This album features the complete brass quintets of Russian composer Victor Ewald, performed by Stockholm Chamber Brass. Ewald, a contemporary of Rimsky-Korsakov and Glazunov, was an accomplished cellist and horn player who composed extensively for brass chamber ensembles. His four quintets, written in the late 19th and early 20th centuries, reflect the lyrical and expressive qualities of Russian Romanticism while showcasing the technical and harmonic possibilities of brass instruments.
Originally composed as string quartets, these works were later adapted for brass, likely by Ewald himself. The quintets are characterized by rich harmonies, flowing melodies, and a sense of grandeur, influenced by the *Mighty Handful* composers and the musical gatherings of Mitrofan Belyayev’s circle in St. Petersburg. With their expressive depth and virtuosic demands, these pieces highlight Ewald’s significant yet often overlooked contributions to brass chamber music.
