Brass Quintet Resonates in Landmark Series

The airy Bradbury Building in downtown Los Angeles provided a cordial setting for the Meridian Arts Ensemble on Sunday afternoon. Whether addressing the polyphony of Bach or the manic music of Frank Zappa, the clear playing of this subtle and unaggressive brass quintet resonated warmly amid the polished wood, ornamental cast ironwork, open-cage elevators and brick interior walls of this National Historic Landmark.

The musicians were Jon Nelson and Josef Burgstaller, trumpets; Daniel Grabois, horn; Ben Herrington, trombone, and Raymond Stewart, tuba.

As a prelude, the quintet offered a bright sonata by Scarlatti, played on one of the landings of an upper staircase. Then they walked down a floor for music by Bach (Prelude and Fugue in D minor, S. 539), Debussy (“Pour invoquer Pan” and “Sarabande”), and works by Tom Pierson, Freddie Hubbard, Jason Forsythe and Zappa.

At times, unfortunately, they had to compete with some outdoor street noise, most notably during the middle of Pierson’s intense Brass Quintet. Created in 1994, this fascinating 10-minute work focuses meditative attention on single long-held notes or the construction of complex chords. Faster rhythmic sequences interrupt the musing temporarily, but it returns with drama and urgency.

After Hubbard’s moody “Luana” and Forsythe’s gospel-like “Sanctity,” the musicians closed the program with three Zappa pieces played without breaks and brimming with mad energy--”Lumpy Gravy,” “Marqueson’s Chicken” and “The Black Page.”

The concert was part of the Chamber Music in Historic Sites series sponsored by the Da Camera Society of Mount St. Mary’s College.

* The Meridian Arts Ensemble will play a mostly different program Sunday, Performing Arts Center, Sunny Hills High School, 1801 Warburton Way, Fullerton. 3:30 p.m. (714) 525-5836.