It was a four-day art attack by the National Symphony Orchestra, which arrived in Maine late last week.

The orchestra’s members came to share music and expertise, and in doing so performed several concerts and educational events in venues from Bangor to Presque Isle. Today, the musicians head to southern points in the state to finish their 10-day American Residency program.

The group’s final public appearance locally was Tuesday night, when the brass principals from the orchestra performed at St. John’s Catholic Church in Bangor, with local organist Kevin Birch. With performances of 10 pieces by composers whose dates ranged from the 16th century to the 20th century, the concert was yet another example of the NSO working for and with the community.

The selections were primarily of church music, but there were also elements of fantasy and lightness in the performances. The music was ornate but not ostentatious. It seemed to invite many of the 300 audience members to give themselves over to the rich tones, to close their eyes and sit meditatively as the music descended from the choir loft and washed over the nave of the church.

Few settings could be more appropriate in atmosphere and acoustics for this type of music than St. John’s, with its towering ceilings and the notable E.& G.G. Hook organ, arguably one of Bangor’s finest historical jewels. Works by Giovanni Gabrieli sounded bright and royal and round. Sigfrid Karg-Elert’s “Marche triomphale on Nun danket alle Gott” was light and joyful.

Three hymns by Johann Sebastian Bach, including “Nun danket alle Gott” and “In dulci jubilo,” were magisterial, with pure tones and clean trills.

Birch, who is the music director at St. John’s, offered three organ solos, Bach’s “Allein Gott in der Hoh’sei Ehr’,” Dieterich Buxtehude’s Praeludium in G, and Cesar Franck’s Pastorale, opus 19. All were fine achievements but the Franck showed off Birch’s skill and range most entrancingly. He was clearly the right caliber of musician to highlight in this collaborative concert.

Victor Ewald’s romantic Brass Quintet in B-flat minor and the program finale of Richard Strauss’ “Feierlicher Einzug” were sweeping successes for NSO musicians Steven Hendrickson and David Flowers on trumpets, Edwin Thayer on horn, Milton Stevens on trombone, and David Bragunier on tuba.

Such smooth and easy ensemble playing did true justice to the splendor and eloquence of brass instruments. The delightful and warm contribution of these players to the NSO visit in Maine was nothing short of golden.