One of Venezuela's most impressive educational programs in the world is the music program from El Sistema. They are known for making exceptionally talented musicians, that are in important positions across the world. The Venezuelan Brass Ensemble drawn musicians from the Simón Bolivar Youth Orchestra and assemble this group with almost 50 brass instruments and percussion. This is an arrangement of Mussorgsky's Pictures at an Exhibition, arranged for this specific ensemble.
Next, I'd like to talk about Histoire du Soldat. This composition of Igor Stravinsky is composed for an octet and a narrator telling the story of this soldier who met the devil. Some may argue that this is not in fact a brass ensemble because it only has one trumpet (originally written for cornet) and one trombone in adition to the clarinet, bassoon, violin, bass and percussion. It is nonetheless a very interesting piece.
Never stop swingin'!
That Venezuelan Brass Ensemble looks insane! I have to commend the group on such a homegenous sound, especially the trumpet section! I see rotaries, pistons, off brand e-flats and a piccolo, all seemingly without a common brand or model. Very impressive!
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