Amun-Ra (from Shadows of the Pyramids): 20 Trumpets & Percussion Score & Parts

This final movement delivers exactly what a trumpet ensemble director needs: a substantial, concert-worthy work that demands nothing but 20 individual trumpet voices. Marlatt's refusal to double parts forces genuine ensemble listening and balance while the strategic use of mutes and flugel horns keeps the sonority fresh across 14 minutes. The Egyptian mythology frame gives your group a compelling narrative arc without relying on gimmicks.

Amun-Ra moves through vivid sonic landscapes, from the brightness of open trumpet fanfares to the burnished glow of muted textures and the warmer character of flugel horn passages. The piece evokes the grandeur and mystery of ancient Egypt while maintaining the crystalline clarity of a work built on individual voices rather than doubled strength.

Advanced trumpet ensemble programs seeking a substantial original work that showcases the full technical and tonal range of 20 players. This score and parts set serves directors building a competitive festival program or planning a dedicated brass ensemble concert where individual musicianship matters more than section density.

• Balance the muted and open sections carefully during early rehearsals; mark dynamic adjustments in parts where mutes create natural volume shifts.
• Assign specific flugel horn players early and have them mark their transitions clearly so switching happens smoothly under tempo.
• Schedule sectional rehearsals by trumpet range rather than by part number, since the no-doubling requirement means each player needs secure intonation without acoustic reinforcement.
• Work the antiphonal passages with clear cueing; even minimal antiphonal effects require precise ensemble awareness when no part repeats.

Program this as a closing piece on a brass ensemble concert or festival performance where your group can hold the stage for an extended single work. The substantial length and dramatic arc make it ideal for demonstrating musicianship in a competitive setting or as the centerpiece of a specialized trumpet ensemble recital.

• Balance and blend across 20 independent parts without doubling
• Mute changes and tonal control across open and stopped articulations
• Intonation across multiple trumpet ranges and flugel horn colors
• Antiphonal ensemble awareness and response
• Stamina in a 14-minute work
• Listening to non-unison trumpet ensemble writing