It's all about that brass, brighten your spirits this season with the sounds of the symphony.
The Cowichan Symphony Society is giving music loving community members a special early Christmas gift this year as they present the world famous quintet Canadian Brass at the Cowichan Performing Arts Centre on Dec. 6 at 8 p.m., for their 'Making Spirits Bright' concert which will feature holiday themed music in a Christmas setting.
"The Canadian Brass is the icon of Canadian music, they are international ambassadors for Canada, and Canadian music all around," said Symphony Society president Dr. Peter Leckie. "It's intriguing, because for this Christmas concert that are several aspects to it, first off it's a great way to introduce the Christmas season and the music they will be performing will cover everything from classical to pop, and they will even be performing a cover of a song by Coldplay."
Canadian Brass consists of Joe Burgstaller and Mikio Sasaki on trumpet, Jeff Nelsen on the horn, Keith Dyrda on trombone, and Chuck Daellenbach on tuba. This quintessential quintet first got its start in 1970 when Daellenbach, and friend Gene Watts first came together to form the engaging brass ensemble. While Watts, took on the role of developing new repertoire, Daellenbach was the force behind the band's marketing, managing and publishing. Two quickly turned into five, and the group's imagination and musicianship swiftly elevated the art of brass music as the group has been excelling with their sound for over five decades years though producing music of all kinds, and genres earning them the international reputation as one of the most popular brass ensembles today. This engaging and enticing ensemble have been to every country in the world and were the first brass quintet in the west to perform in the People's Republic of China where they returned to a five-city tour with great acclaim. Other stops on their worldy travels aside from all across North America has also included South America, Japan, Australia, the Middle East and even the Soviet Union.
"Everywhere they go, they represent Canadian music, and not only do they represent it, they blow people away with their talent, their showmanship, and just their overall nature with being a Canadian brass ensemble," said Leckie.
Canadian Brass has a been a pioneer in bringing the sweet sounds of brass to the masses with a discography of over 135 albums, they have received a combined total of 24 GRAMMY and Juno nominations and won the German Echo Award for Goldberg Variations. Their most recent album, Canadiana, features unique arrangements of many Canadian superstars which include Joni Mitchell and Drake.
This concert is a perfect outing for the entire family, and the perfect chance for young people to fall in love with the unfamiliar. Leckie recalls that the last time Canadian Brass was here he invited his son who was only 12 at the time to come, his immediate response was no thank you, I don't care for that kind of music, but he ended up convincing his son to give it a go with the option to leave at intermission if he still felt that it was not his cup of tea.
"So my son agreed to come and obviously the Canadian Brass was magnificent," said Leckie. "For their last tune right before intermission they positioned four of their players in the corner of the audience, and one of the members was about three feet away from my son and it just completely just blew him away. So, at intermission when we asked if he wanted to go home, he said no we can stay if you want."
Attendees may want to do some of their seasonal shopping after the concert as Canadian Brass will be sticking around to sell and sign their CD's after the show.
"So not only would tickets to the concert make for a great early Christmas gift for friends and family, but those who attend can also purchase a CD and have them autographed by the artists which makes for a great Christmas gift that are of immeasurable value not only for the music, but also having that personal touch from the artists as well."
So give yourself and others the gift that keeps on giving, and get your tickets today. Regular price tickets for the Canadian Brass Making Spirits Bright concert are $75, while students and children get in for a steal at only $30. Ticket can be purchased through the Cowichan Performing Arts Centre either by phone at 250 746-2722, in person or online at cowichanpac.ca.
As CSS approaches their 70th year of producing classical music, they hope that community members appreciate that all the talent and this entertainment they have been able to bring to the valley and aim to do so for at least 70 more.
"Until you have heard Canadian Brass live, and have been to one of their shows you just can't imagine how entertaining, talented, and exciting they are in terms of a performance," said Leckie. "I hope this performance will get people in the mood for the Christmas season, and that they will appreciate the high standard of music that both the Canadian Brass, and the Cowichan Symphony Society continue to produce. "
