These five guys make it look easy. They can adapt music that was written for strings for their brass instruments, articulating with pristine accuracy. The result is an astonishing production of exquisite harmonies between two trumpets, a trombone, a French horn, and a tuba.
The world celebrated the 100th anniversary of Argentinian composer Astor Piazzolla’s birth in March. Coming to BCS courtesy of Friends of Chamber Music, Axiom Brass Quintet will commemorate Piazzolla’s musical genius in a “love affair with the music of Latin America.” That’s how they’re defining the free, Oct. 8 live concert and forum called “Love, Mystery and Despair,” featuring works by Piazzolla, Strozzi, Pitombeira, Barbosa, Ponce, and Yee.
Piazzolla crossed genre boundaries of his time, creating the nuevo tango style in the ‘50s. His compositions shock listeners with intensity, reflecting how he saw concert halls more as a boxing ring. Elena Reece, Artistic Director for Friends of Chamber Music says, “Piazzolla has single-handedly revolutionized the genre of tango. We know that the Axiom Brass, with their own arrangements of Piazzolla’s tangos, is one of those very few wind ensembles that can really deliver the essence of his music.” Only a few notes in. and Axiom Brass listeners get the sense that the quintet’s skill and harmony combine in melodies so fluid, you feel as if you could swim in them. Reece continues, “I believe that seeing players engulfed in sound gives us some sense of a co-ownership to a piece of music that we hear, as if in some way, we had created that music alongside them.”
After the concert, the artists will answer questions from the audience and you can send your questions to them in advance via the Friends website link. The event will be both in person at A&M United Methodist Church and live streamed from 7-9 p.m, with the ability to watch it through Oct 22, but be sure to register here for video access. Either way, don’t miss this stellar evening of tango!
