Blog

On July 27th the ABQ will present two world premieres as part of its annual performance at the Aspen Music Festival: Brass Quintet No. 2 “American” by Kenneth Fuchs and Missing Words II by Eric Nathan. Louis Hanzlik recently sat down with Eric and Ken to learn a bit more about the works, their creative process, and, what’s on their iPods!

Eric Nathan

Kenneth Fuchs

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It’s been a little while since our last communication. Not to worry--ABQ has been busy not dormant! There is so much more to having a chamber music group than rehearsing and gallivanting around the world having fun. 

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ABQ recently wrapped up our fall season with a packed concert at Emmanuel Lutheran Church in Manchester, Connecticut. That was our 3rd engagement in the Nutmeg State this fall...and although our frequent flier status is waning, our familiarity with the Merritt Parkway and Route 84 is excellent.

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As the academic year finally comes to an end, ABQ is gathering steam to head uphill to Aspen, Colorado for the 46th time. This season, as has happened many times before, we will have a world premiere performance--Shine by Robert Paterson.

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When my friend, Dr. Ezequiel Menendez - organist and director of music of the Cathedral of St. Joseph in Hartford, CT - inquired about the ABQ presenting a brass quintet and organ concert at the cathedral, I knew Ezequiel’s virtuosic organ skills paired with the ABQ’s style and flair would make for a fantastic concert billing.

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From the beginning, my father's main goal in helping to create this new piece and all the events surrounding it has been to enrich and empower the cultural landscape of the city of Evansville...In keeping with this goal and in response to his question about a piece for organ and horn, I said, "that sounds nice, but how about a great big piece for organ and brass quintet?" His eyes lit up.

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"New" ABQ took the stage of the Peter J Sharpe Theatre (we old timers remember it as the Juilliard Theatre) on October 16 to not only play our first major New York recital, but also to pay tribute to our newly retired players, Ray Mase and David Wakefield.

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ABQ was invited by Musica Viva Concerts to head to Australia for a 22 day, 7 city tour in May. Imagine our excitement at this news, not only to get to a faraway continent, but also as an extraordinary opportunity for a group with 2 new members to really gel. The planning was done far in advance of the tour and I even had an interview via Skype in the summer of 2013. Musica Viva is so well organized that they have a designer for their yearly brochure and send a photographer to the performing artists, no matter where they are in the world.

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