Annapolis Brass Quintet
| Company type | Musical ensemble |
|---|---|
| Industry | Music |
| Founded | 1971 |
| Founder | David Cran, Robert Posten |
| Defunct | 1993 |
| Headquarters | Annapolis , United States |
| Products | Brass quintet performances, albums |
The Annapolis Brass Quintet (ABQ) was established in 1971 by trumpet player David Cran and trombonist Robert Posten, becoming the United States' sole full-time professional brass ensemble at that time. Throughout its 22-year existence, the group toured extensively, performing in every state as well as internationally across Europe, the Far East, the Middle East, Central America, and Canada.
Members
The founding members consisted of trumpeters Cran and Haldon "Butch" Johnson, trombonists Posten and John Driver, along with horn player Rick Rightnour. By 1993, a total of fourteen musicians had served as regular participants, among them future social scientist Arthur C. Brooks. Although the ensemble disbanded that year, it reunited briefly for a December 2000 concert in Annapolis, Maryland, paying tribute to jazz guitarist Charlie Byrd. The final lineup included Cran, Posten, trumpeter Robert Suggs, trombonist Wayne Wells, and horn player Sharon Tiebert—the group's sole female member.
Notable performances
In 1979, ABQ launched the International Brass Quintet Festival in Baltimore, Maryland, creating an important venue for brass chamber music. A historic highlight took place in 1989 when the Annapolis Brass Quintet performed alongside both East and West Berlin Brass Quintets just months prior to the Berlin Wall's fall—an event of considerable cultural and political significance. The festival featured more than 200 complimentary concerts and educational workshops for musicians at various levels.
Beginning in 1985, ABQ partnered with the Charlie Byrd Trio under the name Byrd and Brass, merging elements of Latin music, jazz, and classical genres. This collaboration resulted in over fifty concerts across the United States, seasonal appearances in Annapolis, as well as two recorded albums: Byrd and Brass and Christmas with Byrd and Brass.
Dedicated to broadening brass literature, ABQ premiered upwards of seventy-five compositions by composers including Douglas Allanbrook, Michael Brown, Bruce Clausen, George Heussenstamm, Warren Kellerhouse, Jiří Laburda, Robert Hall Lewis, Allen Molineux, Lawrence Moss, Jiri Pauer, Karl Pilss, Walter Ross, Jerzy Sapieyevski, Elam Sprenkle, Robert Starer, George Walker, and Robert Washburn. Significantly, four works for brass quintet accompanied by orchestra were commissioned for performances with ensembles such as the Baltimore Symphony Orchestra, Bavarian Radio Orchestra, Stuttgart Philharmonic, Wichita Symphony Orchestra, and Dublin Radio Orchestra.
Awards and recognition
On April 27, 1993, U.S. Senator Barbara Mikulski acknowledged the Annapolis Brass Quintet on the Senate floor in honor of their final concert and their impactful contributions to brass chamber music. Over more than two decades of activity, the group attained international influence within its genre while maintaining exceptional artistic standards that exemplify American musical excellence.
Discography
- Annapolis Brass Quintet (Crystal S-202)
- Quintessence (Crystal S-206)
- Annapolis Sounds (Richardson RRS-3)
- Encounter (Crystal S-207)
- The Spirit of Christmas Brassed (Richardson RRS-5)
- Music of Lawrence Moss: Symphonies (Orion ORS 79362)
- Invitation to the Sideshow (Crystal S-213)
- Music of Lawrence Moss: Flight (AmCam Recordings ACR 10301)
- The Age of Masques and Revels (Antigua DG91.5)
- Synthesis (Crystal S-219)
- New Music for Brass Quintet (Crystal S-235)
- Byrd and Brass (Concord Jazz, Inc.)
- Brass and Pipes (CRS)
- Christmas with Byrd and Brass (Antigua DG91.6)
- Reflections in Brass (Antigua 92)