For technical reasons I went to CNSM De Lyon and RNCM Manchester
That's amazing performance...back in Russia we were so much wanted to hear them live and all their recordings were distributed among real musicians lightning fast...thanks for posting that...Ralf and I should say all guys are just amazing ! Thank you so much for posting that!!!
Thank you for posting this. Rolf's father, Egil, was my band and orchestra teacher in the 8th and 9th grades. I sat next to his sister, Jodene in Orchestra in High School, and had Rolf in various Orchestras for 4 years. He was certainly something even then. I'm sorry that we lost him so soon.
Yeah I got mixed up. Rolf Smedvig was married to Caroline Elisabeth Hessberg (who did for a while work for the BSO). Caroline later married James Taylor.
What a terrific ensemble. Not just hearing but watching them, I get a feeling of utter unity, and of complete, modest, and un-showy devotion to the music. Maybe I'm wrong, and a VH1 'Behind The Music' special would actually reveal a group drenched in the typical cesspool of ugliness, backbiting, vice, and pathology... But somehow I don't think so.
I am Japanese big fan of the Empire Brass. Your name 's the name of the second trumpeter. Hhhh I think the days of this member was the best in the Empire Brass. Rolf's a yearning of the person for me.
Let me admit how much better it sounded at the Lincoln Theater at Hartford University. They have a real good music school there, but I was just attending the music camp.
Beautiful! Is that a c trumpet? I've played d trumpet & piccole trumpet. I've played fluegelhorn and shofar. But I've never played one that short. What is it? You are so masterful on it. Thank you Jeffrey.
Not me but Rolf is playing a Schilke G piccolo trumpet with the optional large bell. Nice trumpet for this type of work and does sound like a C trumpet with the larger bell. Thanks for the kind words.
Rolf’s tone, technique & phrasing were remarkable. And yet there’s component missing. Call it spirituality, romance, humility, gratitude. I don’t know. But his determination to win at all costs prevents him from making a connection with the listener in a way that, say, a Charlier etude of Håkan can.
I come back to this recording frequently to remember what the gold standard for brass quintet is. You guys are the greatest there ever was.
Gold standard is right.
In memory of my friend Rolf Smedvig...all the wonderful times we spent together in Hong Kong and in West Stockbridge...yours and my family...You are always in our hearts.
You guys were the best there ever was, Jeff. You set a bar that none of us have been able to reach since. Feel so lucky to have seen you all play so many times.
Thanks, Andrew!
Played this for my Brass Lit class today at Shenandoah and blew some minds. BTW Lance and I have interviewed Scott and Marty already for The Brass Junkies. You will be getting a call soon!
So true. Well said!!
question for you, as i'm also about to redpill a brass quintet here: where is this performance in your list of top live brass performances?
For such an old video recording to sound so good it must have been UNREAL to hear live.
There’s a fascinating YT post with Empire playing an open rehearsal at Tanglewood in 88 or 89. It was filmed very nicely on a camcorder by Jon Dante (actually by his mom!)
Talk about a stunning line of trombonists they had: Bolter, Lawrence, Hartman, Doug Wright...
Glorious as always!
I miss "THIS" group.
The virtuosity starting around 8:04 is stunning and those trills at the beginning (0:24) are unbelievable!
Rest in peace, Rolf. Thanks, Jeff. We've never met, but I played (trumpet) in the very first Empire Brass Quintet Symposium at Tanglewood, way back when when Charlie Lewis was the other trumpet player in 1979. We even had t-shirts with the year, before they realized that they couldn't reuse them(!). I went again in '81, and then again when Tim Morrison was playing. The memories of worshiping at the feet of Rolf -- and laughing when Tim or Charlie or Sam told him to go f&^% himself -- are absolutely vivid. I loved the guy and wanted to smack him in the face for being so good. God rest his soul. He gave a lot of us a lot of music.
Rich Tapper I was there around the same time....Charlie on trumpet, Sam on Tuba, David on horn (he used to have a Porsche with the license plate 'bathtub' I think), don't remember who was on trombone....
Caught a ride from campus to the shed with Sieji Ozawa in a honda accord....waht a blast it all was.
Ron Lipson Probably Norman Bolter on trombone. Or Mark Lawrence a little later. Maybe Scott Hartman. When I was 15, there was a rehearsal down the hill at Indian Hill and the EBQ was in a hurry. David Ohanian threw me the keys to his black, convertible Porsche that we all envied him and asked me to drive it down to the rehearsal. I just stared at the keys in my hand for about a minute before he came to his senses and asked me if I could drive. Sorry, Rich. Maybe next time. That was all indeed a blast. All day long, every day.
Rich Tapper Yeah, I think it was Mark Lawrence...Wow, reading your post brought back memories.
Thanks, Rich!
