Tower Music for Brass Quintet

Douglas Townsend

About this work:
Commissioned by trumpeter Maurice Peress for his brass quintet, the piece was world premiered in Manhattan at the Carl Fischer Concert Hall on September 18, 1957, by the Chamber Brass Players (Maurice Peress and Gary Goren, trumpeters; Ralph Owen Froehlich, French horn; Alan Raph, trombone; and Jay McAllister, tuba.) "Mr. Townsend's piece demonstrated the composer's technical skill and also his fondness for astringent polyphonic writing." (NYTimes, 9/19/57) "Townsend's venture into an uncommon medium has produced a happy result. During the course of his five little movements one hears music that is suitably solemn and ceremonial, a sturdy fugue, a sprightly folklike tune, and - best of all , perhaps - an amusing parody of a conventional march for a conventional band." (NYHeraldTribune 9/19/57) The Chamber Brass Players also performed the piece outdoors from the New York University Judson Residence Tower on Washington Square Park South. (NYTimes 6/30/57) (Village Voice 6/26/57) Originally published by E.C. Kerby of Canada.
Year composed: 1957
Duration: 00:15:00
Ensemble type: Chamber or Jazz Ensemble, Without Voice:Brass Quintet
Instrumentation: 1 Horn in F, 2 Trumpet, 1 Trombone, 1 Tuba
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