Philip Jones Brass Ensemble

The Philip Jones Brass Ensemble is a brass orchestra, which was founded in 1951 by Philip Jones in England and had great influence on the brass music. It formed the basis for the development of similar high- ensembles such as Canadian Brass, Empire Brass, German Brass, Swiss Brass Consort and many more. It was abolished in 1986, but was based from its members, the ensemble London Brass.

History and Repertoire

Philip Jones (1928-2000) was a trumpet player who played at major London orchestras. He began his career at Covent Garden Orchestra in London in 1948. The idea to establish a Brass Ensemble, Philip Jones came while he was one of the countless bars as a young trumpet player in the orchestra of the Royal Opera House in Covent Garden, where he nothing had to do.

"I was about two years in the orchestra pit at Covent Garden, after I had left the university. I was bored thrilled to sit in the background and at best to play for 15 minutes in the evening, and only if it meant the composer well with me "(quote Philip Jones)

1950s and 1960s

In 1951, Jones founded named after him Philip Jones Brass Ensemble ( PJBE ). In the beginning, the PJBE from a quintet ( two trumpets and three trombones ) for Renaissance and Baroque music as well as a quartet ( two trumpets, horn and trombone) for new music. The PJBE was formed from members of the leading London orchestras.

In 1961, Philip Jones and Elgar Howarth formed ( trumpets ), Ifor James ( horn ), John Iveson (trombone ) and John Fletcher ( tuba) a Brass quintet. At the beginning of the 1970s the PJBE became a concert tour to Switzerland invited ( Philip Jones wife Ursula Strebi was Swiss ). However, the concert organizer was looking for something larger than a quintet what other musicians were involved: Michael Laird (trumpet ), Roger Brenner, Eric Crees, David Purser (trombone) and Raymond Premru (bass trombone ). John Iveson was on this tour in Switzerland, not in it.

After this tour, the PJBE was supplemented by a fourth trumpet. Since then, played the PJBE in his typical cast of four trumpets, a horn, four trombones and a tuba. However, the ensemble was flexible for any type of music in its cast. So it played for Mussorgsky's Pictures at an Exhibition in a thirty -member cast or for the CD with marches of the famous American composer John Philip Sousa in a specially constructed " Philip Jones Wind Ensemble" ( band).

The ensemble played predominantly Baroque Music for Brass, especially works by Giovanni Gabrieli and Johann Pezelius. During the first years - in the 60s and 70s - the ensemble was in high demand for performances of choral works by Monteverdi and other composers. During this time, an active collaboration with the London Bach Choir was formed.

1970s and 1980s

Since hardly any literature for this instrumentation was available, had the repertoire from the Renaissance to contemporary music arranged or composed are. Among the composers and arrangers for the PJBE include: Ray Premru, Elgar Howarth, John Iveson, Stephen Dogson Jan Koetsier, John McCabe and Victor Ewald.

One of the most important commissioned works of PJBE was the work of " Divertimento " by the American Komponistern and bass trombonist of PJBE Raymond Premru from the year 1976. Known is Chris Hazell 's four-movement work " Brass Cats Suite" ( Mr. Jums, Black Sam, Borage, octopus ), in which the composer each of his four cats portrayed musically.

A large part of the repertoire of PJBE were transcriptions of classical works, including Elgar Howarth's arrangement of Modest Mussorgsky's " Pictures at an Exhibition ", which premiered in 1979 and took up the PJBE. However, the ensemble commissioned composers such as Hans Werner Henze, Richard Rodney Bennett and Toru Takemitsu with new works. Toru Takemitsu 's work " Garden Rain" was the first work for the typical occupation of PJBE ( four trumpets, horn, four trombones and tuba). "Garden Rain" was later rewritten for Brass Band and first recorded by the Grimethorpe.

Compositions and arrangements that have arisen for the Philip Jones Brass Ensemble, were edited and published by Elgar Howarth and Philip Jones in the series " Just Brass " from Chester Music, London. With this series, an instrument for the development and diffusion for wind ensemble was created.

Successful tours through Japan, the Middle and Far East, Australia and Europe are evidence of their activities, leaving a large following. The ensemble went regularly once a year on a European tour, every other year in the United States and Japan and appeared at major international festivals. The ensemble has played for Pope John Paul II during his visit to England in May 1982 in Canterbury and Westminster Cathedral. The Philip Jones Brass Ensemble was the first brass ensemble, which appeared in the world's most famous and largest concert halls and thus achieved a worldwide reputation. In addition, registered the PJBE first brass ensemble in the known record labels recordings. A total of 60 photographs were taken.

After Philip Jones in 1986 accidentally with his car rolled over his trumpet case, he decided to take on the concert stage farewell. As a result, the ensemble disbanded.

Will continue as London Brass

Roger Harvey and David Purser decided to fill the gap, and founded in 1986 a follow - ensemble under the name London Brass. The founding members of London Brass included:

  • Rod Franks ( trumpet)
  • Nigel Gomm (trumpet )
  • Mark Bennett (trumpet )
  • Robert Farley (trumpet )
  • Frank Lloyd ( horn)
  • Roger Harvey (trombone)
  • David Purser (trombone)

Members

Conductor (for larger projects )

  • Elgar Howarth
  • John Iveson

Trumpet

  • Philip Jones
  • Elgar Howarth
  • John Wilbraham
  • Michael Laird
  • Howard Snell
  • Norman Archibald
  • Lawrence Evans
  • Graham Whiting
  • Peter Reeve
  • John Wallace
  • James Watson
  • Maurice Murphy
  • Stanley Woods
  • William Houghton
  • Paul Archibald
  • Harry Dilley
  • Joseph Atkins
  • Nigel Gomm
  • John Miller
  • Rod Franks
  • Graham Ashton

Horn

  • Ifor James
  • Anthony Randall
  • John Pigneguy
  • James Buck
  • Julian Baker
  • Anthony Chidell
  • Christian Rutherford
  • Frank Ryecroft
  • Patrick Steevens
  • Frank Lloyd
  • James Handy

Trombone

  • Raymond Premru
  • Raymond Brown
  • Roger burner
  • John Iveson
  • Harold Nash
  • David Purser
  • Eric Crees
  • Denis Wick
  • Peter Gane
  • Peter Harvey
  • David Moore
  • Derek James
  • Colin Sheen
  • Stephen Saunders
  • David Stewart
  • Roger Harvey
  • Christopher Mowat
  • Christopher Steele - Perkins

Tuba

Percussion

  • James Holland
  • Alan Cumberland
  • David Corkhill
  • Carry Kettel
  • Michael Skinner
  • Norman Taylor
  • Stephen Henderson
  • David Johnson
  • Robert Howarth

Discography

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