Solistiseitsikko Imperial - Jean Sibelius: Complete Works for Brass Septet (2015)

The Brass Septet Imperial is a Finnish ensemble. Its mission is to honour and revitalise the old Finnish brass septet traditions and at the same time to raise traditional septet playing to the highest artistic standard. Its members are all among the finest masters of their instruments in Finland. The Septet is modelled on the time-honoured Brass Septet Imperial of the Finnish Radio Symphony Orchestra familiar to radio listeners for decades. Its repertoire consists of classic works for this line-up and quality transcriptions. The ensemble also actively seeks out new music for brass septet and commissions works for this collection of instruments. This debut disc, Punaiset ja valkoiset laulut (which literally means ‘Red and White Songs’) of songs across the political divide, presents an interesting selection of both original arrangements for Finnish brass septet arranged roughly a century ago and also brand-new septet arrangements of these traditional works.