Product Description
"Classical Gas" by Mason Williams, arranged for Solo Unaccompanied Euphonium by Sarah Houle, 2024.
What a lovely (and fun!) piece this has been to arrange for solo euphonium! Originally for guitar, it was quite an interesting task figuring out how best to outline the chord structures for a monophonic brass instrument. The arrangement includes a slower, more simple introduction, development sections, chorus sections, and sort of an outtro. The piece is a lovely cross between expressive and technical classical feel and a dancing/driving popular music format complete with verses, choruses and bridges.
Often, in the places where the original guitar plays two or more notes in chordal fashion, the euphonium will either play grace notes or an altered rhythm to accommodate the chord structure. The grace notes are always slurred, their length designated by the note values used. Many of the passages are fully articulated rather than slurred, so care will need to be taken to play in the correct style for the arrangement to be performed well. Technical passages, especially those with syncopation, must dance. It is highly recommended to listen to an original guitar recording to get this feel!
Additionally, the euphonium will need to breathe, so there are also breathing 'suggestions' in the arrangement. The arrangement doesn't stretch into the lowest euphonium range, but it does hang out on multiple high C's and B's in every chorus, so there is a bit of difficulty there in retaining stability through those passages.
Enjoy this arrangement of "Classical Gas" for Unaccompanied Solo Euphonium!
This product was created by a member of ArrangeMe, Hal Leonard's global self-publishing community of independent composers, arrangers, and songwriters. ArrangeMe allows for the publication of unique arrangements of both popular titles and original compositions from a wide variety of voices and backgrounds.