Verdi – Grand March from Aida (Brass Quintet)

This arrangement of familiar nursery rhymes was intended as a means of introducing younger children to the medium of the brass quintet. Each rhyme is dressed in a musical identity, with each player given plenty of note activity. Some rhymes are slightly tongue in cheek while others are blatantly satirical. The work opens and closes with the rhyme Oranges and Lemons and the medley runs logically lasting for 5 to 6 minutes. It is an ideal encore item or light alternative to follow a quintet that might have challenged both performer and listener. A Medley of Rhymes for Five Brass is a popular addition to serious concert programmes.

Difficult but rewarding arrangements that require trumpet players who can change from the B flat trumpet to the piccolo trumpet with ease. The trombone plays 'second horn' in all the horn call type figures and the tuba part requires some nimble playing. Stephen Wick's excellent arrangements have been heard around the world in his performances with the English Brass Ensemble. For advanced student groups, studios and professionals.

At last, a Mozart arrangement that works for brass! A charming ländler but with the colourful addition of a piccolo trumpet that represents the post horn, and a set of tuned sleighbells (that can be replaced by the more commonly found unpitched sleighbells). Great fun for classy Christmas concerts, but needs a piccolo trumpet player capable of holding high notes! Arranged by Stephen Wick.

This piece won the 1995 Gregynog Composers Award at the Gregynog Music Festival, Wales. It was inspired by Miles Davis's version of George Gershwin's Prayer from Porgy and Bess.