Review

Various
Italian Organ Masterpieces: arranged for 12-part brass ensemble

Arranged by Jim Tempest

Brass choir: B-flat piccolo trumpet, 3 B-flat trumpets, flugelhorn, 2 F horns, 2 tenor trombones, bass trombone, euphonium, tuba

Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
Publisher: Cherry Classics Music
Date of Publication: 2022
URL: http://www.cherryclassics.com

Score and parts.

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

The ensemble is comprised of B-flat piccolo trumpet, three B-flat trumpets, B-flat flugelhorn, 2 F horns, 2 tenor trombones, bass trombone, euphonium and tuba. The four pieces comprising this volume are: 1. Ripieno by Petronio Giovagnoni (c.1760), 2. Canzone in D minor and 3. Canzone in B-flat by Paulo Quagliati (c.1555-1628) and 4. Fugue in C minor by Luigi (Ludovico) Consolini (18/19th Century).

Little is known about these composers. Giovagnoni was a Bolognese organ builder. Ripieno is in C minor, and is based throughout on repeated eighth note patterns. Quagliati was born in Chioggia c.1555 to an aristocratic family, spent most of his life in Rome and was an influential figure in the musical life of the city. He was most likely organist at Santa Maria Maggiore from around 1608 until his death in 1628. His quite elaborate pieces rely heavily on eighth note patterns and imitation. Almost nothing is known of Consolini; this 3-part fugue is his only known work. It appeared in Antologia Organistica Italiana published in 1964. In this arrangement, the first part enters on trumpet 3, second on trombone 1 in m.4 and third on trombone 2 in m.7. After that, the parts are broken up and distributed around the ensemble and no player has a complete line. The tutti ensemble plays only in the last four measures, ending fortissimo on a chord of A-flat major.

Trombone parts are given in bass clef; ranges are c-g¹ for first and b-flat-g¹ for second. First trumpet tops out at c³. These arrangements are considered “Appropriate for moderately advanced performers.” Jim Tempest lives in Vancouver. He is Senior Director of Music for the Canadian Army.