Funeral Music: Brass Quintet Score & Parts

Richard Sandals has done something remarkable here: he's preserved every ounce of Grieg's somber dignity while making this masterwork genuinely playable for a brass quintet. Contest adjudicators consistently reward ensembles who tackle this arrangement because it demands mature musicianship across every stand, and the payoff is unmistakable gravitas on stage.

This is music that moves through contemplation toward resolved acceptance. Grieg's harmonic language unfolds with the inevitability of ritual; the brass sonority deepens every shift in color and intensity. You'll feel the weight of ceremony in every sustained chord.

Advanced brass quintets ready for a substantial artistic and technical challenge will find this arrangement essential. It suits ensembles competing at the festival or contest level and serious recital programs where a statement piece is needed.

• Establish a shared breath strategy before rehearsal. The endurance demands are real, so map out where quintet members can breathe together and where one voice sustains through a colleague's breath.
• Shape the dynamic arc across entire phrases rather than reacting to individual note values. Grieg's melodic lines need to breathe as unified statements, not punctuated gestures.
• Balance the inner voices with intention. In passages where trumpet or horn carries the melody, the lower brass must provide rich harmonic support without overwhelming the line.
• If you use the optional side drum part, rehearse it separately first. The percussion adds ceremonial weight, but it must sit precisely with the brass texture, not dominate it.

Program this as a centerpiece rather than filler. It pairs thoughtfully with lighter or more energetic brass repertoire, offering audiences a moment of genuine reflection. Festivals and memorial services are natural contexts, but it also anchors concert programs where you want to demonstrate your ensemble's artistic depth.

• Sustaining rich tone across extended phrases and high dynamic demands
• Balancing five independent lines in dense harmonic writing
• Shaping Romantic-era phrasing with control and sensitivity
• Coordinating endurance and breath management in an ensemble context
• Interpreting arrangement choices and understanding how orchestral writing translates to quintet