Dylan Humburg

MUSED 250
Dr. Palmer

Brass Artist Research Project

Philip Jones Brass Ensemble

London Brass

Philip Jones founded the Philip Jones Brass Ensemble in 1951.

This ensemble has been known for performing in major concert halls
and recording world-renowned pieces of music. The group has also
been a major influence for all brass chamber groups through many
different commissions and recordings of major works. Philip Johns was
a famous virtuoso trumpet player who had performed with many well
know groups such as the London Philharmonic and the BBC Symphony
Orchestra to name a few and was also known for his contributions to
solo pieces and solo performance. When Philip Jones left the group it
lead to the renaming of the ensemble to the London Brass and was
founded from many of the members from the Philip Jones Brass
Ensemble in 1986. Both of the groups I found to be extremely
influential to the standards of chamber groups now and contributions
to new music.
The Philip Jones Brass Ensemble started with two trumpets, a
horn, trombone, and tuba players. The group was committed to playing
music from the Renaissance, Baroque, Classical, Romanic, and Modern
music that ranged from brass trios to large ensembles. The PBJE has
also commissioned and premiered seventy works for brass ensembles.
Examples of these commissions are Lutoslawkis Mini Overture for
brass quintet and Langords London Miniatures for tentet. This set the
tone for many of the famous brass quintets known today. Empire Brass,

Canadian Brass, and Dallas Brass all seem to follow the same type of
playing standards of performance.
When the group disbanded it lead to the renaming of the London
Brass, which is comprised of a ten-piece ensemble of four trumpets,
one horn, four trombones, and one tuba. This group is known for
performing and promoting new experimental pieces such as Jay
Ardens Bayos Way. Andrew Crowley has been a member since 1987
and is the current manager of London Brass. He has been featured on
film tracks such as Gladiator, 007, Harry Potter, and Shrek. Gareth
Small, John Barclay, Dan Newell, Richard Bissill, Lindsay Shilling, Byron
Fulcher, Richard Edwards, David Stewart, and Oren Marshell have also
made significant careers playing in films, orchestras through out
London, and have held teaching careers at many different colleges for
music and universities. Many of the members have also made careers
in solo performing across London and the United States.
Resources

Perkins, John Delbert, 1962. "The Historical Development and

Influence of the Philip Jones Brass Ensemble, Emphasizing

Elgar Howarth and His Music." Web.

Palmer, John. London Brass. AllMusic. All Media Network.
Web. <http://www.allmusic.com/artist/london-brassmn0000938181/biography>

Discography

Christmas with London Brass [sound recording]

COMPACT DISC 19672- Bracken, Lower Level West

O come all ye faithful / John F. Wade (2:46) -- Es ist ein Ros'

entsprungen : German traditional (2:01)

Ding dong! merrily on high : 16th-century French (2:14)
Away in a manger / William J. Kirkpatrick (2:13) -- Veni,

veni, Emmanuel : 15th-century French (3:41)

Quem pastores laudavere : preludium and fugue : 14th-

century German (5:37)

Infant holy, infant lowly : Polish traditional (2:14)
Shepherd's pipe carol / John Rutter (2:43)
Coventry carol : 16th-century English (3:47)
In dulci jubilo : German traditional (2:15)
The first Nowell : English traditional (2:33)
Stille Nacht, heilige Nacht / Franz Gruber (3:50)
Gabriel's message : Basque traditional (2:02)
Joy to the world / Lowell Mason (1:58)
Winter from The four seasons, op. 8 no. 4 / Antonio Vivaldi

(8:37)
It came upon a midnight clear / Richard Storrs Willis (2:32)

Festive cheer. Sleigh ride / Leroy Anderson ; Have yourself

a merry little Christmas / Hugh Martin, Ralph Blane ; Jingle
bells / J. Pierpont ; We wish you a merry Christmas (6:35).