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Continental Christmas, A – Brass Quintet
This European Christmas tour begins simply with the piccolo trumpet and trumpet introducing the Basque carol Khanta Zagum (Companions All Sing Loudly). Next is the German carol O Tannenbaum. Last is the Neapolitan carol Canzone d’i Zampognari (When Christ Our Lord Was Born).
Add a continental flair to your next Christmas concert.
Composer: Anne McGinty
Instrumentation: 2 Bb Trumpets, F Horn, Trombone & Tuba
Duration/# of Pages: ca. 2:30 / 13 pages, 8.5″ x 11″
Key: Bb min / Eb -
Twas in the Moon of Wintertime – Brass Octet
This, the first Canadian Christmas carol, was originally written in the Huron language using the melody of a 16th century French carol, Une Jeune Pucelle. This arrangement is as expressive as the story it depicts and the plaintive melody is elegantly scored and always full of promise.
The lyrics are:
Twas in the moon of wintertime when all the birds had fled,
That mighty Gitchi Manitou sent angel choirs instead.
Before their light the stars grew dim,
And wand’ring hunters heard the hymn:
Jesus your king is born, Jesus is born.
In excelsis gloria!Performers:
Marissa Benedict, Larry Hall – Trumpet
Andy Pelletier, Bruce Hudson – Horn
Alex Iles, Andy Malloy – Trombone
Bill Reichenbach – Bass Trombone
Doug Tornquist – TubaComposer: Anne McGinty
Instrumentation: 2 Bb Trumpets, 2 F Horns, 2 Tenor Trombones, Bass Trombone & Tuba
Duration/# of Pages: ca. 5:00 / 16 pages, 8.5″ x 11″
Key: N/A -
Changes – Flute Choir
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: Piccolo, 4 C Flutes, Alto Flute & Bass Flute
Duration/# of Pages: ca. 9:30 / 48 pages, 8.5″ x 11″
Key: N/A -
Feels Like Far – Mixed Quintet
Sometimes the intimacy and intensity of a shared experience is best expressed by music. The character of each of these five instruments is retained in this unique combination, yet they blend into a new and distinct sound with timbres that are seemingly remote from the traditional sounds associated with them. This music transcends the composer’s imagination and you, both the performer and the audience, have the opportunity to hear your own personal journey that feels like far.
The sample score and sample mp3 include all three movements.
Total duration: ca. 11:15
Movement 1 – Slow Dancing (4:38)
Movement 2 – Memories Of A Lost Love (4:57)
Movement 3 – Distractions (2:36)
Performers:
Patti Cloud – Flute
Don Foster – Clarinet
Marissa Benedict – Trumpet
Jenny Kim – Horn
Doug Tornquist – TubaComposer: Anne McGinty
Instrumentation: Flute, Bb Clarinet, Bb Trumpet, F Horn & Tuba
Duration/# of Pages: ca. 11:15 / 58 pages, 8.5″ x 11″
Key: N/A
