Fantasie Brillante: B-flat Contrabass Clarinet
For Wynton Marsalis (Trumpet Solo with Band)
By Jean Baptiste Arban / arr. Donald Hunsberger
Grade: 3 (Medium Easy)
Item: 00-PC-0014951_BCBC
$3.00
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Description
Scored for trumpet soloist Wynton Marsalis, Donald Hunsberger's band accompaniment arrangement of Fantasie Brillante No. 3 in Jean-Baptiste Arban's collection of Fantasias and Variations possesses a breadth of musical styles that demand strict formal analysis in addition to interpretative and technical requirements. The opening section features a flowing melodic passage followed by a technical passage with a return to the style of the opening melody. The theme is then stated which leads into three variations that employ variants in triplet groupings, quadruple 16th-note groupings, and finally, the ever-present triple tonguing, once again a primary technical resource utilized in this and others of the Fantasias.
Fantasie Brillante is one of eleven solos in the Marsalis/Hunsberger Carnaval project. The recital version of all eleven trumpet solos with piano accompaniment is available in one book for soloist use in preparation or for recital performance (00-35429).
Hunsberger's band accompaniments for all eleven solos are available from Alfred either for sale or as rental works. Recordings of all eleven tunes performed by Wynton Marsalis with band accompaniment (performed by the Eastman Wind Ensemble, conducted by Donald Hunsberger) remain available from Sony BMG Music Entertainment, on iTunes and a variety of other retail sources. A truly remarkable sparkling collection to feature your trumpet soloist.
Fantasie Brillante is one of eleven solos in the Marsalis/Hunsberger Carnaval project. The recital version of all eleven trumpet solos with piano accompaniment is available in one book for soloist use in preparation or for recital performance (00-35429).
Hunsberger's band accompaniments for all eleven solos are available from Alfred either for sale or as rental works. Recordings of all eleven tunes performed by Wynton Marsalis with band accompaniment (performed by the Eastman Wind Ensemble, conducted by Donald Hunsberger) remain available from Sony BMG Music Entertainment, on iTunes and a variety of other retail sources. A truly remarkable sparkling collection to feature your trumpet soloist.
Don't just read it, hear it, play along with it, and watch your students grow with it. In MakeMusic Cloud, Fantasie Brillante: B-flat Contrabass Clarinet comes alive with professional accompaniment, adjustable tempo, and built-in practice tools that turn solo practice into real progress.
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Additional Details
Series:
Donald Hunsberger Wind Library
Publisher:
Alfred Music
Page Count:
264
SKU:
00-PC-0014951_BCBC
More about this title
About the Composer: Jean Baptiste Arban
Jean Baptiste Arban (1825-1889) was a legendary cornet virtuoso and pedagogue whose technical innovations defined brass playing in the 19th century. His collection of fantasias and variations established the standard repertoire for trumpet and cornet soloists and remain central to brass pedagogy today. Arban's compositions showcase the full range of technical demands and musical expression expected of professional brass players, making his work indispensable for developing serious trumpet soloists.
Why we love this
This arrangement gives your trumpet soloist access to Arban's most brilliant technical material within a full concert band texture. Hunsberger's accompaniment supports rather than overwhelms the soloist, allowing the piece to function equally well as a showcase for your best player or as a model for developing soloists preparing Arban's demanding original works.
What to expect
Fantasie Brillante sparkles with 19th-century virtuosity and charm. It opens with an elegant, song-like melody that immediately captures attention, then launches into fireworks of technical passagework designed to dazzle. The journey through three distinct variations of increasing complexity builds toward the signature triple-tonguing section, which carries genuine brilliance when executed with precision and style.
Who it's for
This work suits experienced trumpet soloists who have command of standard technical vocabulary and are ready for the demands of Arban's original concert repertoire. Directors can use it to feature a strong soloist while maintaining musical rigor at the Grade 3 concert band level.
How to get the most out of it
- Balance the opening flowing melody so it sings above the band without forcing the tone. Clarity matters more than volume in the lyrical sections.
- Establish a steady pulse through the technical passages, particularly the triplet and 16th-note groupings where rhythmic precision defines the solo line.
- Reserve full technical intensity for the triple-tonguing sections. Build momentum gradually through the preceding variations to make this climax land with genuine sparkle.
- Shape phrase endings in dialogue with the band. Hunsberger's accompaniment often answers or responds to the solo material, so conductor and soloist must communicate the architecture of each section.
How to use it
Program this as a concert centerpiece to showcase your trumpet section's principal player or as a solo feature at a spring recital concert. The piece sits comfortably at Grade 3 difficulty, allowing your concert band to frame the solo without overshadowing it. Pair it with other character pieces or marches to balance the recital program.
Skills your students will build
- Triple tonguing at tempo
- Rapid 16th-note passagework and articulation control
- Triplet grouping variations and rhythmic flexibility
- Solo-ensemble balance and musical independence
- Stylistic interpretation of 19th-century virtuosity
- Lyrical phrasing in the opening melody against band accompaniment