MUSIC REVIEW : Empire Brass Ensemble in Long Beach

For brass ensembles these days, repertory seems to be the critical factor. The Boston-based Empire Brass, lavishly endowed in technique and musicianship, also boasts a catalogue of more than 300 works, including many important commissions.

The size of that repertory, but not its quality, was apparent Thursday evening when the group appeared for Community Concerts at the Terrace Theatre in Long Beach. Instead, the five musicians proved amiable proponents of the pops chat-and-blat format.

Not one piece on the lengthy agenda was originally composed for brass ensemble. The uncredited arrangements were always deft, and often strikingly imaginative and effective, but ultimately demonstrated nothing more than the sterling qualities of the Empire Brass.

Perhaps that should be enough. Half the music and a picnic would certainly have made a wonderful summer afternoon.

Each of the players--Rolf Smedvig and Jeffrey Curnow, trumpets; Martin Hackleman, horn; Scott Hartman, trombone; Samuel Pilafian, tuba--introduced a piece or two, genially and apparently unintentionally mispronouncing names and titles. Pilafian and his tuba inevitably became the comic center, though the Empire act never reaches the extremes of studied wackiness of the Canadian Brass and others.

Musically, each player also got at least fleeting moments of solo glory. Individually and collectively they proved brilliantly virtuosic, with lips of steel and willing, musical spirit.

For the record, the program included--among many others--dazzlers from Handel’s “Water” and “Fireworks” musics, Bach cantatas, and the music of Albeniz and Turina. Less effective musically, though superbly played, were pieces by Kreisler, Rossini, Debussy and Ravel.

The most spectacular ensemble performances and the niftiest arrangements, though, were the supple, sassy sets from “Porgy and Bess” and “West Side Story.”