The New York Brass Sextet Journal Volume #4

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 vigorous piece that begins with extraneous thematic material that goes through various transformations that eventually breaks open to the theme of the title. An exciting brass ensemble that’s certain to please an audience of various venues.

Scored for various mallet instruments as well as general percussion. The piece begins with tutti percusion overlayed with vocal narrations giving a dramatic effect. The piece then explodes with a mallet ostinato and then joined with tutti mallets on the theme. Next, after a ritardando, the mallets present a calm thematic rendition supported by gentle effects of the other percussion. It builds to a strong climax and the ostinato returns with the theme to follow. The final section uses imitative devices with the general percussion becoming more active. Until it all leads up to a stirring conclusion.

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.

A brass sextet scored for two trumpets, horn, trombone, baritone and tuba (and opt. trp for horn). The style is a takeoff of traditional naval tunes. The first section presents the tune in a jovial manner with interludes by the upper brass and continues with motives passed around the various voices. A modulation takes place with thematic material in the lower brass. Now, little snippets of patterns passed around until another modulation leading to material like the beginning. Then a playful exchange of lines leading up to a final kicker.