Not too long ago I was swimming in a sea of modern music. After a while I found myself listening and enjoying a piece by Stefan Hakenberg written for brass quintet. Drei Stücke offers great opportunities for brass players who want to stretch out with some funky rhythmic expressions in the first movement, explore a variety of introspective sounds for brass instruments in the second movement and then end with some of the most cathartically pleasing playing a brass player might ever do in their career. Give these 3 movements a listen and perhaps some of Stefan’s other works as well.

Linien des Engelstanzes

Rauch aus allen Dächern

Mit ausgeruhten Händen

I think more of us should know about this piece and it should be performed as often as possible.