Review

Henri F. Hemy
Faith of Our Fathers:

Arranged by Chris Sharp


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Publisher: Wehr's Music House
Date of Publication: 2011

Primary Genre: Brass Ensemble - 5 brass

This arrangement of the well-known hymn is in the key of F major, modulating to A-flat major. Trumpet parts are written in B-flat and the trombone part is in bass clef. Written ranges: trumpet 1 d-b-flat2, trumpet 2 c1-f2, horn d1-f2, trombone c-f1, tuba BB-flat-e-flat. Its primarily middle range tessitura is comfortable for all. The melody is carried almost entirely by first trumpet and there are no technical difficulties. The only real challenge is the 7/8 (3+2+2) meter. A measure of 3/8 leads into a section of 4/4, then back to 7/8. Tempo is steady at mm=152, and the eighth note stays constant. While the meter is too difficult for congregational singing, the arrangement can serve as an appropriate church service postlude or short concert piece. It is playable by high-school level players who have good rhythm.

-Frank Gazda
Delaware State University