Review

Giuseppe Verdi
Va Pensiero: from the opera Nabucco: for brass ensemble

Arranged by Cory Mixdorf

4 trumpets in B-flat, 2 horns in F, 2 trombones, euphonium and tuba

Vancouver, BC, Canada
Publisher: Cherry Classics Music
Date of Publication: 2011
URL: http://www.cherryclassics.com

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

This is of course the well-known ‘Chorus of Hebrew Slaves’ that became the Liberation Anthem of the Risorgimento. It’s marked at a tempo of Largo ♩=46. The tune begins in trumpet in measure 12, 2nd and 3rd con sord. From measures 20 through 38, trombones in unison with the euphonium have the melody. Overall range for Trombone 1 is c-sharp-a1; for trombone 2, C-sharp-d1. First trumpet goes up to b-flat2, first horn to c2. Horn, trombones and tuba play the final chord pppp. There are no real difficulties in this well-written arrangement, which will be enjoyable to play. It is well-suited to the needs of a college-level ensemble. Dr. Mixdorf is currently on faculty at the University of Arkansas.

-Keith Davies Jones
Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada