Onyx Brass

about

Celebrating its 30th anniversary season in 2023, Onyx Brass continues to be the leading light in establishing the brass quintet as a medium for serious chamber music, inspired by the pioneering early years of the Philip Jones Brass Ensemble, and indeed mentored by Philip himself. To this end, the group has commissioned and performed the world premières of over 200 new works, with many more in the pipeline for performance and recording. It is a point of justifiable pride for the group to play authentic and sometimes challenging music, yet remain a group which is utterly accessible to audiences: there is no need to “dumb down” when programmes are presented in the entertaining and articulate fashion that has become the group’s trademark. A brief snapshot of the composers whose work Onyx has premièred includes David Sawer, Thea Musgrave, Stuart MacRae, Michael Nyman, Joe Duddell, John Tavener, Judith Bingham, John McCabe, Tarik O’Regan, Cheryl Frances Hoad, Timothy Jackson, Gabriel Jackson, Giles Swayne, Graham Lynch, Steve Martland, Jonathan Dove, John White, Paul Mealor, Julian Philips, Rory Boyle, Kenny Wheeler, Guy Barker, Gwilym Simcock, Trish Clowes, Charlotte Harding, and Emily Hall. During 2014, Onyx Brass toured the country, bringing contemporary brass music to bandstands, parks and public spaces as part of the Tour de Brass! The project was generously supported by PRS for Music’s New Music Biennial Scheme, and the Tour passed through London’s Southbank Centre and Glasg

top songs

albums

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Pavans, Fantasias, Variations

Onyx Noir: Jazz Works for Brass Quintet

Onyx Brass Plays Fanfares

Fanfares

Canite Tuba: Music for Advent and Christmas

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The sun is free to flow with the sea

Transatlantic

Festmusik: A Legacy

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Bach, J.S.: Well-Tempered Clavier (The), (Excerpts) / Shostakovich, D.: 24 Preludes and Fugues (Excerpts) (Arr. for Brass Quintet)

Pavans,Fantasias,Variations

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Taverner: Trisagion & Other Contemporary British Chamber Music

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Bach & Shostakovich: Fugues

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