Reserved Renaissance writing for piccolo trumpets and tabor gives way to white-knuckle-fast mixed meter. The audience members have to pick themselves up off the floor and fix their hair after this one. Also available for brass choir.
Instrumentation: British Brass Band - Digital Download
Somewhere between Mahler's offstage fanfares and rock-influenced movie music, you will find this powerful rendition of "The Little Drummer Boy." Snare drum is featured, of course. Also available for brass choir. Instrumentation: British Brass Band
Chanukah written in a klezmer style. Piccolo trumpet covers the mandatory pyrotechnic wailing of the clarinet, and optional percussion adds to the celebration. Also available for brass choir, double quintet, and brass quintet.
Instrumentation: British Brass Band - Digital Download
The Catalonian carol comes screaming in from a Mediterranean market. After a free-rhythm "call to prayer," the arrangement rushes headlong through the melody in mixed meters and drives to a heart-stopping finish. Also available for brass choir and double quintet. Instrumentation: British Brass Band
A seven-movement parody of Tchaikovsky's popular ballet, including: March - Tchaikovsky's music transforms into a brassy Sousa march; Sugarplum Blues - The celesta wanders off into a 12-bar dream solo; Latin Dance - Chocolate goes Mocha, updating the Spanish Dance; Bulgarian Dance - The Trepak visits multi-metered Eastern Europe; Chinese Dance - Tea for Tuba feature, quoting the punned tune; Arabian Dance - Sinuous sliding opened up for flugelhorn solos; Dance of the Brass Pipes - Less prissy than for reeds, down and dirty. Instrumentation: British Brass Band
Drop-dead beautiful Romantic writing leaves the listeners glowing in the smoldering light of brass. The simple German carol rides over complex undercurrents. No percussion; not difficult. Also available for brass choir. Instrumentation: British Brass Band
The western classic works unbelievably well for brass. I can't tell you how insanely popular this arrangement is. Expect whoops and hollers in response to Stan Jones' 1948 hit. Also available for brass choir and trombone octet. Instrumentation: British Brass Band
The 13th century trope sung in English as "Of The Father's Love Begotten." Absolutely gorgeous, shimmering writing which pays homage to this tune's Gregorian roots. One of our best-sellers of all time. Not difficult to perform; no percussion. Also available for brass choir and concert band.
Instrumentation: British Brass Band, no percussion
Reflecting on the text of the traditional English carol, which does after all touch on infanticide, I came up with an artfully questioning introduction, tense development, and ultimately settling and peaceful resolution. This arrangement offers opportunities for a riveting performance. Also available for brass choir. Instrumentation: British Brass Band
Quickly flowing, but with a peacefully rocking feel, this version is a virtuosic feature for a cornet player with a richly varied background. Also available for brass choir. Instrumentation: British Brass Band
River of the Spokanes by William Berry I. Bowl & Pitcher II. Antoine Plante Ferry III. Spokane Falls
Commissioned by the Spokane British Brass Band for their tenth anniversary.
The Spokane River and the falls are the reason the city of Spokane is here. Long before our current culture developed the area, the Spokane tribe populated the falls; it was the farthest upstream the salmon could swim. These three movements for traditional brass band instrumentation, with two percussionists, honor three moods of the river. The first portrays rippling eddies, a bit of whitewater, and the river cutting through the rocks. Plante Ferry is a quiet bend in the river, where crossing is possible, and this movement is a placid and peaceful song. Spokane Falls is a quick, shimmering, and playful movement culminating in a blazingly powerful fanfare. The three movements last about 13 minutes, and were intended as an aspirational challenge for the traditional amateur band structure in the form of a contest piece which would show off every instrument and the full ensemble's abilities. Instrumentation: British Brass Band
Yes, the much-maligned song in a hair-raisingly energetic version audiences absolutely fall in love with. A big brass sound with options for African percussion. British Brass Band instrumentation.
The wildest sleigh ride you will ever survive. Since this song is so well known, taking it to a fun place comes naturally, and the musicians are asked to skirt the edges of sanity, playing at the limits to replicate racing in the snow and rowdy winter games. Brass Choir Instrumentation: 4431P
The inherent repetition in this carol is transformed via searingly fast minimalism and splashes of color into a mesmerizing atmospheric journey. The audience will be hypnotized and transfixed. Brass Choir Instrumentation: 4431P
A trumpet fanfare on the old Scottish tune "Bright Day Star" opens the proceedings, a West African drum groove follows, and hot, rhythmic brass licks drive it the rest of the way. Only three trumpet parts, so the fourth can participate in the drumming. Brass Choir Instrumentation: 3431P
John Dowland's madrigal, which is also known as the Earl of Essex Gailliard, in a heart-pounding traditional treatment. Some parts are rife with ornamentation, other parts are written to be less demanding. Brass Choir Instrumentation: 4431P with opt. Euphonium
Scott Joplin's subtitle for this 1904 work is "An Afro-American Intermezzo," but this is jaunty ragtime at its finest. Brass Choir Instrumentation: 4431P with opt. Euphonium
Giacomo Puccini wrote his string quartet in one night in 1890 upon hearing of the death of a friend. In Italy Chrysanthemums are a symbol for the departed. Absolutely gorgeous operatic melodies push and pull throughout. Brass Choir Instrumentation: 4431 with opt. Euphonium
A well-crafted, upbeat, and catchy dance hit, which works amazingly well for a big brass group. The opening introduces ABBA's themes in the style of Richard Strauss. A hoot to play, and the audience can't sit still. Brass Choir Instrumentation: 4431P with opt. Euphonium
Praetorius' Renaissance dance rhythms and counterpoint orchestrated for maximum variety and impact. Brass Choir Instrumentation: 4431P with opt. Euphonium
Smiles all around for Vincent Youmans' charmingly sophisticated tune, featured in the 1924 show, No No Nanette. Brass Choir Instrumentation: 4431P with opt. Euphonium
