Ave Verum Corpus Cover Image

Ave Verum Corpus: Brass Quintet Score & Parts

$15.00 USD
$15.00 USD
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Ave Verum Corpus Cover Image
Ave Verum Corpus: Brass Quintet Score & Parts

Ave Verum Corpus: Brass Quintet Score & Parts

By William Byrd / arr. Kenneth Bray

Level: Easy

Item: 81-BQ9721
$15.00
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Description
An elegant arrangement of a choral work by William Byrd. This piece is fun to play and accessible to beginning players. Because it is approachable by all quintets, it is a perfect tune to work on blend, balance, intonation and other musical aspects.

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Additional Details
Series: Eighth Note Publications
Publisher: Eighth Note Publications
ISBN10: 1-55472-074-5
ISBN13: 978-1-55472-074-3
UPC: 685462003488
SKU: 81-BQ9721
Instrumentation: Brass Quintet

More about this title

About the Composer: William Byrd

William Byrd (1539-1623) was the preeminent English composer of the Renaissance, equally masterful in sacred and secular music. His output spanned polyphony, keyboard works, and vocal music that defined the English sound for generations. Byrd's ability to write vocal lines that sing naturally while maintaining architectural integrity makes his works enduring models for arrangers and performers alike.

Why we love this

This arrangement strips the work down to its essential melodic and harmonic core without sacrificing the emotional weight that makes Ave Verum Corpus so compelling. Kenneth Bray has found the perfect balance between accessibility and sophistication, letting a young quintet sound far more polished than their individual technical abilities might suggest. It's the kind of piece that sounds wonderful immediately but rewards careful rehearsal with discoveries in voicing and phrasing.

What to expect

Serene and meditative, with the kind of understated beauty that rewards quiet attention. The arrangement sits naturally for brass, allowing warm, singing tones to shine while the Renaissance harmony creates a sense of spiritual repose.

Who it's for

Beginning brass quintets and established groups looking for contest or festival repertoire that demands intonation and blend without high technical hurdles. A valuable addition to programs serving quintets that need accessible literature with genuine musical substance.

How to get the most out of it

  • Shape the melody with gentle dynamic swells through longer phrases rather than choppy accent work; Byrd's music breathes best when the line is allowed to unfold naturally.
  • Tune the inner voices against the melody and bass as anchors; blend happens when each player knows exactly what chord tone they're supporting.
  • Approach the arrangement as a study in transparency. Resist the temptation to add rubato or expressive fermatas; let the simplicity of the writing be the virtue.
  • Balance the three middle voices carefully so that harmonic color emerges without muddiness; think of them as a choir finding their place around two soloists.

How to use it

Include this alongside other early music selections to build a concert program that explores the timelessness of great melody. It pairs well with later contrapuntal works and offers a refreshing contrast to contemporary brass repertoire in festival competitions.

Skills your students will build

  • Intonation adjustment within sustained chords
  • Blend balancing across three inner voices
  • Phrasing long melodic lines without breath
  • Harmonic hearing and chord tone identification
  • Renaissance articulation and style awareness

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