How Great Our Joy

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 brass quintet with opt. Trumpet for horn and baritone TC. It begins with fanfare motifs of the tune and then breaks into the hymn adding more parts as it progresses. It continues with a Q&A type of dialog between the lower, then upper voices. The second setion in a different key is reminiscent of the opening only this time in the middle voices and again moves in a Q&A type of dialog. Again modulating to a new key the theme is bounced around with rhythmical interest only to finalize in strong chordal patterns and ending on a bold declamation.

A standard brass quintet with optional trumpet for horn. As one might expect the piece is cheerful from beginning to end. After a bright intro, the trumpet carry the tune until handed over to the middle voices with flourishes in the trumpets. After a transition that leads upward to an exciting climax. The piece abruptly shits to a quiet and expressive section lead by the trombone on the theme where it all builds to another zenith and once again abruptly goes quiet. A modulation and meter shift and the piece becomes countrapuntally gentle.. A meter shift back to the beginning and an exuberant building to a joyous conclusion.

A traditional quintet with optional sixth part baritone, this driving arrangement passes the melodic material constantly around the ensemble. A fun piece to play!