Product Description
This Brass Quintet won the 1996 Fine Arts Festival Music Award
at Illinois State University, an international competition.
Songs of the
Warrior, a Brass Quintet in three movements, utilizes thematic material derived
from a twelve-tone row, presented in three contrasting styles. While the piece stands on its own as absolute
music following traditional formal structures, the titles of each movement do
suggest a setting befitting the mood or atmosphere evoked by the music.
I. The Cannons Mouth
Following a slightly modified version of the classical
sonata allegro form, this movement presents the thematic material in a freely
atonal setting, Much use is made of variations of ancient two note war-horn
calls, which would command soldiers to advance into direct combat with an
enemy.
II. Amidst the Fallen
The second movement evokes images of the aftermath of battle
and the horrors left on the field of war.
Dynamic and rhythmic elements in the music produce a classic arch
form. Melodic and harmonic structures
are developed throughout the movement.
III. Revelry
A complete departure in style from the previous movements, Revelry features upbeat modal harmony
and foot-tapping rhythms. Thematic
material borrowed from the earlier movements is transformed to conform to the
desired atmosphere. The form of the
movement is best described as a hybrid rondo and variations. The light-hearted mood is perhaps a
reflection of the joy found when a soldier returns to his home.
This quintet presents three stylistically distinct
movements, yet all are based on the same thematic sources. The first movement is somewhat cerebral and
demands much virtuosity from the performers.
The second is darker, with some almost lyrical melodic lines. The final movement is nothing if not
bombastic. All-in-all, Songs of the Warrior provides a little
something for everyone, from Berlioz to Schoenberg, with a little Bernstein on
the side.
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.