Review


Edward MacDowell
Two Pieces:

Arranged by Alexa Kuberra

Brass quartet: 2 B-flat trumpets, F horn, trombone

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

Score and parts.

Primary Genre: Brass Ensemble - 4 brass

Edward MacDowell (1860-1908) was born in New York City and studied at the Paris Conservatoire and the Hoch Conservatory in Frankfurt. He was a prolific composer, and from 1896 to 1904 he was Professor of Music at Columbia University. Sea Pieces Op.55 No.5 was written in 1898, Woodland Sketches Op.51 in 1896. The beauty in both pieces is found in their artful simplicity. Arranger Alexa Kuberra is a school band director in Scottsdale, AZ, a former student of John Marcellus.

The arrangements are for the standard quartet of two trumpets in B-flat, horn in F and trombone, and are of intermediate difficulty. Song from "Sea Pieces" is in F major. Its marking “In changing moods” is reflected by many tempo changes. The melody is introduced by second trumpet, followed by first trumpet and horn. To a Wild Rose from "Woodland Sketches" is MacDowell’s best-known composition; it is marked “With simple tenderness.” The arrangement is in A-flat. First and second trumpets take turns with the melody. In both pieces, trombone has a supporting but expressive role. Its part is given in bass clef, overall range F-e-flat¹; dynamic markings range from pp to ff. First trumpet tops out on an optional d³, otherwise on b²; second trumpet goes up to a². In both pieces, all parts are fully occupied, without any rest measures. No mutes are required.

Reviewer: Keith Davies Jones
Review Published June 24, 2023