The New York Brass Sextet Journal Volume #8

Scored for 2 trumpets, horn, trombone, baritone and tuba this medley is a celebration of Christmas. Included are “Joy To The World,” “Angels We Have Heard On High,” “Silent Night,” and “O Come, All Ye Faithful.”

A brass sextet with opt. parts for flugelhorn and BHTC. The beginning presents a vigorous fanfare where it settles down into solemn rendition of “Leaning On The Everlasting Arms.” After a motivic transition the piece continues with a tuba solo “A Shelter In The Time Of Storm”. with more open scoring passing the tune around amongst the parts. Another modulation, another tune- this time “The Solid Rock” in a slower tempo giving resolve and purpose. The Coda is in a fanfare stance gaining more power leading up to the final chord.

(brass bnd opt parts)

This piece starts out in a plaintive style in the upper brass and then is responded in like kind by the lower brass. The second section transposes up a step and with more contrapuntal design giving more tension only to settle down to a sense of consolation.

The score is set up various woodwinds to supplement the brass arrangement including: “God Of Our Fathers,” “Battle Hymn of the Republic,” and ending with “America.” It captures all the grandeur and majesty one would expect in an arrangement such as this.