Saint-Saëns – L’Éléphant from The Carnival of the Animals (Brass Quintet)

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.

Six movements, starting with Quick March which requires some fast and neat tonguing from all members of the quintet. The Polka which follows is full of colour and requires dexterous trumpet playing. The third movement Blues is a long way from a traditional New Orleans blues - with its melancholy mood and Debussy like harmony it is more like a small impressionist tone poem. Merry Waltz is followed by Preamble, a gentle, atmospheric piece at a leisurely walking tempo. The final movement of this suite Tarandtango (Tarantango) cleverly combines two dances, the energetic tarantella and the elegant tango, resulting in an exciting and virtuoso finale.

This arrangement by Alan Danson conveys the triumph and celebration of the Finale of Beethoven's 5th Symphony. The writing is idiomatic and melodic interest is shared between all parts, with rare moments of a contemporary approach to the work here and there. An ideal opener to the second half of a concert. For schools, studios and professionals.

A beautiful melody for French horn, this famous tenor aria, arranged by Tom Whitehurst, is full of soul, passion and tragedy. Vesti La Giubba - put on the costume and prepare to laugh.  For colleges conservatories, professionals, amateurs and community performing groups.