Concerto for Ten Brass Players

From Wind Repertory Project
Richard Rodney Bennett

Richard Rodney Bennett


General Info

Year: 1988
Duration: c. 16:00
Difficulty: VI (see Ratings for explanation)
Publisher: Novello Music
Cost: Score and Parts - Rental from G. Schirmer


Instrumentation

Full Score
Horn in F
C Trumpet I-II-III-IV (doubling D Trumpet and B-flat Flugelhorn)
Trombone I-II-III
Bass Trombone
Tuba


Errata

None discovered thus far.


Program Notes

This work is in three sections with a coda. The first section is a series of three attempts to establish a rhythmic, fanfare-like motive, but interrupted by a falling tuba quintuplet. The section ends with horn and first trombone taking up this quintuplet rhythm. The central section is a scherzando, with once again the material being interrupted, this time by the horn, with a series of three recitatives. A short repetition of the opening fanfares leads to a coda in which the quintuplet rhythm is finally taken up, affirmatively by the whole ensemble.

The three movements exploit soloistic and ensemble possibilities in a concertante manner. The first movement begins with a series of pyramid-like phrases, each of them based on a repeated rhythm in the lower instruments, with arpeggio figures rising to another repeated note pattern at its peak. The trombones introduce a more unified, rhythmic theme repeated and expanded by the trumpets, all accompanied by a rather angular tuba counterpoint. A plunging declamation in the bass trombone sets off a development of these two ideas. Two versions of the opening 'pyramid' close the movement, the first of them considerably extended. Begins with a flugelhorn recitative, punctuated by trombone chords and a chattering muted trumpet texture. A trumpet takes up the recitative in more aggressive manner before a flowing second theme appears, firstly in the flugel, horn and trombones, with the chattering trumpets still in evidence, and then in the trumpets. Once again the tuba has an accompanying counterpoint. This theme is extended to reach a climax where the trumpets repeat the opening flugel recitative. There is now a capitulation of a second theme with the tuba line eventually emerging as a solo line in its own right.

- Program Note by Richard Rodney Bennett


Media

(Needed - please join the WRP if you can help.)


State Ratings

None discovered thus far.


Performances

To submit a performance please join The Wind Repertory Project

  • Royal College of Music Brass Ensemble - 19 November 2007
  • Manhattan School of Music - 8 February 2007
  • Royal Northern College of Music Brass Ensemble (James Gourlay, Conductor) - 30 January 2006


Works for Winds by This Composer


Resources

None discovered thus far.