Brass Ensemble Bass Trombone,Euphonium,Horn,Trumpet,Tuba - Level 2 - Digital Download
SKU: A0.1081137
Composed by Loys Bourgeois. Arranged by Des McNutty. Baroque,Christmas,Praise & Worship,Renaissance,Traditional. Score and parts. 21 pages. Des Press #685273. Published by Des Press (A0.1081137).
Lip-slurs: Not every brass player's idea of fun but an essential facet of technique. In this treatment of Psalm 134, all instruments, except the bass trombone, play their entire part in one position or valve combination with a lot of slurs. Attention must be paid to rhythmic accuracy, both at the beginning of notes and their precise ending. For the best effect, a full tenuto is observed, sustaining each note until it either stops or clicks to the next. Not as easy as it looks! The instruments played can be varied; • Voice 1: Trumpet/cornet/flugelhorn in B♠pressing 1-3; or low F-trumpet open. • Voice 2: Trumpet/cornet/flugelhorn in B♠or bugle or clarion. • Voice 3: Alto trombone (4th pos.); an E♠horn, pressing 1 & 2; or natural trumpet in C. • Voice 4: Tenor trombone in 6th pos. or French horn (open in F) or a baritone/euphonium pressing 1-3. • Voice 5: Tenor trombone in 1st pos. or baritone/euphonium open. • Voice 6: Ideally Bass trombone but fits on tuba, tenor trombone/euphonium etc. A standard brass quintet plus one guest could distribute the parts thusly: • Voices 1 & 2: Two trumpets. • Voice 3: Guest on alto trombone, E♠horn or natural trumpet in C. • Voice 4: Horn open in F as 1st trombone. • Voice 5: Trombone as 2nd trombone • Voice 6: Tuba Some tune-up/ ensemble tuning exercises are included. This setting is a mixture of styles described as contre-pointillist; counterpoint in a natural pointillism where the Cantus Firmus and other lines weave between overlapping harmonic series; and diatonic clusters, which at best will remind listeners of a carillon of church bells. Loys Bourgeois' melody for Psalm 134, better known to Anglophones as The Old Hundredth, was added to the Genevan Psalter in 1551. Leading reformist Calvin had commissioned vernacular (spoken language of the people; in this case, French) settings of Psalm melodies for Protestants to sing and the Genevan Psalter was first published in 1539. Subsequent editions added further melodies but some were still used for more than one Psalm. The lesser-known Lausanne Psalter was the first to give each Psalm its own melody. Psalm 134 is associated with Michaelmas (29th September) and Christmas festivities. Enjoy!
