Review

Ludwig van Beethoven
Joyful, Joyful We Adore Thee:

Arranged by Arthur Frackenpohl

Brass quartet and organ with optional tuba.

Portland, Maine, United States
Publisher: PP Music (Manduca Music Publications)
Date of Publication: 1996

Score and parts.

Primary Genre: Brass Ensemble - 5 brass
Secondary Genre: Chamber Music

This arrangement is scored for two trumpets and two trombones with horn substitute for first trombone. With the optional tuba part you also have the standard brass quintet instrumentation, useful for many church music situations. The arrangement consists of a four bar introduction, four verses, and a short tag at the end. Organ begins the piece in G major. Verse 1 consists of organ throughout with pairs of brass instruments playing the melody in four bar segments. Verse 2 uses brass alone with organ fills at the end of each phrase. Verse 3 relies on organ again with brass counterpoint. Verse 4 is slower and modulates to a-flat major, organ and brass fortissimo to the end. The arrangement does not require a great deal of rehearsal. Presentation is excellent.

-Mike Halverson
Minneapolis, MN