Mozart – The Sleighride from Thirteen German Dances, K605 No. 3 (Brass Quintet with Sleighbells)

Arranged by Robin Benton, all brass players and their audiences should enjoy this rousing well known March from Verdi's 1871 grand opera Aida. The Egyptian army has returned from its victory over the Ethiopians and the melodies are suitably triumphant in style. The first melody ends with trumpet fanfares leading to the well known second melody which is repeated in a higher key. The opening theme returns and the March ends with a rousing coda.

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.

This arrangement by Robin Benton uses just two of the numerous themes from Richard Wagner's overture to his 1868 opera The Mastersingers of Nuremberg. The opening theme represents the Mastersingers themselves. This dignified melody is stated and then developed contrapuntally, leading to the second theme - this theme is used in the opera for the entry of the Mastersingers. The music builds to a climax that introduces a short reprise of the majestic Mastersingers theme, and triumphant fanfares bring the piece to a rousing finish.

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