Founded in 1995 by members of the Jeunesses Musicales World Orchestra during a tour in South-East Asia, WorldBrass quickly grew to become one of the most renowned and well-respected brass ensembles on the European continent. True to its origins at Jeunesses Musicales, the ensemble consists still today of musicians from many different countries, such as England, Germany, Australia, Slovenia, Canada, France, Luxembourg and The Netherlands. Throughout its existence it has been the ensemble’s intention to expand the range and scope of brass-ensemble music by commissioning new pieces and arrangements, both in order to stretch its own capabilities as well as to entertain its listeners on the highest possible level.

This has resulted so far in no fewer than 19 compositions and 33 arrangements commissioned by the ensemble. In 2015 WorldBrass celebrated its 20th anniversary as an ensemble, and to celebrate this occasion a selection of these original commissions has been recorded and is now being released on this Pentatone album. The result is a fascinating cross-section of music covering a wide artistic and stylistic spectrum.