A number of my posts in this blog have featured arrangements by Enrique Crespo, so I have decided to dedicate a whole blog posts to him. Crespo was born in 1941, in Uruguay. His professional career took him to Germany, where he was a founding member of the German Brass in the 1970's. In addition to his role as a trombonist in the group, Crespo has perhaps made the most contribution in the area of arranging for brass ensembles. Most of these arrangements were for the German Brass, and are remarkable for their challenging nature and virtuosity. His writing never "waters" down the technical passages that may not be the most suitable for brass instruments. The result is a style that stays true to the style and sound of the originals.
The first example of Crespo's remarkable arranging skill is the famous Bach Toccata and Fugue in D Minor. A video of this arrangement may be found at the link below.
A second excellent arrangement of Bach's music is the also famous Arioso. I find this arrangement remarkable for Crespo's ability to space the voices in a way that creates the best blend on a piece that is seemingly simple.
My last example is the Overture to Nabucco by Giuseppe Verdi. I love the imitation of the tremellos and trills in the horns that sound nearly identical to the original string writing.
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