Review

Charles Ives
Two Marches (Marches II & III):

Arranged by Eric High

Piccolo Trumpt (sic) in B-flat, Trunoet (sic) in B-flat, horn in F, trombone, tuba

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

Score and parts.

Primary Genre: Brass Ensemble - 5 brass

Eric High has arranged two Ives marches: March II With the Air - “Son of a Gambolier” and March III With the Air “Old Kentucky Home” for brass quintet, scoring them for Piccolo Trumpt (sic) in B-flat, Trunoet (sic) in B-flat, Horn, Trombone and Tuba. Trombone part is given in bass clef, range is A-flat–a-flat¹.

Charles Ives 1874-1954 has long been recognised as one of America’s most original composers. He wrote these pieces in 1894/5 while a student at Yale University. ‘Son of a Gambolier’ is a drinking song based on a traditional Irish tune. A gambolier is someone who acts irresponsibly, usually by gambling and drinking. Ives’ original scoring included trombones. ‘Old Kentucky Home’ is an anti-slavery ballad composed in 1852 by Stephen Foster. Ives’ setting  was composed for an ensemble of 5-9 instruments. With new words by Susan Benedict Hill, his counterpoint to the main melody became an official song of the 1896 Republican Party presidential campaign for William McKinley in the United States.

Both selections are in 6/8 meter and are written in a more or less conventional style. The first is in E-flat, trio section in A-flat; the second in D-flat, trio section also in A-flat. In the second selection, trombone plays the main melody m42-74, and is kept busy, with only four full measures of rest in the first piece and none in the second. These are cheerful, uncomplicated pieces and should be terrific fun to play. March III will be a great encore piece. Eric High is Associate Professor of Music at the University of Wisconsin.