Spirit Song, The

A woodwind quartet for Flute, oboe, and two clarinets with optional parts for flute and alto sax. Plus a set of fifth parts for bassoon or bass clarinet can allow for the piece being a quintet. The first statement is in the clarinets where it leads into a full ensemble passing the lines amongst the parts. A delightful little segue leads to a modulation where the tune is in the lower lines alternated with flourishes in the flutes. This Alternating texture carries on for some time. Then the tempo picks up for a vibrant exclamation where the theme is once again bantered about where it makes one final boast and concludes.

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 woodwind quintet with opt. parts for Alto Sax and Bass Clar. This piece presents itself with a sense of joy throughout with the introduction itself in a motivic manner setting the tone The piece passes through several modulations where the upper voices carry the melodic material while the lower voices support the ensemble with strength. The writing of this arrangement is well crafted to take advantage of the “woodwind quintet sounds.” It continues that way right up to the very end with a declamatory statement of “Mercy.”

Scored for traditional brass quintet, an optional bartione part can be used to expand the piece to a sextet. After an opening upper brass fanfare, the lower parts present the theme in solemn fashion with further extended fanfares from the upper lines. The middle section reverses the stylistic assignments only to be given back to the opening styles. The with a powerful stacking of parts the piece concludes in a triumphant chord.