Over the past two decades, the contemporary brass performer has regained the acclaim that musicians once enjoyed in the Renaissance and Baroque, when joyous and festive fanfares resounded throughout Europe and the brass player was an important, even indispensable, contributor to religious worship, state occasions and public celebrations. Today, once again brass virtuosi have moved to the forefront of musical life as soloists and ensemble players. And thanks to the tremendous technical improvements in instrument manufacture, brass performance has reached levels never dreamed of in the past.