Capriol Suite: Brass Quintet Score & Parts

Warlock's suite gives brass ensembles access to music that feels both learned and joyful. The Renaissance foundation provides structural clarity while the 20th-century harmonies surprise and delight, making this arrangement a festival showcase piece that sounds far more complex than it plays. The scoring by David Marlatt capitalizes on the quintet's range and balance, turning what could be a period pastiche into a compelling modern work.

Elegant and dance-like, yet harmonically refreshing. The suite moves between moments of courtly grace and unexpected harmonic turns, creating a sense of discovery. It's music that sounds refined without ever feeling stuffy.

Advanced brass quintets preparing contest or festival programs who want substantial music with intellectual substance. This arrangement serves ensembles that have mastered fundamentals and are ready to tackle modern ensemble writing grounded in historical awareness.

• Balance the dance rhythms as if they're conversational; Warlock's phrasing is conversational, not ceremonial, so resist the urge to weight every downbeat
• Shape the harmonic color shifts with your tone quality. The modern harmonies stand out most clearly when intonation is centered and air flow is consistent across the ensemble
• Attend to articulation details in the parts. Warlock uses staccato and legato strategically to separate layers and create textural contrast
• Let the recorded accompaniment anchor your rehearsal, but prioritize internal listening over strict metronomic lock; these dances breathe

Feature this as the centerpiece of a concert devoted to 20th-century approaches to historical material, or use it to open a set that shows your ensemble's range across eras. The difficulty level and contest appeal make it ideal for late-season programming when your group has time to refine the details.

• Reading modern harmonic language derived from Renaissance sources
• Executing clear articulation in dance-based rhythmic figures
• Balancing multiple melodic lines without losing harmonic cohesion
• Responding to subtle dynamic and tonal shadings that create textural variety
• Performing with period-informed phrasing in a contemporary context