Following High Society (which debuted #3 on the US Billboard Classical Chart), "the world's leading brass ensemble" (The Washington Post) rings in 2008 with a fresh collection of some of J.S. Bach's most loved works. Truly Bach at its best, "Bach" includes quintet as well as double-quintet works featuring the Canadian Brass ensemble with alumni group members, and pays homage to the pieces at the core of Canadian Brass' history and legacy.

Canadian Brass determined at its inception that it would dedicate itself to musical masterpieces – and what could be more fundamental to a masterpiece approach than the music of BACH!

The Little Fugue in G minor is a jewel in the brass repertoire, now being performed by ensembles everywhere. This is a classic, perfect fugue that has inspired millions of listeners and countless numbers of young brass players. Surrounding the Fugue are solo pieces that feature the most famous of Bach’s works.

For many years there was a controversy amongst performers about the validity of arrangements. Here, we feel, is the strongest possible argument, indeed the final word, about this subject: Bach’s own arrangement of a concerto by Vivaldi. Joe has adapted this wonderful work to showcase his own unbelievable virtuosity on the trumpet as well as the under-utilized lyrical side of the tuba. In a similar vein, Canadian composer Christopher Dedrick has borrowed music from Bach’s Anna Magdalena Notebook to craft four new compositions.

Years ago the Brass created an innovative brass quintet seminar at the Banff Centre that became the model for similar ventures literally the world over. Each summer the Banff course ended with the playing of the chorales and cantata presented here. After time this music became the ‘theme song’ of the seminar.

Share the majesty of BACH as heard through the medium of BRASS!!