Voices of Praise

Celebrate the brilliance, warmth, and versatility of the brass quintet through music spanning more than four centuries.
About this Event

St. Giles Presbyterian Church in Calgary on July 25, 2026 at 7:00 PM .

Join us for Voices of Praise, an evening celebrating the brilliance, warmth, and versatility of the brass quintet through music spanning more than four centuries.

From the grandeur of Renaissance Venice to lyrical art song, operatic favourites, and spirited folk melodies, this program highlights the remarkable range of brass chamber music. Throughout the concert, engaging educational moments will explore the history of brass instruments, the evolution of chamber music, and the unique role these instruments have played in celebrations, worship, and musical traditions across generations.

The program opens with Giovanni Gabrieli’s Canzona per Sonare No. 4, a work that evokes the magnificent sound world of Renaissance Venice. Jean-Joseph Mouret’s lively Rondeau follows, before a selection from Gustav Mahler’s Rückert-Lieder reveal the expressive and song-like qualities of the brass quintet.

Arthur Pryor’s virtuosic Bluebells of Scotland showcases the brilliance of the ensemble, while Rossini’s famous “Largo al factotum” from The Barber of Seville brings the first half to a thrilling conclusion with operatic energy and playful virtuosity.

The second half begins with A Nightingale Sang in Berkeley Square, the beloved romantic song by Eric Maschwitz and Manning Sherwin, reimagined for brass quintet with warmth, elegance, and nostalgia. The concert concludes with Gwyneth Walker’s Shaker Tunes, a vibrant and joyful celebration of folk traditions that brings the evening to a spirited close.

Program

Canzona per Sonare No. 4
Giovanni Gabrielli (Arr. Graeme Page)
Rückert-Lieder:“Ich bin der Welt abhanden gekommen”
Gustav Mahler (Arr. Ethan Harris)

Bluebells of Scotland
Arthur Pryor (Arr. David Werden)

Il Barbiere di Siviglia: Act I: “Largo al factotum”
Gioachino Rossini (Arr. Gary Kulesha)

Intermission 20'

A Nightingale Sang in Berkeley Square
Eric Maschwitz & Manning Sherwin (Arr. Jack Gale)
Shaker Tunes
Gwyneth Walker

I. Welcome!
II. I Will Bow and Be Simple
V. Simple Gifts

Meet the Musicians

Trumpet
Mark Scholz
Andrew Leitch

Horn
Ethan Harris

Trombone
Andrew Scholz

Tuba
Jevon Hill