Sony Releases German Brass Christmas Album

 Sony Releases German Brass Christmas Album

Each of them is one of the best in his field and plays full-time in the top German orchestras of Hamburg, Berlin, Stuttgart and Munich. The eleven top musicians are just as successful as "German Brass". On trumpets, trombones, horns and tubas, this formation, founded in 1974, offers unique, unrivaled musical enjoyment with its inimitable interplay. in 2016, the jury of the German Phono Academy therefore recognized the outstanding musical achievements of this ensemble and awarded German Brass the ECHO KLASSIK in the category "Ensemble / Orchestra".

In keeping with the Advent and Christmas season, German Brass now presents an album of the most beautiful and wonderful Christmas songs. The arrangements range from Bach chorales to "St. Petersburg Sleigh Ride". German Christmas classics like "O Tannenbaum" and "Leise rieselt der Schnee" resound and resound. And the international Christmas songs and melodies also include "Let it snow" by Jule Styne and "La Califfa" by Ennio Morricone. Entertaining, with a lot of joy in playing and on the highest musical level, the exceptional musicians on their album "It's Christmas Time" offer an atmospheric musical experience in a class of its own.

Based on the idea of shaking off musical constraints and creating their own music, the German Brass Quintet was formed in 1974, which later became German Bass. This initial quintet paved the way for a new chamber music formation for brass players. in 1984, on the occasion of the celebrations for Johann Sebastian Bach, the ensemble was expanded by five musicians. This marked the transition from a manageable chamber music ensemble to a large orchestral sound. Over the years, the ensemble has continuously rejuvenated itself, further enhancing its always exceptional musical quality.

In addition to what are now countless concert appearances in Germany, German Brass repeatedly embarks on foreign tours to play for music lovers all over the world. One of the many highlights was a summit meeting of brass music in New York. Together with members of the New York Philharmonic Orchestra, German Brass sparked storms of enthusiasm at Lincoln Center's Avery Fisher Hall in 2002.

1. Weihnachtsoratorium, BWV 248: Jauchzet, frohlocket (Arr. for Brass Ensemble by Matthias Höfs) (5:13)
2. Joy to the World (1:03)
3. The First Noel (1:03)
4. Deck the Halls (1:19)
5. O Little Town of Bethlehem (1:08)
6. O Come All Ye Faithful (1:04)
7. Weihnachtsoratorium, BWV 248: Wir singen dir in deinem Heer (Arr. for Brass Ensemble by Matthias Höfs) (1:29)
8. Weihnachtsoratorium, BWV 248: Brich an, o schönes Morgenlicht (Arr. for Brass Ensemble by Werner Heckmann) (1:15)
9. Sleighride (1:14)
10. Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas (3:01)
11. Winterwonderland (0:55)
12. Jingle Bells (1:26)
13. Nebo yasni zirky vkryly (2:00)
14. Shchedryk (1:28)
15. Petersburger Schlittenfahrt, Op. 57 (2:31)
16. Pásli ovce valsi (1:25)
17. Já bych rád k Betlému (1:13)
18. Nesem vám noviny (1:24)
19. Zu Bethlehem geboren (1:08)
20. The Christmas Song (3:28)
21. Let It Snow (2:28)
22. Ihr Kinderlein kommet (3:38)
23. Rudolph the Red Nosed Reindeer (3:19)
24. La Califfa (3:33)
25. Aguinaldo (2:35)
26. Maria durch ein' Dornwald ging (3:25)
27. O Tannenbaum (1:08)
28. Leise rieselt der Schnee (0:59)
29. Morgen kommt der Weihnachtsmann / O Freude über Freude (1:40)
30. Still, still, still (0:42)
31. Judas Maccabaeus, HWV 63: Tochter Zion (Arr for Brass Ensemble by Alexander Erbrich Crawford) (1:22)
32. Vom Himmel hoch, da komm ich her, BWV 769 (Arr. for Brass Ensemble by Matthias Höfs) (1:54)