Amazing. I went to Tanglewood with Simon Bolivar Symphony on 1987 as first oboe. In this concert I was already in Europe. There are many photos on the net. When I heard you the first time in 1987 you changed my life. In fact I was going to Boston University. For technical reasons I went to CNSM De Lyon and RNCM Manchester
That's amazing performance...back in Russia we were so much wanted to hear them live and all their recordings were distributed among real musicians lightning fast...thanks for posting that...Ralf and I should say all guys are just amazing ! Thank you so much for posting that!!!
Best quintet arrangement ever made. Loved the trumpet part.
Best brass quintet of all time
Thanks!
Ejecución fantástica muy buena
Handel should be proud & happy after listening this excellent performance...
splendidi come sempre bravissimi eccellente quintetto
Hi Jeffrey, I was in that concert, I remember that chage my music life for ever,
as a trumpeter in h.s. performing this piece, it changed my life, too. i found JOY!
nice... legendary players .
Thank you for posting this. Rolf's father, Egil, was my band and orchestra teacher in the 8th and 9th grades. I sat next to his sister, Jodene in Orchestra in High School, and had Rolf in various Orchestras for 4 years. He was certainly something even then. I'm sorry that we lost him so soon.
Egil Smedvig was my teacher as well, but a few years later. I played in the school orchestra when Rolf's sister Siri was the star violinist.
Isn’t one of those sisters married to James Taylor?
@@us-Bahn Not that I'm aware of.
Yeah I got mixed up. Rolf Smedvig was married to Caroline Elisabeth Hessberg (who did for a while work for the BSO). Caroline later married James Taylor.
What a terrific ensemble. Not just hearing but watching them, I get a feeling of utter unity, and of complete, modest, and un-showy devotion to the music. Maybe I'm wrong, and a VH1 'Behind The Music' special would actually reveal a group drenched in the typical cesspool of ugliness, backbiting, vice, and pathology... But somehow I don't think so.
Thank you!
Jeff play trumpet is the icon of Empire Brass~
Props to the entire group. Fine playing. And Curnow, ....., the Hair! :-)
This was so awesome to see on Mister Roger's Neighborhood!
Hey, Jeff. No joy in Mudville. Great vids. Rolf was always magical with that G picc.
I like how Rolf looks at Sam at 7:22 like "Wow, we nailed it."
The horn is stunning
The horn player must surely be Martin (Marty) Hackleman.
Thank you Jeff. I love Empire Brass's videos.
I am Japanese big fan of the Empire Brass.
Your name 's the name of the second trumpeter. Hhhh
I think the days of this member was the best in the Empire Brass.
Rolf's a yearning of the person for me.
Great whistling music.
I thank god i thank germany for such a great Composer!
Let me admit how much better it sounded at the Lincoln Theater at Hartford University. They have a real good music school there, but I was just attending the music camp.
The best quintet ever.
What fine tone, superb performance.
Wow! The best!
Rest In Peace Sam Pilafian
Excellent!
Pretty good
Muy lindo. Gracias
Beautiful! Is that a c trumpet? I've played d trumpet & piccole trumpet. I've played fluegelhorn and shofar. But I've never played one that short. What is it? You are so masterful on it. Thank you Jeffrey.
Not me but Rolf is playing a Schilke G piccolo trumpet with the optional large bell. Nice trumpet for this type of work and does sound like a C trumpet with the larger bell. Thanks for the kind words.
Lubię taką muzykę .....
9:15
We're these guys on Mr. Roger's Neighborhood back in the 80s? It seems as if I remember seeing then on there! Can someone please confirm or deny?
This is great Mr Curnow is this arrangement published ?
I guess you came for 9:15
Hey Jeffrey, I grabbed the audio from this and reduced the hissing noise if you want to edit the video. Let me know if you want the new mp3 to use.
Can the hair dresser get a shout out?
in the Handel period the keeless trumpet play trill?
Rolf’s tone, technique & phrasing were remarkable. And yet there’s component missing. Call it spirituality, romance, humility, gratitude. I don’t know. But his determination to win at all costs prevents him from making a connection with the listener in a way that, say, a Charlier etude of Håkan can.
hello of venezuela
Which water suite is this please ?
The video is such a crappy quality but the audio is wonderful!
What kind of piccolo trumpet is he playing?
It's in a reply to cindypollard above
It's nice to see a quintet solely devote their energy to great music and not running around in ballerina outfits like a certain other famous quintet.
Although I think we all can enjoy a cross dressing tubist every so often.
IMO they’re trumpets are the best but not the tuba or horn
Of course I’m speaking of the best groups in the world so I’m not calling them bad at all. They’re phenomenal
When was this performed?
Sorry for getting to this so late, Mike. Had to be 1988 or '89.
Michael Zonshine Simón Bolívar orquesta from venezuela