Boyce – Trumpet Tune in D (Brass Quintet) – Parts Digital Download

This attractive brass quintet based on the traditional sea shanty What Shall We Do With The Drunken Sailor opens with a fanfare followed by a main theme, first on trumpets and then on the horn. A series of linked variations follow, with the tune passed between the instruments in constantly changing tempos and styles. A strong rhythmic accompaniment keeps the sea shanty mood and the piece finishes with a showy flourish. Arranged by Eileen Clews, this light hearted work gives each player the chance to show off their instrument, so making it an ideal concert piece or a study piece for brass workshops.

Written to be light, bright entertainment this work is an interesting, melodic suite with plenty of rhythmic coloration. The four movements are very varied and include a lyrical and soulful horn solo, unusual in this sort of repertoire. For colleges, conservatoires, professionals.

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.

These ingenious arrangements by Ian Lawrence combine the original instrumental and choral lines to create full and varied textures for brass.