Canadian Brass concert

$25 per ticket unless you wanted better seats which meant $35. Still, I do not miss the Canadian Brass when I get the chance to hear them. Taking some students and 2 of my boys with me, we headed to Abilene for the concert. Much to my surprise, not having researched the group, 4 of the 5 members are new.

Let me back up. The Canadian Brass began in 1970 with founding members Chuck Daellenbach and Gene Watts, both of which were extraordinary talents. Over the years the horn players came and went and aside from many years of the same trumpet players, it seems the last several years we have seen some rotation. Yet two things have remained true: 1) incredible players and 2)entertaining style. They often begin in the back of the auditorium playing Just a Closer Walk with Thee as they move toward the stage. This is usually followed by some running around on stage, eventually settling in stools with no music in front of them. Comfortable in a variety of physical positions, they use physical motion to add the musical experience. I recall seeing Chuck play the tuba in a lying down position!

Their ability to capture an audience, using musical humor, stories, antics, and musical eclecticism, was always equal to their remarkable musicianship and talent level. Wearing tuxedos and tennis shoes, they would bounce around with Bach or the Beatles or jazz or folk songs or just about anything that would reach an audience. Concert attenders would leave with good feelings having been treated with lofty academic music as well as fun entertainment. The musicians in the audience would quickly recognize the immense talent on stage and the non-musicians would find themselves smiling and charmed by the overall experience.

The identity of the Canadian Brass was one of uniqueness, talent, and joy. Now to the recent concert. Maybe their identity has altered some. Maybe they no longer have quite the same cohesion and unified spirit. Maybe a couple of members are a little shy or socially uncomfortable, not an unusual quality in gifted musicians who have spent several hours a day in the practice room. Maybe they are not entirely comfortable being the Canadian Brass or perhaps the odd melding of entertainment and academia is not well-suited to each member. Consider this--one member is about 65 years old while the others are in their mid-20s. This disparity is bound to create some philosophical and yes personality differences. Truthfully the concert was a little heavy in academic music and generally stuffier than I have experienced from them.

But in some ways I am being a little picky myself. The players in the group are just simply amazing. Their talent level is extreme and each member is a prodigy of the highest order. The trumpet players were absolutely phenomenal and the horn player was playing at a level that is only in my dreams. Remarkable musicians at the pinnacle of brass playing.

Maybe the heyday of the Canadian Brass occurred 15 or 20 years ago in some ways. Maybe they have outlived their own success in some ways. But in other ways they are still vital, active, and certainly significant in the musical world. Sadly, this particular concert garnered approximately 400 audience members. The decline in audiences at live concerts continues. Makes me wonder where we will be in 20 years. A little scary for musicians these days.