The Brass Band is a typically British orchestral form, born in the coal mines and blast furnaces of northern England around 1850. Cornets, flugelhorns, violas, baritones, euphoniums, trombones and bass tubas: an all-brass ensemble that has inspired an immense repertoire.
This Brass Band was created in Namur in January 2014 by two brilliant Namur soloists, the international trumpeter Dominique Bodart and the principal trombone of the Opéra de Liège, Philippe Massart. This high-calibre ensemble is made up exclusively of amateur musicians, as well as a few members of our royal conservatories. In January 2016 and April 2017 it recorded its first CD, due for release in early 2019. On this occasion, he premiered the concerto ‘Journey’ for trombone and brass band by the English composer Pete Meechaan, with the international French trombonist Jacques Mauger. In early November 2015, he accompanied the great American trumpeter Rex Richardson. More recently, he premiered Karl Jenkins' Mass for Peace “The Armed Man” in its version for choir, soloists and brass band. This work will be performed again following several commissions from cultural centres throughout Wallonia in November and December 2017 and 2018.
Its programme varies according to demand and includes original works written for Brass Band as well as the great repertoire of film music. Arrangements of classics such as Glinka's Overture ‘Rusland and Ludmila’ and Sibelius's Finlandia demonstrate the little-known sensitivity of brass instruments, as well as the harmonic power of the 28 musicians.
The Namur Wallonia Brass Band is under the artistic direction of international trumpeter Dominique Bodart.
