Brass Sextet

Oskar Böhme. was born February 24, 1870 in Potschappel and died October 3, 1938 in Orenburg).
For much of his early career, after studying trumpet and composition in the Leipzig Conservatory of Music until graduating in 1888, it is unknown what Böhme's musical activities were, though it is probable he concertised, playing in smaller orchestras around Germany. From 1894-1896 he played in the Budapest Opera Orchestra and then moved to St. Petersburg, Russia, in 1897. Böhme played cornet for 24 years in the Mariinsky Theatre, turned to teaching at a music school on Vasilievsky Island in St. Petersburg for nine further years, from 1921-1930, and then returned to opera with the Leningrad Drama Theatre until 1934. In 1934, however, the Great Terror began under Joseph Stalin and in 1936 a committee was established to oversee the arts in Soviet Russia. According to Russia's anti-foreign policies, Böhme was exiled to Orenburg on account of his German heritage. On October 3, 1938, he was sentenced to death and executed by shooting the same day. Böhme’s Brass Sextet (Trompeten-Sextett) op.30, composed in 1911, undoubtedly ranks among the finest brass music produced by the romantic era.The title refers to the distinctive symmetry of the instrumentation: four instruments from the trumpet family and framed by two representative of the bugle family.The use of the trumpet was remarkable at the time because the characteristic brass ensembles of the period consisted exclusively of bugle-family instruments. It was for such a group of 2 cornets, alto, tenor and baritone horn, for example, that Viktor Ewald wrote his well known quintets. The question of which instrument to use of the exposed and rather high bass part, intended by the composer for the “high Bb tuba” is tricky. A great tubist could play it on an F or Eb tuba, but a more compact ensemble sound is obtainable with a euphonium or small French Bb tuba.