Product Description
O Little Town of Bethlehem
Trumpet Trio
MTR 0343 4146
By Phillips Brooks
and Lewis H. Redner
Arr. Eddie Lewis
Add a little variety to your trumpet Christmas music program
with this original arrangement of O Little Town of Bethlehem.
This trumpet trio version of the popular Christmas carol
begins with tag team duets for the first verse (in the key of F/E flat concert).
Then there is an interlude going into the second verse, which is reharmonized
in the relative minor (D/C concert minor). The last chord of the second verse
is D7 which is used for a quick modulation to G/F concert in the last verse.
There is an amen tag at the end.
The tag team duets in the first verse are meant to give the players
a chance to rest. This is the type of arrangement that is appropriate for
Christmas gigs. The problem with trumpet trios is that many arrangements dont include
resting time. This is especially true with Christmas carols. This can lead to
too much down time between songs. The tag team duets help add a little variety
to the "texture" of the arrangement while also giving the players an
opportunity to rest.
The most interesting verse in this arrangement is the middle
verse, in the relative minor key. It has a reverent sound with a little more
dissonance than in major. The only section that didnt work in minor is in the
third phrase of the Christmas carol. So we barrowed back from the major (D
major) for three bars before returning to the minor key again.
Trumpet Apprentice Skill Level
The highest note in the first part is B flat above the
staff. There are two of these and most of the part is in the staff.
Other than the range in the first part, the rest of the
piece is relatively simple.
Practice Recommendations
Phrasing is the biggest concern in this arrangement of O
Little Town of Bethlehem. It is very important to breathe between phrases and
to move the dynamics up and down to make the music sound human. This also
requires special attention to the dynamics.
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.