Renowned Ensemble Joins 2006 Chinese New Year Celebration
When the internationally renowned ensemble Empire Brass performed "Amazing Grace" at the 2005 NTDTV Chinese New Year Global Gala, it was as if one was transported to a magnificent and divine place. The virtuosic sounds of the brass quintet filled the heart with an overwhelming sense of joy and appreciation for the group’s artistry. The audience was transfixed until suddenly awakened by the thrilling trill of the trumpet evoking the revelry of St. Mark’s Square, where one could imagine donning a magnificent mask and dancing with every passerby in Venice, until reaching the Rialto Bridge. This is the luxurious and unrestrained "The Carnival of Venice," a masterpiece created by the legendary and infamous Italian violin master Niccolò Paganini (1782-1840). The audience could not contain itself; their applause continued until the ensemble began its encore – the Russian dance music from "The Nutcracker."
Known for its expansive repertoire, the Empire Brass has a well-deserved reputation as North America’s finest brass quintet. Each of the five musicians has held principal positions with leading American orchestras. The ensemble performs more than 100 concerts every year in major cities around the world.
Lead trumpeter Rolf Smedvig attributes the group’s success to hard work. "Our success is not accidental. At the beginning, we had to practice from midnight until 3:00 in the morning and after practice, we had to stay and listen to the recording of the practice. After one year of intense practice we started to perform. Continuous practice is (how we) maintain our reputation."
Empire Brass is equally comfortable performing Broadway show tunes, jazz, classical and sacred music. The beloved hymn “Amazing Grace” was inspired by the personal experience of a 19th century Englishman John Newton. As captain of a ship plying the Atlantic slave trade, Newton encountered a violent storm. When the ship was about to sink, Newton, who did not believe in God, started to pray. The storm then subsided, inspiring Newton to believe that God’s grace had pulled him through.
Paganini’s “The Carnival of Venice,” which describes the lives of ordinary people, also contains the splendor of the royal palaces. That is because, in the 18th century, descendants of the royal families and European aristocracy would sojourn to Venice to enjoy the brilliant indoor music performances and to participate in the revelry of carnival. Those who did not want to expose their identities wore masks. This formed the unique tradition of the Venice carnival.
Empire Brass is slated to once again perform as part of NTDTV’s Chinese New Year Global Gala. For more about Empire Brass or to hear them online, visit: http://www.empirebrass.com/