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Tomorrow Shall Be My Dancing Day – Trombone Quartet
This traditional English carol first appeared in 1833, but it likely much older. Its origin is most likely in the medieval mystery play, which represented the Bible stories as tableaux with accompanying antiphonal songs. Many composers have arranged this traditional tune, including Gustav Holst and Igor Stravinsky.
Composer: Bill Reichenbach
Instrumentation: 3 Tenor Trombones and 1 Bass Trombone
Duration/# of Pages: ca. 2:10 / 20 pages, 8.5″ x 11″
Key: Bb – C (no key sig) -
Tuba & 12 – Mixed Large Ensemble
Tuba & 12 was inspired by a Bedouin proverb that states: “While the words are yet unspoken, you are master of them; when once they are spoken, they are master of you.”
Proverbs, in general, state a general piece of advice. This piece assumed that words were spoken, resulting in tension and an apology. Relationships, the first movement, has brass vs. woodwinds, tonality vs. dissonance, duples vs. triplets, et al. as well as the synergy and cooperation among all. Unspoken Words is the second movement and the dissonant opening theme in the piccolo and flute is presented three times. The third movement is Resolution. Over a constant low pedal G, the horn ostinato adds tranquility as all the themes from the first two movements return in fragmented form, before all is finally resolved.
Although tuba has top billing in the title, each instrument is equally important.
The sample score shows the first page of each of the three movements. The complete recording is available for free.
Composer: Anne McGinty
Instrumentation: Piccolo, Flute, 2 Clarinets, Alto Saxophone, Bass Clarinet, 2 Trumpets, 2 Horns, 2 Trombones & Tuba
Duration/# of Pages: ca. 11:00 / 75 pages, 8.5″ x 11″
Key: N/A -
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 -
Twas in the Moon of Wintertime – Flute Choir
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!The Ohio State University Flute Troupe, directed by Katherine Borst Jones, recorded this piece. The full version is available for your listening pleasure under Hear an Excerpt.
Composer: Anne McGinty
Instrumentation: 4 C Flutes, 2 Alto Flutes, Bass Flute & Contrabass Flute
Duration/# of Pages: ca. 5:00 / 16 pages, 8.5″ x 11″
Key: N/A
