Author: Andy Sutton

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Introducing Dave Powell

This week our spotlight falls onto two pieces that have been arranged for us by tuba player, organist, composer, and good friend of the group, Dave Powell. A former member of the ground-breaking jazz band/collective Loose Tubes, Dave has also composed for Onyx Brass, most notably the large scale Symbols at your Door that is on the recording, Onyx Noir.

For his two arrangements though we fall back to more traditional styles and draw on his experience as a keyboard player.

First, is the ebullient transcription of William Byrd’s set of variations on Sellinger’s Round. Originally included in the Fitzwilliam Virginal Book, Dave Transcription is a perfect piece to explore counterpoint for all intermediate or advanced quintets.

Second, is the sublime and ultimately uplifting chorale prelude by JS Bach, Nun Komm der Heiden Heiland. In what is an exercise in holding back the full glory of this piece until the very end, Nun komm has become one of our most popular works to perform. This arrangement uses each instrument perfectly to enhance the whole and when we presented our 25th Birthday Concert, this piece was chosen by three out of five us as our individual favourite to perform!

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It’s Flugelhorn Time

A Song of Guadalupe – Torbjörn Hultmark, Onyx Brass

For our two featured pieces this week, we have decided to show some music that uses the flugelhorn. The use of this mellow instrument is optional in both pieces however it will definitely add a new dimension to your concert. Why bring the horn along for just one piece when you could use it for two!

First, and featured in the YouTube video is Torbjörn Hultmark’s A Song of Guadalupe. A long time friend of the group, Torbjörn’s composition is a melancholic number based around Latin American harmonies and rhythm and is primarily a solo number that features the first trumpet or flugelhorn.

Second, is another Tim Jackson arrangement called Five Shakespeare Songs and is a suite of pieces composed around the time of the Bard for use during the performance of Romeo and Juliet. The second movement, Heart’s Ease, is the one of particular interest for the flugel and introduces a more contemporary tone into the renaissance sound world. Again optional, the last movement gives the trumpets a chance to pull another instrument out of the bag, this time the piccolo trumpet.

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Featured Pieces this week from Pavans Fantasias Variations

Album Cover Pavan Fantasias Variations

Our featured pieces this week are taken from the Onyx Brass recording, Pavans Fantasias Variations. Recorded over twenty years ago it was a juxtaposition of old and new, with music by Dowland, Purcell, Martland and Michael Berkeley.

The first piece is a transcription by Tim Jackson of five movements from John Dowland’s Flow my Teares, and features the hauntingly beautiful variations on Lachrimae Antiquae, contrasted with two sprightly galliards to lighten the mood.

The second is an arrangement by David Gordon Shute of Henry Purcell’s Fantasia upon One Note. In what is a fantastically simple concept, the one note is passed around the quintet while Purcell’s FantasIa is played around it.

I hope you enjoy our little trip to the Renaissance.

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OBP makes it to Instagram

Since we’ve been selling our music, we’ve slowly tried to increase our online presence so we are happy to announce that to add to out Twitter and Facebook presence we now have opened an Instagram account to go with them.

All three sites will now run more separately from the main Onyx Brass sites so not to put people off with sheet music related goings on here at OBP. Click on the icons at the bottom of the page to be taken to your preferred social media channel and keep up with new releases, offers and voucher codes.

To celebrate we are offering 10% off the C major fugues from Bach and Shostakovich, hard copy and download.

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Bach C major Fugue featured on BBC R3

On Sunday 3rd January, the Onyx Brass recording of Bach’s C major fugue was broadcast on BBC Radio 3. Featured on the Sunday Morning programme, Sarah Walker, the presenter commented on the “lovely, sonorous arrangement” and the “fresh, organic growth” of the performance, making it so suitable to herald in the New Year. Visit the BBC website to listen again.

The music as always is available in hard copy and download. Click the Shop Now button below to purchase.

Fugue BWV 846 in C Major by JS Bach arr. David Gordon Shute DOWNLOAD

Fugue BWV 846 in C Major by JS Bach arr. David Gordon Shute DOWNLOAD

This piece is also available as a physical product.

£15.00
Shop now
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Extra 5% off Shostakovich Fugues

It will soon be 20th December and the end of the OBP sale will be upon us. So to mark this we thought that we would make all of the Shostakovich Fugues 30% off. Just add the code SHOST30 at the checkout to take advantage. What’s more you can still get 25% off everything else at the same time by adding the sale code 25OFF.

To give you an idea of what the amazing, melancholic, and epic fugues of Shostakovich sound like on brass, here’s a little teaser video with all ten that are available mashed into one 2:30 ad. The sound comes from our Chandos recording Fugue.

For those interested in the order:
1, G major
2, B minor
3, D major
4, A flat major
5, E minor
6, C major
7, G minor
8, G sharp minor
9, D flat major
10, D minor

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30% reduction on Christmas music for 1 week only

Starting on the 1st December, we will be offering all Christmas music on OBP at 30% off. You will still be able to get 25% off everything else with the ongoing sale, but as Christmas only comes but once a year, an extra 5% will be available on anything within the Christmas category. This means you can get some of the music at prices as low as £7! Click here to view.

To take advantage of this offer, use the code XMAS30 at the checkout, and to help you decide, below is little Spotify playlist highlighting what you could receive. However do hurry as this special offer only lasts until 8th December. When using both codes, enter them separately by using the coupon link at the top of the checkout page.

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Inevitable Outcome soon to be released

“…the finest young jazz musician this country has produced.”

Stuart Nicholson, Jazz: The Modern Resurgence

Soon to be released from our most recent recording, Onyx Noir, is the music to Jason Rebello’s Inevitable Outcome. In the few years since it was written, it has become already one of our most popular pieces, and we’re sure all groups will enjoy rehearsing and performing Jason’s original blend of styles.

Have a listen!

To see the product click here