For The Beauty Of The Earth

This woodwind quintet (with opt. parts) is constantly on the move. While the melodic material is always made aware, the accompanying parts are full of movement. Even with metrical changes there is a constant flow giving a sense confidence and resolve. It bubbles from beginning to end and finally makes a solid statement of assurance.

Opening with a fanfare, the first section is in block harmonization with some moving lines. It then moves into melodic statements in the lower instruments with supported obiligatti in the trumpets and horn. The structure again becomes solid in scoring only to return with similar trumpet obbligati. The obbligati is next introduced in the lower voices and then increased rhythmic activity in all voices builds to a solid ending.

A traditional brass quintet with opt. trumpet for horn and extra baritone for use as a sextet. The piece takes off immediately with a thematic statement in the trombone, breaking in a duet with the horn. Additional entries keep massing in the lower voices until most of the ensemble is involved. All of a sudden, the upper brass, silently present the tune in block harmonies until the lower brass present a countermelody. Now! Everybody’s involved. Next, a dialog between the upper brass and middle brass takes place as it alternates back and forth. With a modulation in place the tempo goes slow, the tune is in the lower brass- expressive! All of a sudden from bottom to top motives are presented- in stacked chords…. This goes through different transformations until the piece elevates into an uplifting conclusion.

A traditional brass quintet with an optional baritone part which allows to be a sextet as well. The beginning is active establishing a happy beginning to the piece. Then all the parts are in straight harmonies and then become fragmented. A modulation takes place allowing the lower voices to carry the tune. Then a tuba sola solo commences with light upper parts decorating the lines, until the parts fragment. This concludes with a modulation with motivic statements. After a brief intermission the piece takes off again with the tune in the lower voices and the trumpets add a flurry descants. As the piece comes to a close more and more voices add to the mix until the pieces adds a solid, grand statement.

A traditional brass quintet with opt. trumpet for horn and extra baritone for use as a sextet. The introduction uses extraneous material where it leads in the first theme in the French horn, supplemented by trombone counterlines and trumpet flourishes. Thematic movies are then embellished leading up to a modulation where the tempo slows and a new mood encountered. The first trumpet carries the lead and offset with a horn duet line. Another modulation, an a-tempo with the theme in the low brass and accompaniment lines in the middle brass. This continues until the voices stack up until a boisterous conclusion is achieved.