Sydney Brass
Sunday 10 August, 2.00pm
Sydney Brass is one of Australia’s oldest and most respected chamber music ensembles. Formed in 1958 as The Sydney Brass Ensemble by Cliff Goodchild (Principal Tuba, SSO) with four of his colleagues from the brass section of the Sydney Symphony Orchestra, the ensemble gained an immediate reputation as a dynamic group of fine instrumentalists.
With the string and woodwind groups firmly established as chamber music ensembles possessing a vast repertoire, the brass quintet was quite new on the scene and relied mainly on arrangements to add to its limited repertoire. This, however, was to change with the commissioning of new works from Australian composers and with the overseas acceptance of the brass quintet saw many more original compositions written for this exciting new chamber music ensemble.
Unlike string and woodwind instruments, the sound of brass is very effective in a variety of spaces, large or small, indoor or outdoor any setting is ideal as no amplification is required. Be it background music or a resounding flourish of fanfares the sound of brass will enhance any occasion.
Being members of the SSO meant exposure on ABC Radio and Television as well as concerts and tours, often extending after a SSO tour through regional New South Wales and in association with Musica Viva.
With the increasing concert schedule of the SSO in the late 70’s,The Sydney Brass Ensemble slowed down its activities only to be reformed in 1987 by Cliff’s son Paul (Associate Principal Trumpet SSO). The newly formed Sydney Brass, as it is now known, comprises symphony and free-lance musicians who perform regularly with the major orchestra’s in Australia. With this versatility Sydney Brass is able to perform music from all facets and genres of music from Renaissance Gabrieli and Monteverdi through to modern popular musicals such as Leonard Bernstein’s West Side Story and hits from the Beatles, to name but a few.
Over the years Sydney Brass has premiered many new works written by overseas composers such as Malcolm Arnold, Eugene Bozza, Bernstein and Lutoslawski and in particular Australian composers Peter Sculthorpe, Ross Edwards, Barry McKimm, David Stanhope and in particular Alan Holley.
Members of Sydney Brass can be heard at The Sydney Opera House, Bell Shakespeare Company - Henry V, Potato Factory & On the Beach-TV Mini Series, numerous TV commercials, and many of the Festive occasions in and around Sydney. In 2001 members of Sydney Brass were featured during the Sydney Olympics performing at the Opening Ceremony celebrations and other special events during the Olympiad including the performance of Mahler’s 8th Symphony with the Sydney Symphony Orchestra in the Super Dome.
Wine is a popular hobby of the members of Sydney Brass and a significant portion of the concerts they give are in wine areas or wine related events such as Opera in the Vineyards, recitals in the Coonawarra for Leconfield, the Hunter Valley at Allendale, Bimbadgen, Blaxland’s Restaurant, McWilliam’s, Rothbury , the late Mr. Len Evans and other promotional events for the industry. In 2001 & 2004 they performed at 2 dinners for the Confrerie des Chevaliers du Tastevin at Sydney University and the Benelong Restaurant at the Sydney Opera House.
Most of the concerts by Sydney Brass are of an informal nature and are a mixture of popular classics, jazz and some pop, thus appealing to all ages and tastes.
){kind=link}