Genghis Barbie

Time to put the kids to bed! Today we take a look at Genghis Barbie, a horn quartet group and "the leading post post-feminist feminist all-female horn experience."  These four young ladies and their combined 24 years of conservatory training have taken their pink bells(and pink mutes, outfits, etc.) and unique style all over the country.  Playing mostly pop music from the 70's, 80's, 90's, and present, Genghis Barbie wows their audience with their musicality, flair, and distinctiveness.

Check out this one-of-a-kind brass ensemble perform "The Thong Song" with their horns in the streets of New York City.

Throwback Thursday

This week for Throwback-Thursday we travel to Carnegie Hall on May 5, 1991.  The video above shows the New York Philharmonic playing Fanfare for the Common Man.  Although not exclusively a brass ensemble, the recording shows off the impressive NY Phil brass section.  Enjoy!

Blast!

Making it's debut in 1999, the Broadway production Blast! was first to feature drum & bugle corps on the stage.  Originally the Star of Indiana Drum and Bugle Corps, the innovative Blast! show brought the brass, percussion, and color guard of a marching band into a musical-theater setting.

Instruments used:

Trumpet

Flugelhorn

Mellophone

French Horn

Baritone Horn

Euphonium

Trombone

Tuba

Full Percussion Ensemble

Although comprised of primarily drum corps instruments, Blast! also features concert-style instruments which help create it's unique blend of sound.

The extent of personnel involved in the show combined with the difficulty of the music and choreography make Blast! a truly compelling production.

(As of the 2002 season Blast! added woodwind instruments to their shows.)

The American Horn Quartet

The American Horn Quartet was founded in 1982 by four American musicians living and performing in Europe.  Over the past 30 years their popularity as a brass chamber ensemble has skyrocketed.  Although they have mastered the existing repertoire, the AHQ is also active in commissioning new works for horn quartet.  The American Horn Quartet is featured at numerous chamber festivals and brass workshops around the world.

Members:
Kerry Turner
Charles Putnam
Geoffrey Winter
Kristina Mascher
David Johnson(founder)

"The Sooners" from Quartet for Horns No. 3 - Kerry Turner