Review

Various
Hanukkah Suite:

Arranged by Arthur Frackenpohl

2 B-flat trumpets, horn in F, trombone, tuba

Delevan, NY, United States
Publisher: Kendor Music
Date of Publication: 2006
URL: http://www.kendormusic.com

Score and parts

Primary Genre: Brass Ensemble - 5 brass

Dedicated to the Canadian Brass, Hanukkah Suite is one of the latest publications of chamber music from Kendor Music. The publisher was known in the 60’s and 70’s as primarily a band and wind ensemble publishing house but has recently moved almost exclusively to chamber music. Each work is also graded for difficulty using the U.S. Music Educator’s National Convention grading system of 1(easiest)-6 (most difficult). For those more familiar with 1-3 or A-C rating systems, a grade 4 piece such as Hanukkah Suite would be a hard B or easy A level work. The suite consists of three tunes: O Hanukkah, Rock of Ages, and Dance of the Horah. This fills an obvious void for holiday programming, as this reviewer at least is aware of few brass quintet arrangements celebrating the Jewish Holiday. Professional or high quality college ensembles will be able to put this together with limited rehearsal.  Parts are easily readable with no page turning problems. Range for the first trumpet only extends to a2 and trombone to g1. Frackenpohl shares the wealth as all parts have short solos in each movement. A flurry of 16th notes in the third movement trumpet parts may cause some consternation but is easily overcome with a little practice. The suite works well as a group, but Dance of the Horah is especially effective and makes for a nice, short closer or encore to any brass quintet program. This is an excellent addition to the holiday season brass quintet repertoire.

-Tom Zugger
Capitol University