Background

Baroque Brass of London is without rival in presenting brass music of the
16th, 17th and 18th Centuries on period instruments. The experience of
Baroque Brass of London's players is unmatched as all are members of
Europe's leading early music ensembles.

Brass instruments hold a prominent place in European musical tradition.
Baroque Brass acknowledges a particular debt to David Munrow (1942 - 1976) the musicologist and distinguished performer largely responsible for the revival of early wind instruments.

The group consists of natural trumpets, cornetts, sackbuts, timpani,
percussion and continuo. The trumpets use natural harmonics; the cornett was always valued for its resemblance to the human voice; the sackbut (precursor of the trombone) is soft and warm while the timpani tone is fresher and drier than its modern counterpart. The sound of the ensemble is, as might be expected, bright and pure in the larger ceremonial music and soft and supple in the smaller pieces. Baroque Brass creates a spectacular effect in the open air and in larger venues such as cathedrals. In contrast, it offers
chamber music programmes in more intimate halls, such as those in palaces
and castles, for example, where much of the repertoire was first performed.