Review

Johannes Brahms
Capriccio No.2: from Klavierstücke Op.76

Arranged by Damiano Drei

Brass quintet: 2 B-flat trumpets (1st trumpet in C part included), 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

Brahms published this piece in 1879 while working on his Piano Concerto No.2; its original key is B minor. This arrangement in G minor is for a ‘standard’ brass quintet of two B-flat trumpets, F horn, trombone and tuba. It is marked Allegretto non troppo at quarter = 80, and is quite demanding with many 16th notes in all parts, which are kept well occupied throughout and characterised by alternating staccato and legato. Dynamics range from piano to forte. Bass and tenor clefs are used as appropriate in the trombone part, which covers a range from B-flat to g¹. First trumpet tops out at c³ concert (optional d³); parts in B-flat and in C are included. Second trumpet part is given in B-flat only. Horn goes up to c² concert, tuba down to FF-sharp.

Damiano Drei teaches trombone at the City Music School in Ravenna, and is a founder member of the Quintet ‘Romagna Brass.’ He has published seven other arrangements for brass ensemble with Cherry Classics Music.