Review

Giuseppe Verdi
Highlights from Requiem: arranged for ten part brass ensemble and percussion

Arranged by James Haynor

Four trumpets in B-flat, two horns in F, two trombones, two tubas, timpani, bass drum

Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
Publisher: Cherry Classics Music
Date of Publication: 2019
URL: http://www.cherryclassics.com

Score and parts

Primary Genre: Brass Ensemble - 6+ brass (choir)

This ambitious arrangement, 48 pages of full score, is for 4 trumpets in B-flat, 2 horns in F, 2 trombones, 2 tubas, timpani in G, A and D and bass drum. First trumpet doubles on flugelhorn. Trombone parts are in bass clef. Range for first is B-a¹, and for second F-sharp-c-sharp¹. First trumpet tops out on b² (optional d³). No mutes are required.

The score comprises 249 measures, and is organized into seven sections playing continuously. It includes music from four major sections of the mass; these are not identified in the score. Requiem Aeternam is in its original key of A minor, changing to A major at Lux perpetua. Dies Irae, Tuba Mirum and Agnus Dei follow in their original keys of G minor, A-flat and C major respectively. Flugelhorn then solos on Requiem Aeternam from Libera Me, which is in F minor, original key B-flat minor, and with the soft accompaniment of horns, trombones and tuba, this is really beautiful. Lux Perpetua follows in F major, original key B-flat. The available instrumental combinations are used imaginatively, and the tutti ensemble plays only in the Dies Irae and in the concluding Dum Veneris, which is in its original key of C minor. The final tutti C major chord is marked ppp.

The Dies Irae, not surprisingly, takes up a quarter of the score, 12 pages, and comprises almost half of the trombone parts, which lie for the most part in comfortable mid-range. Opportunities to play Verdi’s Requiem do not come around  often, and trombone players will enjoy this expertly crafted arrangement. James Haynor is currently a free-lance trumpet player in the Milwaukee area and has numerous published arrangements to his name.