Product Description
The University of Breslau awarded Brahms an honorary doctorate in 1879. He sent a postcard expressing his thanks, but was advised that he really should reciprocate by composing a musical work for the institution. He wrote the piece over the summer of 1880 and, early the next year, went back to the university to conduct the premier at a special convocation. School officials attending the performance, probably expecting a serious work honoring the scholarly life, must have been dismayed when they heard what the composer described as a "rollicking potpourri of student songs." The students, on the other hand, must have loved it, because this concert overture is, indeed, composed of four student drinking songs. The fourth of these, "Gaudeamus igitur" (Therefore, let us rejoice), forms the finale, one of the most high-spirited sections in all of Brahms music.
The Breslau administration may have been taken aback, but since then the Academic Festival Overture has become one of Brahms most loved and most performed pieces. And, somewhat ironically, it has also become a favorite at academic ceremonies, such as commencement and graduation.
This adaptation for five brass stays as close as possible to the original orchestral version and was completed in 2012. Performance time runs about 8 minutes, 51 seconds. The arranger, Les Smith, will be happy to provide substitute parts (for example, treble clef baritone for trombone) at no charge. He would like to receive your suggestions, comments, corrections and criticisms. For more arrangements by Les, enter "Sweetwater Brass Press" (without the quotation marks) in the Sheet Music Plus or Sheet Music Direct search box. (Also, purchase of this piece entitles you to your choice of another of his arrangements at no charge; send a copy of your purchase receipt directly to him at lessmith61@bellsouth.net.)
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.