Review

Camille Saint-Saëns
Two Choruses:

Arranged by Jean-Louis Couturier

2 B-flat trumpets, horn (trombone), trombone (euphonium)

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

Score and parts.

Primary Genre: Brass Ensemble - 4 brass

Camille Saint-Saëns composed many musical settings of sacred texts. This arrangement of two selected works are great samples of Saint-Saëns’ beautiful settings. Ave Verum is a eucharistic hymn dating from the 14th century. This setting comes from about 1860, originally for a capella mixed choir. Tollite Hostias is the final chorus from Saint-Saëns’ Oratorio de Noël Op.12, written for choir and orchestra (1858). Its Latin text translates to “bring forth your offerings and rejoice.”

The arrangements are quite literal and work well for brass quartet. Ave Verum has a chorale texture offering no rests. Tollite Hostias begins and ends with a homorhythmic texture without rests, and has a layered middle section allowing some rest. Both have simple rhythmic and harmonic language.

The instrumentation is flexible: the arranger includes parts for two B-flat trumpets, horn/trombone and trombone/euphonium. Both trombone parts are in bass clef.  No mutes are needed. Trumpet parts range from c1 to a2; the horn part ranges from b-flat to f-sharp2, the trombone 1 part ranges e-flat to b1, and the trombone 2/euphonium part ranges from G to e1.

This arrangement is perfect for a liturgical performance given its sacred setting, relatively short length, part flexibility, and effective harmonic content. Most intermediate performers will find the parts accessible.