If you're not completely hooked by the strikingly realistic antiphonal sound or the breathtakingly virtuosic playing in the first 30 seconds of this remarkable recording, then check your equipment--your ears and your sound system. Even if you're not normally a brass ensemble fan, you are certain to take this terrific disc and its perfectly chosen and organized program into your innermost circle of demonstration favorites. The Canadian Brass (with its one remaining original member, tuba player Charles Daellenbach) brings its usual polish and panache to these arrangements of Gabrieli, Scheidt, and Monteverdi--although the polish aspect seems to have a brighter-than-ever sheen, an even better-defined edge that leaves you with no words, just the impression that you're in the presence of superhuman musicianship.

The Brass is joined by another ensemble, a trio called Echo Brass, and by Toronto-based organist Eric Robertson for several tracks, and the collaborations are perfectly conceived and judiciously balanced in the very agreeable acoustic of Toronto's Christ Church Deer Park. While the lion's share of praise must go to these amazing brass players (Gabrieli certainly would be envious!), the engineering team has to be commended for its part in creating what can only be described as a sonic masterpiece. Sensational!

--David Vernier, ClassicsToday.com

Canadian Brass, the world's most popular brass ensemble, collaborates with ArkivMusic for the third time (after Christmas Tradition and Manhattan Music) in this new recording featuring the music of Gabrieli. Made in conjunction with ArkivMusic and exclusively available from us in the U.S., Echo - Glory of Gabrieli displays the Brass's more serious side with an album exploring the Baroque innovations pioneered by Gabrieli at Venice's Basilica San Marco. Because of the Basilica's unique design, which included two choir lofts separated by a cavernous interior, it was difficult for choirs to sing in unison. Gabrieli used this to his advantage in his music for brass, creating works where one brass choir echoes or responds to the other -- a technique that proved immensely popular in his time and is recreated in our own by Canadian Brass.

In the words of Canadian Brass founding member Chuck Daellenbach, “Most Gabrieli-era recordings are blast fests -- fun to be part of, but not that wonderful to listen to, and certainly not authentic. When we started this project, I urged all participants, starting with the adapters/arrangers, to exercise intelligent authenticity. Simply stated, I wanted a result that took advantage of modern instruments without sacrificing the musical intent of the composers. Consequently, we observed as best we could the scholarship that abounds regarding this period, and combined it with advances in instrument quality, performer standards, and of course, state-of-the-art recording techniques.”

"This is a magnificent program of spatial Renaissance brass music performed by brass players who are probably far better, and playing on greatly improved instruments to those available in 16th century Venice." -- Audiophile Audition

Also available: Christmas Tradition / Canadian Brass
Recorded in 2007 especially for ArkivMusic, this disc of holiday music from the world's favorite brass ensemble gives some treasured arrangements from the past a brand-new shine.