Review

Various
10 National Anthems:

Arranged by Keith Terrett

Brass Quintet: 2 B-flat trumpets, F horn, trombone, tuba

Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
Publisher: Cherry Classics Music
Date of Publication: 2021
URL: http://www.cherryclassics.com

Score and parts.

Primary Genre: Brass Ensemble - 5 brass

Keith Terrett’s 10 National Anthems arranged for brass quintet is a useful resource. Professional positions as performer, educator, and administrator provided opportunities for him to serve in multiple countries where the need for such arrangements were both practical and common.  He held positions in Britain, West Germany, Papua New Guinea, the Caymen Islands, Kuwait, Norway, and India. Terrett has, in fact, arranged most national anthems for brass quintet, string orchestra, and symphony orchestra. The anthems represented in this collection are from the nations of Britain, Canada, the United States of America, the Russian Federation, Italy, Germany, France, Japan, China, and Israel. The arrangements are straightforward, well-voiced, and should be ably performed by most high school level musicians. Appropriate dynamics and articulations are aptly indicated. More liberal indications of phrase and breath markings would be appreciated for musicians unversed in the less-familiar anthems to avoid any divergence from the most-common lyric phrasing. The musical roadmap for a couple of the  arrangements varies from referenced audio, but the reviewer’s unfamiliarity with the official version may explain the discrepancy. Performers may wish to confirm similarity with the official version prior to a performance. This publication is a welcome, practical resource and a reminder of the beauty and musical heritage intrinsic in each nation’s anthem.