Category: SOLOS for E♭. Horn Composer: Karl Jenkins Arranger: Tony Small
Psalm from Saint David from Adiemus IV - the Eternal Knot Solo for Eb Horn & Brass Band
John Wallace, as Chairman of the commissions committee of the International Trumpet Guild, invited ten contemporary composers of international repute to compose music of a lyrical nature for the trumpet in order to enrich the repertoire. The book, entitled GO BLOW YOUR OWN! was released in 2001. The first piece in the book: SALM 0 DEWI SANT is by Karl Jenkins and he dedicated it to his good friends: Tony, Gareth and Ian Small, ‘Trumpets Three’.
The composer’s performance notes describes his composition as “A hymn in praise of Saint David, the Patron Saint of Wales. Aim for a mellow sound in this simple yet telling devotional melody. Take time over the fast notes, playing them in a leisurely, languid fashion “. DEWI SANT(Saint David): c.520 — 589 A.D.
This arrangement by Tony Small, for solo Tenor Horn ( also available for Flugel Horn in a different key ) and Brass Band, was first performed by Penclawdd Brass Band, of which Karl is the President.
FOOTNOTE: Karl Jenkins was commissioned by BBC Wales to write a choral work with orchestral accompaniment - ‘DEWI SANT’- for a televised performance from St David’s Cathedral in Pembrokeshire. The first public performance was given at St David’s Hall, Cardiff on the 1st March, 2000 (St. Davids Day). Karl has gained universal recognition for his Adiemus project and wrote ‘Adiemus iv: The Eternal Knot’ for a six-part major television documentary on ‘THE CELTS’, deservedly winning a Welsh BAFTA for the soundtrack, which includes SALM.
Categories: SOLOS - ANY B♭. Inst., NEW & RECENT Publications, Michael Bennett Collection Composer: Michael Bennett
Written for unaccompanied Bb. Trumpet.
Elegy for McCrae
Elegy for McCrae was composed and dedicated to fellow Aberdonian, cellist and composer Kevin McCrae whose sudden and tragic death in April 2005 stunned the musical community of Scotland.
The piece for unaccompanied solo trumpet takes the form of a Scottish lament in which the interval of a diminished twelve permeates. There is also in the lower register a repeated figure similar to that of a leitmotif and echoes are also a feature of the piece.
After the initial lament there is an agitato section where the original theme is developed technically with cascading semiquavers and octave leaps. There is then a recapitulation of the original lament followed by a short Adagio which quotes in the minor “The Northern Lights of Old Aberdeen”.
As Michael Tumelty wrote in “The ( Glasgow) Herald” “Kevin was a Musician in a million. He was a joker, a great companion and a master of his art”.
Categories: NEW & RECENT Publications, SOLOS - ANY B♭. Inst., Michael Bennett Collection Composer: Michael Bennett
Heroes
Heroes for unaccompanied solo trumpet was composed in April 2020 and is dedicated to all our NHS workers. During this pandemic many of our NHS workers have paid the ultimate sacrifice whilst looking after and caring for us. Their sacrifice must never be forgotten.
The piece starts off as a type of fanfare but right away there is a kind of leitmotif of two low quaver Gs which represent heartbeats. Sometimes they are strong and other times weak but they are always there just like our NHS workers. After the initial statement there is a more legato section which takes as it’s premise the notes of the fanfare. An accelerando leads into a Scherzo when the technique and range of the performer is tested with fast tonguing and cascading semiquavers. A rallentando brings us to a recapitulation of the main theme and the piece ends with the heartbeat low Gs signalling hope over adversity.
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