All of the compositions and arrangements on this page include a link to a YouTube video
where you can preview the entire score while listening to a recording.
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Many more brass ensembles and F Horn solos based on hymn tunes are available
on the Church Music/Sacred Instrumental Music page.
Unaccompanied Mixed Brass Duet PREVIEW ON YOUTUBE
A mixed duet for trumpet and trombone or baritone, this piece consists of settings of three New Mexican folk songs with Spanish lyrics. In the first one, I deliberately went for a mariachi sound, hence all the parallel thirds. In the other two, the parts are more independent. Originally written as a contest selection for two of my middle school students in Albuquerque.
GAVOTTE AND VARIATION
Grade: 3
Duration: 1:45
Price: $4.95
Publisher: Dacker Music
Brass Quartet PREVIEW ON YOUTUBE
George Frideric Handel (1685-1759) was one of the most important composers of the late Baroque period. The gavotte is a French dance that was popular during that time. Gavotte and Variation was originally written for keyboard (in Handel's day, it would most likely have been played on the harpsichord).
This quartet for 2 trumpets, horn and trombone is transcribed from an arrangement for mixed woodwind quartet that I originally wrote for my middle school students. Also available voiced for string quartet.
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A LITTLE BARTOK SUITE
Grade: 3
Duration: 4:40
Price: $12.00
Publisher: Dacker Music
Standard Brass Quintet PREVIEW ON YOUTUBE
Great concert and contest repertoire for middle school and young high school players. The 5 very short movements are taken from Bartók’s Piano Pieces for Children, Vol. 1.
Also available scored for standard woodwind quintet and saxophone quartet.
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The individual movements, with locations on the audio track, are listed below:
1. Poco allegretto 0:00
2. Adagio 1:05
3. Allegretto 2:11
4. Molto sostenuto 2:40
5. Allegro robusto 3:48
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Read more about A Little Bartók Suite
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A LITTLE BACH SUITE
Grade: 3
Duration: 7:45
Price: $16.00
Publisher: Dacker Music
Grade: 3
Duration: 7:45
Price: $16.00
Publisher: Dacker Music
Standard Brass Quintet PREVIEW ON YOUTUBE
A Little Bach Suite presents some of the great Baroque master's most familiar melodies in a fun-to-play grade 3 brass quintet setting. Great concert and contest repertoire for advanced middle school and high school players.
Also available scored for standard woodwind quintet and saxophone quartet
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The individual movements, with locations on the audio track are listed below.
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1. Gavotte 0:00
2. Musette 1:20
3. Arioso 2:33
4. Minuet 4:57
5. March 6:31
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Read more about A Little Bach Suite
Download from Score Exchange
ARIOSO
Grade: 3+
Duration: 2:20
Price: $10.00
Publisher: Dacker Music
Brass Sextet (Standard Brass Quintet + 2nd Trombone) PREVIEW ON YOUTUBE
J.S. Bach’s incomparably beautiful Arioso was originally composed as the sinfonia from his cantata, Ich steh mit einem Fuss im Grabe, BWV 156. He must have favored this melody himself, because he later used it again in several other instrumental compositions.
A standard brass quintet voicing of this arrangement can be found as the 3rd movement in A Little Bach Suite (above).
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HUMORESKE FOR TRUMPET AND TROMBONE
Grade: 4+
Duration: 3:15
Price: $9.95
Publisher: Dacker Music
Unaccompanied Trumpet &Trombone Duo PREVIEW ON YOUTUBE
A fun--but challenging--little duet for advanced-intermediate trumpet and trombone players. The title reflects some tongue-in-cheek moments in the music. Outstanding recital or even contest repertoire! Guaranteed to make a big hit wherever you perform it.
The trombone part may be played by euphonium, bassoon, or cello. Playable from this score by Bb clarinet and bassoon or cello, and also available scored for oboe and bassoon, tenor and bass trombone, and horn and bassoon.
Separate parts are included to do away with awkward page turns.
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Download from Score Exchange
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FIRST SUITE FOR BRASS QUARTET
Grade: 5+
Duration: 7:00
Price: $10.00
Publisher: Dacker Music
Brass Quartet PREVIEW ON YOUTUBE
Scored for 2 Bb cornets, F horn, and euphonium, this is a technically and musically challenging work, featuring intricate rhythmic interplay and very ambiguous tonal centers. Although playable by musically advanced high school musicians, it is intended primarily as concert material for serious college-age players and professionals. There is a unifying motif that appears in each of the five short, contrasting movements.
The individual movements, with locations on the audio track, are listed below.
1. Agitated, driving 0:00
2. Slow, expressive 1:02
3. Frantic 3:12
4. Solemn 3:55
5. Quick 5:50
Read more about First Suite for Brass Quartet
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SECOND SUITE FOR BRASS QUARTET
Grade: 4+
Duration: 5:50
Price: $10.00
Publisher: Dacker Music
Brass Quartet PREVIEW ON YOUTUBE
Scored for 2 Bb trumpets and 2 trombones, this sequel to the First Suite for Brass Quartet is a full grade easier and about a minute shorter, but still involves some intricate rhythmic interplay and very ambiguous tonal centers. At grade 4+, this work is within the abilities of reasonably advanced high school musicians, but would be a stretch for most middle schoolers.
The individual movements, with locations on the audio track, are listed below.
1. Quietly 0:00
2. Playfully 1:01
3. Very slowly, mysterious 1:55
4. Lively 3:41
5. Slowly 4:33
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Read more about Second Suite for Brass Quartet
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DELINEATIONS
Grade: 6
Duration: 10:00
Price: $30.00
Publisher: Editions BIM-Brass Press
Standard Brass Quintet PREVIEW ON YOUTUBE
A challenging piece for advanced performers, Delineations is a free variation form based on the seven-measure opening theme, but is not bound to a rigid framework as are traditional theme and variations forms. Some of the variations develop only a single motif of the original theme. The theme, 8 variations, and coda flow together without pause and are arranged so as to fall into a 5-part fast-slow-fast-slow-fast pattern.
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Recording by Florida State University student quintet
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BRASS ENSEMBLES ON HYMN TUNES
There are more brass ensembles based on familiar hymn tunes in the Church Music section, on the Sacred Instrumental Music page. Equally useful in secular recitals and concerts as well as church services, most of these arrangements are titled with the name of the tune rather than that of a hymn which uses it. Hymn tunes usually have sometimes odd names (see image at left) that are not well-known except by church musicians. These titles are fine for concerts and recitals, but if performed in a church service, the name of a season-appropriate hymn that uses the tune should be substituted, as most people would recognize that more than the hymn tune name. The most familiar hymn titles sung to each tune are listed in its website entry and on the score. Alternate voicings, where available, are accessed from the same link on J.W. Pepper. Separate buttons access the alternate voicings on Sheet Music Plus.
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Here is a link: