SKU: A0.1095398

This is a brilliant arrangement of the first movement Longing of William Grant Still's Afro-American Symphony  for a brass choir of four B-flat trumpets, four horns in F, three trombones, euphonium and tuba. William Grant Still's Afro-American Symphony was one of the most significant classical orchestra compositions of the early 1930s to incorporate African-American folk influences. Premiered by the Rochester Philharmonic Orchestra in October 1931 at conductor Howard Hanson's notable American Music Festival, it brought the melancholy flavor of the Blues to the symphony. For William Grant Still the Blues was a distinct African-American musical contribution, separate from the spiritual and popular jazz, and he wanted to incorporate it into a symphonic work based on Western classical symphonic instrumentation and forms. As part of the early 20th Century Harlem Renaissance in New York City, this work was enthusiastically received across the USA and overseas. Pair this brass choir arrangement of the first movement Longing with the third movement Humor also at Charles Decker Music Press to enliven a concert with colorful rhythms, soulful melodies and blues harmonies. Beyond brass ensemble programs feature your band or orchestra brass section on this memorable and exciting arrangement.

“The Music of Black Composers Series is a welcome and timely addition to the brass repertoire. Interesting music, expertly arranged, fun to perform, and well received by audiences. Highly recommended!�   Wesley Nance, Rochester Philharmonic Orchestra, Eastman School of Music

“I was so pleased to see the great works arranged for brass ensemble by Charles Decker Music Press especially the Music of Black Composers’ Series. It was especially rewarding to perform several of these with Summit Brass and with the students attending the Rafael Mendez Brass institute. Please keep these wonderful settings coming. You have provided the brass world with some real gems.�  Joseph Parisi, Director Summit Brass, Fountain City Brass Band, University of Missouri Kansas City Conservatory Wind Ensemble

The Interlochen Arts Academy and the University of Denver have purchased the Music of Black Composer Series with Charles Decker Music Press and the summer Rafael Mendez Brass Institute and Eastman School of Music uses the series arrangements in their chamber and brass ensembles music programs. 

See 50+ homogeneous brass editions for trumpet, horn and trombone ensembles and 75+ mixed brass ensemble publications with Charles Decker Music Press at Sheet Music Plus for inexperienced to advanced musicians with music ranging from the Renaissance to contemporary new works for trios, quartets, quintets, brass choir and brass band. Many of the mixed brass ensemble editions include alternate and substitute parts being alternate C trumpet parts for B-flat trumpet parts, flugelhorn/trumpet substitute for horn, horn substitute for trombone and treble clef euphonium substitute for trombone. To see our Music of Black Composers Series enter “Black Composers Series� in the search box at Charles Decker Music Press for 25 arrangements for mixed brass ensembles ranging from early jazz to symphonic works with composers Samuel Coleridge-Taylor, R. Nathaniel Dett, William Grant Still, Will Marion Cook, James Reese Europe, James Johnson and others.

SKU: A0.899867

Genre: March

Length: 2:48

Instrumentation: Alto Saxophone and Euphonium

King Cotton is a military march composed in 1895 by John Philip Sousa, for the Cotton States and International Exposition (1895). The expression King Cotton in general refers to the historically high importance of cotton as a cash crop in the southern United States. This fun arrangement and challenging arrangement for alto saxophone and euphonium is sure to be a crowd favorite and includes altissimo passages in the saxophone part.

The Composer:

John Philip Sousa (November 6, 1854 – March 6, 1932) was an American composer and conductor of the late Romantic era, known primarily for American military and patriotic marches. Because of his mastery of march composition, he is known as The March King, or the American March King due to his British counterpart, Kenneth J. Alford also being known by the former nickname. Among his best-known marches are The Stars and Stripes Forever (National March of the United States of America), Semper Fidelis (Official March of the United States Marine Corps), The Liberty Bell (used as the theme for Monty Python's Flying Circus), The Thunderer and The Washington Post.

The Arranger:

Email: alburden9012@eagle.fgcu.edu

Alexander Burden is a Florida born, professional musician and music educator residing in Southwest Florida. There, he is the music teacher at Westside Elementary in Clewiston. Concurrent with his duties at Westside, he also teaches private and group instrumental music lessons and preforms regularly with various professional ensembles throughout Southwest Florida. Burden holds a Bachelor of Music Education degree with an instrumental concentration from the Bower School of Music at Florida Gulf Coast University in Fort Myers, Florida. There he studied under world renowned saxophonist Mario Bernardo. He also holds an Associate of Arts degree with a Music Education and Saxophone Performance concentration from Eastern Florida State College where he was a student of James Bishop. During his time at the Bower School of music, he served as principle saxophonist in the FGCU Wind Orchestra, lead alto in the Jazz Band Flight: Jazz at FGCU, and played soprano saxophone in the Bower Saxophone Quartet. Alexander was selected to play tenor saxophone in the 2017 National Intercollegiate Band as well as principle alto saxophone in the 2017 Florida All-State Intercollegiate Band and tenor saxophone in the 2016 Florida All-State Intercollegiate Band. In November of 2015, Alexander participated in a critically acclaimed performance at Carnegie Hall in New York City with the FGCU Wind Orchestra.

SKU: A0.924437

Most everyone likes cowboy songs, and Ghost Riders in the Sky is one of the most exciting to hear and perform.  This arrangement gives each musician in the brass quintet several solo opportunities and excellent rhythmic challenges.  The lyrics tell the frightful story of a cowboy receiving a sobering warning to change your ways, or else!  (see page two of the music.)

Stan Jones was an American songwriter and actor, primarily writing Western music. He is best remembered for writing the legendary (ghost) Riders in the Sky (A Cowboy Legend), which has been called the #1 Western song ever written.

Playing time = 2.5 minutes

Find SMP arrangements; just search CHOPP for good quintet music.  

Music by Bach, Bartok, Billings, Holtz, Mussorgsky, Jewish Folksongs and several 16th Century composers are available at MusicForBrass.com.  Just search CHOPP.

jmchopp@hughes.net