Johan Helmich Roman (1694-1758) is often called the 'Father of Swedish Music' and was conductor of the Royal Orchestra in Sweden.
Performer Biography
The Stockholm Philharmonic Brass Ensemble, founded in 1969, has members from the Royal Stockholm Philharmonic Orchestra and has performed internationally.
Composer Biography
Johann Pezel, a 'Stadtpfeifer' in Leipzig for nearly 20 years, is best known for his large collection of 'tower music' composed for brass instruments.
Compositional Technique
Renaissance composers rarely specified instrumentation for their works and were not particularly concerned with the exact combination of instruments used in performance.
Instruments
During the 16th and 17th centuries, brass instruments were primarily used as signal and fanfare instruments, with Scandinavian rulers maintaining their own trumpet corps.
Historical Context
Most of the music on this record is dance music from the 16th and 17th centuries, with some Baroque pieces from the 'Swedish Age of Greatness'.
Composition History
Many works by German 'Stadtpfeifer' (city musicians) like Johann Pezel and Gottfried Reiche, and Englishman Anthony Holborne, are called 'tower music' because they were performed from city hall and church towers.
