A Graduate Of The Juilliard School, Kamen Was Lead Singer And Oboist With The Famed 1960S Chamber Music Group, New York Rock And Roll Ensemble. He Subsequently Became A Successful And Prolific Film Composer With Scores To The Die Hard Trilogy, X-Men, Lethal Weapon, Mr. Holland's Opus And More Than 70 Others.

Michael Kamen Wrote Quintet At The Request Of His Juilliard Schoolmate And Former Canadian Brass Trumpet Ronald Romm. The Canadian Brass Has Performed It Often, And Recorded It On The Cd Amazing Brass. The Group Also Produced A Filmed Performance Of "Quintet," Which Has Been Broadcast In The U.S. And Canada. The Emotionally Moving Piece Soon Became A Tribute To The Composer After His Untimely Death.