Thompson Brass Ensemble, Barbara Bruns, Music for Brass & Organ

I associate brass ensembles with this time of the year--winter and Christmas. Part of that is because of my experience in high school band and the brass choirs my second band director assembled for winter concerts, partly because the association is part of the season anyway.

So when I received recently the new disk by the Thompson Brass Ensemble and organist Barbara Bruns, namely Music for Brass & Organ (MSR Classics 1481), I was ready and predisposed toward it.

It's a nice program covering Gabrieli, Buxtehude and Bach as one might expect, but also Strauss, Hovhaness, Schumann, Rimsky-Korsakov--and others you might not typically come across in such an anthology.

In truth it all works quite well. The ensemble and Ms. Bruns give us stirring renditions. The three Fisk organs from three New England churches sound regal and dramatic, and the brass is recorded with the spatial staging you would expect.

The beauty of the music shines forth in splendor and I find myself in the spirit of the season every time I listen. It is a very good one, with just enough of the unexpected to give your ears new life.

Very recommended.