Away In A Manger

A brass sextet with opt. parts for flugelhorn and BHTC. The beginning presents a vigorous fanfare where it settles down into solemn rendition of “We’ve A Story To Tell To The Nations.” After a modulation the piece continues with “I Love To Tell The Story” with more open scoring passing the tune around amongst the parts. Another modulation, another tune- this time “Send The Light” in a march style giving purpose. Another modulation leading into “Since I Have Been Redeemed” in the upper parts, only to be followed with the theme in the lower voices. Then after a sequence of cascading entrance the piece concludes on a resounding sense of resolve.

(3-tp, 3-trb, opt hn, bar, tba): To God Be the Glory; I Will Praise Him; Holy, Holy, Holy; Come Christians Join to Sing

A woodwind sextet with standard quintet instrumentation only with two flutes. The piece is structured around the simple tune and is passed around through the various instruments all the while supported with moving parts by the remaining instruments The counterpoint is solid throughout and makes for a very reflective ensemble rendition.

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.

A mini suite that is based on 1) God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen” and, 2) “We Gather Together” an Austrian carol from the 17th century.The score is solid in part management but adds motifs of punctuation to add flavor. There are optional percussion parts for those who want to add more color to the performance.