Five Fantasies for Brass Choir Op. 70 No. 3: Brass Ensemble

Hovhaness wrote for brass ensembles with genuine understanding of the medium's sonorous potential, and this piece showcases why his works are standards in the repertoire. The fantasia form gives brass choirs room to explore varied textures and moods without the constraints of strict structural demands, making it equally rewarding for musicians advancing their ensemble skills and audiences encountering contemporary brass literature.

The piece inhabits a meditative, otherworldly landscape. Hovhaness's harmonic language creates moments of stillness punctuated by passages of lyrical intensity, drawing listeners into a soundworld that feels ancient and contemporary at once. The brass choir becomes an instrument for spiritual expression rather than mere technical display.

This work suits brass choirs at the intermediate to advanced level who have developed secure intonation and a unified ensemble sound. It appeals to groups seeking repertoire beyond standard march and hymn-based brass literature and to musicians interested in exploring how non-Western musical traditions have shaped 20th-century composition.

• Attend carefully to the balance between inner voices and the outer melodic line; Hovhaness often places important harmonic material in middle registers that can easily disappear if upper and lower voices dominate.
• Shape phrases with long, sustained lines rather than articulating too frequently, allowing the piece's Eastern-influenced melodic character to emerge naturally.
• Use subtle dynamic shaping within longer phrases to maintain listener engagement without disrupting the contemplative quality of the writing.

This fantasia works beautifully in concert programming alongside other 20th-century American brass literature, or as a standalone showcase of the brass choir's expressive capabilities. It can also anchor a thematic program exploring Eastern musical influences in Western composition, or serve as a centerpiece in a memorial or contemplative concert context.

• Balancing harmonic texture within ensemble voicings
• Sustaining long phrases with consistent tone and intonation
• Responding to subtle dynamic shape and phrasing across a full brass section
• Interpreting non-traditional harmonic language
• Understanding fantasia form and its approach to melodic development