Brass Choir
Grade 4
3 minutes
Composed for the United States Army Europe Band and premiered October 18, 2005 in Eppelheim, Germany with the composer conducting. The North American premier performance was on March 13, 2007 by the combined brasses of the Dallas Wind Symphony and the United States Army Field Band at Meyerson Symphony Center, Dallas, Texas with the composer conducting.
Available for purchase from Lovebird Music.
Scored for brass choir and bass drum, this fanfare is a dramatic and powerful opener. Unlike most fanfares, it begins quietly with a solo trumpet, evolves into a rich chorale, builds gradually over “distant rumbling,” then finishes with massive blocks of sound accompanied by resounding thumps of the bass drum.
Technically, the piece is only a grade 4, but requires the maturity of sound and musicality of grade 5 or better players.