The Most Beautiful Sounds Next to Silence

This is an awe-inspiring recording from Weber that is magisterial in concept and execution. The breadth of the writing for lower register brass instruments is full of life and movement that sweeps Weber’s four suites, along with a prologue and epilogue that bookend the album, in an absorbing performance.

Quite what Weber thought when composing for four trombones, four euphoniums, serpent, tuba and flute is anybody’s guess, but the resulting music makes for a fascinating listening experience, and hence the recommendation is, wherever possible to listen to the entire album from start to finish in a single sitting.

Drawing on early classical music and improvisation, the music is a delicious fusion of Weber’s research into earlier music combined with a contemporary flare for orchestration. With the composer’s use of polyphony, the brass ensembles produce a wonderous array of textures and colours that come and go. One minute taking centre stage and then supporting Weber’s lyrical piano lines, or unbelievably accompanying the flute of Anna-Lena Schnabel with great sensitivity, lightness and use of dynamics.

(https://jazzviews.net)