What is a brass quintet?

A brass quintet is a chamber ensemble composed of five brass instruments. Most commonly, the instruments of the brass quintet are two trumpets, a french horn, trombone and a tuba or a bass trombone. This instrumental configuration of the brass quintet evolved from brass ensembles and brass bands over hundreds of years. 

The modern instrumentation of the brass quintet was solidified in the middle of the twentieth century with the rise of notable groups such as, The New York Brass Quintet, The American Brass Quintet, The Chicago Brass Quintet, The Philip Jones Brass Ensemble and the Canadian Brass. These ensembles, among many others, expanded the repertoire and musical possibilities for the contemporary brass quintet.

In this video, the members of Brass Over Bridges talk about the instruments of the brass quintet and what makes their instruments unique. Margarite plays a french horn made by Darin Sorley. Esther plays a Bach trombone, customized by trombone legend, Mark Lawrence. Lucas selected the parts at the factory for his Greenhoe bass trombone. Ari plays a trumpet which was designed in collaboration between Yamaha and John Hagstrom of the Chicago Symphony. Matt plays a trumpet designed by Los Angeles trumpeter and studio musician, Charley Davis.