Brahms: O Welt, ich muss dich lassen

The ensemble-playing of the 22 musicians is characterized by an irreproachable intonation and rhythmical precision, but primarily by their wide range in dynamics, articulation and expressiveness (the pianissimo-nuances of the ensemble are breath-taking!). With his great knowledge about instruments, the band-leader, professor Yamamoto, is an outstanding arranger and knows precisely how to utilize the capacities of his band-members. Therefore, it has been possible for the ensemble to enter into and incorporate genres and styles beyond the conventional brass-band repertoire. “Tailor-made” arrangements of symphonic music by Mahler, organ-music by Brahms, and a choir-piece by Bruckner sound surprisingly idiomatic and, for a while, make the listener forget about authenticity and the original instrumentations! Even prof. Yamamoto’s own entertaining rhapsody of Japanese childrens’ tunes as well as such well-known lighter genres that used to be played in transcriptions for brass-bands, like Strauss waltzes and polkas, are performed by Pegasus, with a sort of symphonic feeling, in a refined and enriched manner.