First Noel, The

A standard brass quintet with optional trumpet for horn. The piece opens with a solo trumpet and gradually adds voices until it leads up to a modulation where the theme is now in the lower voices with gentle harmonic shifts. The upper voices respond with more motion until things are met with another modulation. This new section is more stayed until another modulation greets yet another modulation with the parts all intertwining amongst themselves and then… a solemn conclusion.

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.

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.

A standard brass quintet with optional baritone for a sextet. The introduction starts in the tuba and then adds more voices as you would expect- rising! The tune is now bantered about between the upper voices and then lower ones. Modulation! And the Q&A game continues. Another modulation and the tempo suddenly changes to a slower, expressive one with the French horn featured. As before the Q&A continues. Another modulation and an “a tempo” where the piece now in full ensemble starts lower and softer and continually adds activity and pitch raising until a vigorous conclusion.