Brahms Symphony No. 2: Low Brass Excerpt & Discussion

The finale of Brahms' second symphony features a dazzling low brass excerpt. These modulations and runs will keep your brain and tongue tied. In this video I demonstrate the excerpt on some unconventional but hopefully halfway period-accurate choices in instrumentation, from a tenor trombone small enough to pass as an alto to a tiny-bore French Eb bass of ye olden days. Enjoy!

~EQUIPMENT~
1972 C.G. Conn 14H small-bore tenor trombone + Vincent Bach 12C
1979 C.G. Conn 50H Bb/F medium-bore tenor trombone + Vincent Bach 6-1/2AL
1957 C.G. Conn 72H Bb/F single-valve bass trombone + Vincent Bach 2G
Couesnon 3-valve Eb bass + Lyle Western Germany Euro-shank mouthpiece

~SOCIALS~

~ABOUT SAMUEL PLAYS BRASS~
Do you enjoy content relating to all things music and brass instruments? Sam has got you covered! On this channel we have been devoted to bringing you brass covers, play-alongs, multitracks, gear reviews and discussions, tips and tricks, collaborations, and even vlogs about the music world since 2016! Sam is a hobbyist brass multi-instrumentalist majoring in mechanical engineering. He is an active local performer and has played countless personal arrangements and compositions in small ensemble settings. If you like to nerd out over brass instruments, mouthpieces, music theory, and more, then make sure to subscribe and stay tuned! Thanks for watching.

[robbicu]

I played Brahms 2 with a traveling youth orchestra in Europe when I was 20 yo. We had no business playing it, way over the heads of most of the kids, but hey... somehow we made it work. Traveling through Germany, playing my first "professional" gig... it was an awesome experience. There was a lot of Weißbier consumed.

[LowBrassU]

With all the crazy instruments you have put on this channel, an alto is not that absurd. I think we need a V2 with alto!

[calebford]

I like this format, you should do more like it

[PkaSans]

yess! low brass assemble!
tuba gang! ❤


edit: could you play brahms' finale of the first symphony? it's honnestly one of my favorite parts to play on my Eb tuba (i play the Eb bari sax part just so you know)