Barricade: Brass Quintet Score & Parts

Meeboer writes for brass quintets with real flair for the ensemble's particular strengths. The high energy and rhythmic drive here make it a refreshing choice for a group ready to move beyond slower, more introspective repertoire, and it gives your students something genuinely satisfying to perform.

Barricade is driven and purposeful, with the kind of forward momentum that catches an audience's attention from the first note. The contemporary energy feels modern and vibrant rather than academic, giving performers a genuine sense of accomplishment when they nail the rhythmic precision the piece demands.

Brass quintet ensembles with beginning to early-intermediate players who are ready to tackle something with real rhythmic and ensemble demands. This works equally well for a school ensemble, a community group, or serious music students who want to experience music that sounds polished and exciting without requiring advanced technical facility.

• Keep the rhythm section anchored. The energy of this piece lives in clean, precise articulation from all five players, so spend rehearsal time locking the attacks together before worrying about dynamics.
• Balance the melodic voices against the harmonic foundation. Brass quintets can easily tip toward heaviness in the lower register, so draw out inner lines and make sure the soloists sing above the accompaniment.
• Let the piece breathe at marked tempo changes. Meeboer's use of rhythmic contrast is part of what makes this fun, so avoid the temptation to smooth everything into one energy level.
• Record yourselves and listen back. Hearing their own precision and ensemble sound is powerful for beginning students and reinforces what they've worked toward in rehearsal.

Consider this a standout concert opener or a closing piece for a pops or informal concert. It pairs well alongside other contemporary brass works and gives a young ensemble a chance to show off their rhythmic chops and ensemble cohesion in a context that feels immediate and engaging rather than traditional.

• Rhythmic precision and ensemble locking
• Balancing multiple rhythmic lines simultaneously
• Maintaining energy and character through dynamic shifts
• Blend and balance within a five-part ensemble texture
• Sustaining focus during high-energy, fast-paced passages