Review

Heinrich Biber
Battalia á 10:

Arranged by Adam Woolf

4 B♭ trumpets, F horn, 3 trombones, bass trombone, tuba

Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
Publisher: Cherry Classics Music
Date of Publication: 2020
URL: http://www.cherryclassics.com

Score and parts.

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

Biber’s popular 1673 work follows a distinguished tradition of programmatic battle music by composers such as Clément Jannequin, Orazio Vecchi, William Byrd and Claudio Monteverdi. Likely written for a carnival, this work is dedicated to the mythical Roman god Bacchus, the God of wine, fertility, insanity, and ritual madness, and Mars, the God of War. Their invocation can be found several times throughout the eight continuous movements that comprise the piece.

The brass instrumentation is for four trumpets, horn, three tenor trombones, one bass trombone, and tuba - Philip Jones Ensemble instrumentation. Trombone parts 1 and 2 are in tenor clef. Mutes are indicated in trumpet parts 2, 3, 4, trombone parts 2 and 3, and bass trombone. Trumpet parts range from g to d³ with an option for piccolo on trumpet 1. Horn ranges from a to a², tenor trombone parts from G to b-flat, and bass trombone and tuba parts from BB-flat to b-flat.

Woolf’s arrangement provides a nice mix of tutti ensemble playing with sparse, soloistic texture. There are soloistic parts for all trumpets, as well as horn, and trombone 1. All players must be fluent in double tonguing. This work presents a nice opportunity for advanced college level students and higher to play in a larger chamber music setting without a conductor, as the original intended.