German Brass: Music that Unites the World

On the last Saturday of July, the legendary German brass ensemble “German Brass” will perform a concert in Šiauliai. The ensemble, arriving specifically for the 21st International Chaim Frenkel Villa Summer Festival, will be performing in Lithuania for the first time. Eager to meet the people of Šiauliai, the ensemble members agreed to answer a few questions:

German Brass performs in many prestigious venues around the world. Is there a place that stands out or is special to you, and if so, what makes it so?

 “Personally, I don’t have a favorite place, but it’s always a pleasure to see how warmly our music is received around the world and how our concerts are successful wherever we are. Whether it’s a large audience in a world-renowned philharmonic hall or a chamber concert under the open sky, the most important thing is that the audience goes home happy and in a great mood,” says German Brass manager Stefan Ambrosius.

Collaboration is crucial in an ensemble. How do you manage to maintain such a high level of synchronization and harmony both musically and personally among the group members?

It is very important that we understand each other well and not only be "on the same wavelength" musically. Recently, there have been some changes in the ensemble, so our priority is for the newcomers to fit in well and become one with the group. However, this also brings new winds to the ensemble, which is important and good! Since we play without a conductor, it is important to decide democratically what and how we want to play.

Brass instruments have a unique and powerful sound. How do you think brass music differs from other types of music, and what do you hope the audience takes away from your performance?

We hope that the audience will get rid of the clichés that may still be associated with brass musicians. We can not only play powerfully but also very quietly, with dynamic sound in music. We have the ability to capture sound very sensitively using different instruments and mutes. We just try to play good music, whether it’s "serious" or "light" music. The most important thing is for the audience to have a good time.

Given the historical and cultural significance of many of your pieces, how do you manage to maintain respect for the original works while giving them a modern twist?

This is a special task for the arrangers, who with great attention to detail, preserve the sound of the original pieces but still adapt them to our ensemble. The arrangements are made by the ensemble members, so they know exactly what can be written for individual musicians, instruments, and their ranges. Ideally, the audience should enjoy our arrangement as much as the original.

Looking to the future, are there any new projects or directions that “German Brass” wants to explore? Could you share any upcoming collaborations or innovative ideas?

In the fall, we have a big tour to China, where we will perform the world premiere of a piece written for “German Brass” and a symphony orchestra, which will be exciting. For 2025, we are planning CD recordings to honor Johann Strauss’s 200th birthday. We are already creating various arrangements of his music for this CD. Essentially, we remain true to our line and want to offer good entertainment with good music, ideally around the world.

July 27th, Saturday, 8:00 PM at the Chaim Frenkel Villa Park (Vilniaus St. 74, Šiauliai).

Tickets here. 

*Discounts are available for schoolchildren, students, seniors, and people with disabilities.
Children under 5 years old who do not occupy a seat are admitted free of charge. For information, call +37041433680, or email info@ausrosmuziejus.lt

The concert is partially supported by the Goethe Institute in Lithuania.
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Organizers: Šiauliai "Aušros" Museum, Public Institution "Sielai"
Main sponsors: Šiauliai City Municipality, Lithuanian Council for Culture
Sponsors: "Sabalin", restaurant "Bleu de Frenkel"
Media sponsors: LRT, "Etaplius", "Šiaulių kraštas", "LT ADVERT"
Friend – flower and gift shop "Dabija"
The festival sound is provided by MB "SLS Tech"