Notes and Editorial Reviews
Naxos continue to debouch releases at a monthly rate that in terms of pure numbers puts into the shade the companies that history tells us are majors. It does this at a single low price-point too. Gone is the premium category Marco Polo label; its treasury of recordings now appearing piecemeal on Naxos alongside completely new recordings. Long may this continue. This Gomalan Brass extravaganza appears for the first time.
The people at Naxos are an astute bunch and know good opportunities when they see them. The present disc is there for pleasure – mostly fun - often scatty fun. This is not for the strait-laced. You can gather this from their previous issues on Summit. Gomalan Brass whoop it up with the casual mastery of
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virtuosos. The instruments, including the most ungainly, sing, bark, lament and exult. Everything is spot-on yet not in the way of stultifying perfection – with the delight rehearsed out of existence. Instead the playing is full of character and individuality. More than that: each of the five players registers as an engaging presence even in the accompanimental lines.
The recording is nothing short of superb – never a moment of distortion. This is not really my sort of disc – at least not at first blush. I wouldn’t normally go for brass quintet recitals – yet it’s a delight! The Bernstein is a triumph in every department. I had a few reservations about the Barber which translates awkwardly from its original string choir. As for the rest of the tracks they are tirelessly enjoyable – the most impressive being the Indiana Jones medley.
I hope that there will be other Gomalan CDs. Would that Marco Pierobon turns his attention to Bill Conti’s exuberant Dynasty theme for that exultant hymn to 1980s excess. Who can forget the part played in that call-to-glamour by studio trumpeter Bob DiVall, long of the LA Phil. Then again, having romped through John Williams, why not step back to the 1940s and go for a Korngold medley. Don’t forget to include the scherzo from the Korngold symphony.
Whoop it up with the Gomalan. Not for purists but none of this disc is.
-- Rob Barnett, MusicWeb International
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Works on This Recording
1.
West Side Story: Suite by Leonard Bernstein
Orchestra/Ensemble:
Gomalan Brass Quintet
Period: 20th Century
Written: 1957; USA
Notes: Arranged: Marco Pierobon
2.
Adagio for Strings, Op. 11 by Samuel Barber
Orchestra/Ensemble:
Gomalan Brass Quintet
Period: 20th Century
Written: 1936; Rome, Italy
Notes: Arranged: Stephen McNeff
3.
Space Brass by Marco Pierobon
Orchestra/Ensemble:
Gomalan Brass Quintet
Period: 20th Century
Notes: This work is based on themes by John Williams, Jerry Goldsmith and David Arnold.
5.
The Simpsons: Main theme by Danny Elfman
Orchestra/Ensemble:
Gomalan Brass Quintet
Period: 20th Century
Notes: Arranged: Marco Pierobon
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