Brass Quintet

Instrumentation

French Horn
1
Trombone
1
Trumpet
2
Tuba
1

Additional Information

This work is an attempt to show the potential of a scale including three extra notes within the major keys.  These notes are the flat sevenths of the three primary triads, i.e. having a frequency ratio of 7:4 to the bass note.  This four-note chord is regarded as more consonant than ordinary seventh chords and the seventh does not therefore require harmonic preparation, but it most effectively moves down by a small step.  A brass quintet was chosen as the medium for this piece as the sevenths can be obtained by using the seventh natural harmonics of the instruments.  This will require a bit of practice from the performers as most brass players learn to avoid this harmonic.

The work falls into two sections without a break.  The first section is in a brief sonata form.  The second section, based on the same material as the first, is more contrapuntal in character although not a strict fugue.

 

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Details

Year
Minutes
5