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  • Changes – Brass Sextet

    M.F.K. Fisher, in her book The Gastronomical Me, wrote poignant stories of her life and career based on memorable meals and her experiences with food. When asked by Julia Child why she chose food and hunger for these stories, Mrs. Fisher replied, “When I write about hunger, I am really writing about love and the hunger for it, and warmth, and the richness and fine reality of a hunger satisfied.”

    Changes tries to capture that warmth and richness and reality musically. The titles of the three movements are chapter titles from this book, with the music reflecting the many changes that are an inevitable part of living.

    The first two movements are both slow and reflective. In the first movement each instrument has something to say and shares it with the others, with the resulting interchanges both bitter and sweet. The second movement, dreamlike as suggested by the title, recalls big dreams as well as little dreams—success, frustration and finally satisfaction. The final movement is playful and at times humorous, with a flurry of notes and amusing syncopations, a drastic change from the first two movements. The ending, with tongue in cheek and consideration of the meter used, is indeed a feminine ending in the classical sense as it does end on the second beat.

    The sample score shows the first page of each of the three movements. At this time there is no recording available.

    Composer: Anne McGinty
    Instrumentation: Trumpet, 2 Horns, 2 Trombones & Tuba
    Duration/# of Pages: ca. 9:30 / 44 pages, 8.5″ x 11″
    Key: N/A

    Score & Parts $35.00
  • Haec Dies – Flute Choir

    This joyous 6-part motet is a welcome addition to the flute choir repertoire. In polyphonic and imitative style, each voice is important to the overall structure. A student of Thomas Tallis, William Byrd was the leading English composer of his time, a great master of the Renaissance along with Giovanni Palestrina and Orlando de Lassus, and left a huge legacy of printed music. The lyrics are: “This is the day the Lord has made; let us rejoice and be glad in it. Alleluia.” Each time the word rejoice appears, the melody ascends, giving added brightness and lift. The common pronunciation of “Haec” is “eck” although it may also be pronounced as “hike.” Haec dies means this is the day.

    Composer: Anne McGinty
    Instrumentation: 5 C Flutes & Alto Flute
    Duration/# of Pages: ca. 2:15 / 13 pages, 8.5″ x 11″
    Key: N/A

    Score & Parts $15.00
  • Drive-thru – Brass Quintet

    Hungry? This is an impatient trip through traffic on the way to the drive-thru. There are blaring horns, near collisions, a dump truck backing up (so obnoxious and so irritating), and finally there you are, waiting in line. The 1st trumpet asks “may I take your order” and finally the tuba gets to order a cheeseburger, fries and a chocolate milkshake. The order is, of course, repeated over the speaker, accomplished by trombone with a harmon. More waiting, more impatience, more car horns, and finally you are satisfied. Aaah

    This piece will be a great hit with your audience. And there are absolutely no calories!

    The mp3 excerpt is from the Tower Brass Quintet CD, Road Trip. (Used with permission.)

    Composer: Anne McGinty
    Instrumentation: 2 Trumpets, Horn, Trombone & Tuba
    Duration/# of Pages: ca. 3:25 / 21 pages, 8.5″ x 11″
    Key: N/A

    Score & Parts $21.00
  • Nymphes des Bois (Josquin) – Brass Quintet

    Nymphes des bois, also known as La Déploration de Johannes Ockeghem, is a lament by Josquin des Prez (ca. 1445 – 1521) on the death of his predecessor, Ockeghem. Josquin was one of the most influential Renaissance composers and was considered a great master of his time.

    The music is based on a poem (elegy) by Jean Molinet, a French poet and composer. The descending thirds in the chorus represent the names of the composers of that time: Josquin, Pierson, Brumel and Compére.

    The lyrics to the chorus are:

    Put on the clothes of mourning.
    Josquin, Pierson, Brumel, Compére.
    And weep great tears from your eyes,
    For you have lost your good father.
    May they rest in peace.
    Amen

    Excerpt graciously provided by the Tower Brass Quintet.

    Composer: Anne McGinty
    Instrumentation: 2 Trumpets, Horn, Trombone & Tuba
    Duration/# of Pages: ca. 3:15 / 10 pages, 8.5″ x 11″
    Key: N/A

    Score & Parts $21.00