The UVa Early Brass Ensemble

The University Early Brass Ensemble plays music from the Early-Baroque and Renaissance, on period instruments, the cornetto and the sackbut.  We are directed by Professor Paul Walker.

Early Brass News:

The UVa Cornett and Sackbut Ensemble is:

  • Cornetto:  Laura Duerksen, Nick Harvey, James Maxwell
  • Alto Sackbut: Hill Harman
  • Tenor Sackbut: Ginny Chilton, Nick Gemmel, Jon Pawlow
  • Bass Sackbut: Richard Barnes

What are cornettos and sackbuts?

The cornetto has the body of a recorder and the mouthpiece of a brass instrument.  It’s wickedly hard to play, but gives a beautiful, mellow tone when mastered (I’ll get back to you when I make anything that sounds mellow).

The sackbut is simply an early trombone. With a smaller bore and a much smaller flare on the bell, the sackbut has a distinct sound from modern trombones, but is played in the same manner.  The instrumentalists of the 16th and 17th centuries tried to mimic the sound of a singing voice, and thus both the cornetto and sackbut are more mellow than the brassy sound of today’s instruments.

What is our repertoire?  A few of our recent performances have included pieces by :

  • Giovanni Gabrieli
  • Josquin des Prez
  • Heinrich Schutz
  • Johann Hermann Schein
  • Orlande de Lassus

Watch for next semester, as we perform Gabreli’s Omnes Gentes, and Canzon duodecimi toni.  Nick Harvey and I will also be performing for Ginny’s organ recital in the spring, with Canzon secona a Due Canti by Frescobaldi!

Party like it’s 1599!!!

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Maintained poorly by:  elmo@virginia.edu.  Even the big photos on this site aren’t the originals.  If you need these in higher res, shoot me an e-mail.

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