What is standard instrumentation for brass ensemble?

adamcz · Posted: Mon May 03, 2004 8:56 am Post subject:

Is there a standard instrumentation for brass ensembles? I can any instrumentation performed while I'm in school, but I might as well write stuff that could be performed elsewhere as well. I assume it's something like 3 trumpets, 3 trombones, tuba, 4 horns, 2-3 percussion? Thanks for any insight, -Adam

adamcz · Posted: Mon May 03, 2004 9:06 am Post subject:

Also, what are some great recordings of Brass Ensemble music I could check out? I have that one of Gabrieli which I love, but I want to hear some newer stuff.

trumpetmike · Posted: Mon May 03, 2004 9:12 am Post subject:

Simple answer - probably yes
Complex answer - No!

The Brass Quintet is fairly set in stone - 2 trumpets, horn, trombone and tuba.
There is a standard 10-piece line-up (as popularised by the Philip Jones Brass Ensemble) of 4 trumpets, horn, 3 trombones, bass trombone and tuba.
Larger than that is where problems tend to arise.
The larger ensembles can be like the 10-piece line-up but with 4 horns, not just the one.
You can also get arrangements which use 6 trumpets and 2 (sometimes even 3) tubas, maybe with one doubling on euphonium.
The way I arrange is to find out what the ensemble has and then write for that. Luckily at Surrey Brass ( http://www.surreybrass.co.uk ), we have quite an extensive range of players and instruments available - 6 trumpets, 4 horns, 3 trombones (including one who doubles on euphonium), bass trombone and two tubas. If I know that we have all of us available for a gig, I will utilise everybody, if it is appropriate.

As for percussion - no rules apply!
It all depends how many players you have got, what instruments they play, what instruments you have available.

Wish it was simpler than that!

trumpetmike · Posted: Mon May 03, 2004 9:16 am Post subject:

As for recordings;
Philip Jones Brass Ensemble (the classic large brass ensemble)
Summit Brass
London Brass
Locke Brass Ensemble
German Brass
WashingtonSymphonic Brass

oh, and (of course

)
Surrey Brass (blatant plug, sorry!!)

StewMuse · Posted: Mon May 03, 2004 9:28 am Post subject:

While I was playing with and then conducting the Chicago Brass Choir (1996-2002), we were primarily a 4 per part, plus euph and tuba. The literature we performed, however, varied greatly, anywhere from 7 - 15 players. There is no real "standard" size. From an arranging standpoint, I usually focus on a slightly smaller (maybe 4,2,3,1,1), since horns tend be more scarce (and finicky!). You can also write for the full ensemble, but make the 4th parts always covered elsewhere in the ensemble.

http://www.chicagobrasschoir.com

for recordings (Pictures at an Exhibition, A Mighty Fortress, others)
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riffdawg2000 · Posted: Tue May 04, 2004 3:49 am Post subject:

The ensemble I play in is a Community/University group and our standard instrumentation is usually like this:

8-trumpets (sometimes mixed keyed-trumpet parts and piccolos)
8-horns
3-trombones
2-euphoniums
3-tubas

Large group, yes. But we do seem to be able to play a lot of Gabrieli's Antiphonal brass type music. (with full choirs)

Some have said that the ensemble is too large. Uh…yes and no. We have a lot of strong players, but a few community players that are on the weaker side or have a skewed concept of tone. All in all, that is okay…it’s a community group! Overall, we end up sounding pretty good considering none of us are symphony professionals.

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Joel Thomas

riffdawg2000 · Posted: Tue May 04, 2004 3:50 am Post subject:

The ensemble I play in is a Community/University group and our standard instrumentation is usually like this:

8-trumpets (sometimes mixed keyed-trumpet parts and piccolos)
8-horns
3-trombones
2-euphoniums
3-tubas

Large group, yes. But we do seem to be able to play a lot of Gabrieli's Antiphonal brass type music. (with full choirs)

Some have said that the ensemble is too large. Uh…yes and no. We have a lot of strong players, but a few community players that are on the weaker side or have a skewed concept of tone. All in all, that is okay…it’s a community group! Overall, we end up sounding pretty good considering none of us are symphony professionals.

_________________
Joel Thomas

StewMuse · Posted: Tue May 04, 2004 4:34 am Post subject:

Joel/RiffDawg -

Is that the number of players or actual independent parts???

KevinInGeorgia · Posted: Tue May 04, 2004 6:39 am Post subject:

In referance to Emory Brass Ensemble
It's the number of Players..
Some of the pieces have 6 or 8 trumpet parts..( Janiek)
A lot of the the Gabrieli it done with One of the trumpets & one of the Horns helping on the 1st or 2nd part of each Choir.
Some of the Sutff we do is insane.. ( V. Williams Fantasia on a Theme by Thomas Tallis)

It is a fun ensemble to play in I played in it 2 semesters ago but was unable to do it this past semester.
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Sounds of Sawnee Community Band

“Heroes turn into martyrs on this instrument.” ~ William Vacchiano

adamcz · Posted: Wed May 05, 2004 4:23 pm Post subject:

Thanks for the useful replies guys. I picked up a bunch of recordings from the library, and was able to find the scores to Schuller's brass symphony, and Carter's quintet (not the instrumentation I want, but still very helpful to me). I wish I could find more scores... I guess I should check out the public library at Lincoln Center.
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