Review

Benedetto Marcello
Psalm XIX:

Arranged by Rich Mays

Brass quintet and organ

Savannah, GA, United States
Publisher: Sonare Publications
Date of Publication: 1997

Score and parts

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

This piece comes from Marcello’s influential Estro-poetico-armonico, settings of the first 50 psalms for soli, male voices and thoroughbass, published in 1724. Psalm 19, ‘The Heavens declare the Glory of God’ (I Cieli Immensi narrano) is a jubilant setting, originally for four voices and continuo. It has become popular in recent years as a wedding recessional and is an effective selection for brass. This well-written arrangement is for two trumpets in C or B-flat, horn in F, trombone and bass trombone and organ.  It is of only moderate difficulty; trombone compass is c – f1 (tenor) and C – b-flat (bass). Key is B-flat major, trombone parts are in bass clef. No tempo indication is given, but an accompanying recording supplied by the arranger goes at around quarter = 96. Marcello lived from 1686-1739, and was a contemporary of Bach and Handel. Rich Mays is Organist & Choirmaster of All Saints Episcopal Church in Hilton Head Island, South Carolina, and Assistant Organist & Choirmaster of St John’s Episcopal Church in Savannah, GA. He is also a former trombone player.

-Keith Davies Jones
Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada