SLOVAK BRASS BAND concert

The SLOVAK BRASS BAND project was born out of the ambitions of musicians – brass players – and their desire to experiment and seek new possibilities of interpretation. This ambition stems from the conviction of the listener’s and player’s attractiveness of the music performed by brass instruments, its versatility and captivation.

These instruments may be in the minority in the orchestra, but their tone is characterised by a unique colour – sweet and melodic, or energetic and ringing. There are several formations of brass instruments, from trio to sextet to decimino. In terms of personnel, the largest grouping is the English-style brass band, which dates back to the early 19th century. Its origins are linked to the musical activities of workers and the poorest social classes.

Within a few decades, the brass band format experienced an extraordinary growth, becoming one of the most popular and musically vibrant formations in much of central Europe, Scandinavia, Germany and the UK. There are still several brass bands with a long history, among the most famous is the Stalybridge Old Band, which was founded in 1809 and is still active today. Bratislava is a city with a strong tradition of brass music, and brass bands interpreting arrangements of folk songs are still a popular platform today.

The new project SLOVAK BRASS BAND has gained a lot of support from Bratislava musicians in a short period of time, who have become a part of it. Its ranks include players from the Slovak National Theatre Opera Orchestra, Slovak Philharmonic Orchestra, Slovak Radio Symphony Orchestra, Music of the Ministry of the Interior of the Slovak Republic and the State Chamber Orchestra Žilina.

Nicola Fattori

Nicola Fattori studied horn at the Udine Conservatory and wind band conducting at the Milan Conservatory. As a horn player he has attended masterclasses with Andrea Corsini, Gunter Högner, Dale Clevenger, Hans van der Zanden, Froydis Ree Wekre, David Cooper and Thomas Hauschild. Interested in brass bands from an early age, he began studying conducting with Marco Somadossi and took a three-year course for conductors at ANBIMA Friuli Venezia Giulia. He then studied conducting and composition for wind orchestra at the Udine Conservatory, again with Marco Somadossi. He participated in various conducting masterclasses with Jacob de Haan, Gary Hill, Johannes Mosenbichler, Michele Mangani, Jose Alcàcer Dura and Evan Feldman. In Italy, he conducted two wind orchestras and the Youth Wind Orchestra, with which he won second prize at the Costa Volpino National Youth Band Competition in Bergamo.

Concert programme:

• Chalk Farm n° 2 (Edward Gregson)
• Portrait of a City (Philip Sparke)
• Nabucco – Overture (Giuseppe Verdi, arr. Howard Lorriman)
• Canterbury Choral (Jan van der Roost) – 6′
• Liberty Fanfare (John Williams, arr. Steve Sykes)
• The lord of the Rings – Return of the King (Howard Shore, arr. Philip Harper)
• Let it Be (John Lennon, Paul McCartney, arr. Bill Geldard)
• Jurassic Park (John Williams, arr. Alan Catherall)

Location: Eurovea Embankment, Pribinova Street, Bratislava, Slovakia
Date: 26.06.2023
Start: 19:00
Admission: free

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