The core of this group is composed of 5 musicians that form a quintet playing the tuba, the trombone, the French horn, and two trumpets; this traditional formation originates from the symphony orchestra chamber music formations. However, the musicians in these formations may, depending on the requirements of each musical work, change instruments, and the trumpeter may play 'piccolo' or 'flugelhorn'. In more specific cases, and taking into account the complexity of the works played, some pieces may require the incorporation of percussion instruments.
Chamber music, as the name implies, is a style that allows for a reduction in the dimensions of orchestral music for smaller and closed venues. It emerged in antiquity, with the need to take instrumental music (with few performers) to the nobles' palaces.
Since brass instruments were only developed in the 19th century (with the appearance of the 'keys' or 'pistons'), the brass quintet only appeared on the music scene, with its current formation, in the 20th century. The groups Chicago Brass Quintet, (1940s), American Brass Quintet (1950s), and Eastman Brass Quintet (1960s) were the driving forces behind this formation. However, it was in the 1970s, with the formation of Canadian Brass (supported since then by Yamaha Instruments) that the brass quintet asserted itself in the world of chamber music.
Canadian Brass established both the style and popularity of the brass quintet around the world, having performed in over 5,000 concerts and having sold over 500,000 scores, thus creating a vast library of over 600 compositions and arrangements for brass quintets, demonstrating the rise of the brass quintet phenomenon to an international level.
Throughout the 20th century, the brass quintet has produced a considerable number of musical works, always with the American Brass and Canadian Brass groups in the backdrop, as they continue to contribute greatly to the worldwide projection of the style.