Hunting Song: Brass Quintet Score & Parts

Marlatt's arrangement captures the dance-like energy of MacDowell's original without sacrificing the harmonic richness that makes this Romantic masterwork rewarding to rehearse. The writing distributes musical interest across the quintet rather than isolating melody in a single voice; this means every player has something genuinely musical to perform, which is exactly what mid-level ensembles need to stay engaged.

Hunting Song captures the vitality and outdoor energy of the hunt through rhythmic drive and bright orchestral color. The piece balances moments of soaring lyricism in the trumpet passages with supporting voices that create depth; it feels generous and open rather than cramped or academic.

This arrangement serves mid to upper-level high school brass quintets and beginning college ensembles looking for accessible yet musically substantial repertoire. If your ensemble has solid fundamentals but limited experience with Romantic-era harmonic language, this piece provides excellent training without overwhelming technical demands.

• Balance the melodic lines between trumpets and trombone carefully. Neither voice should disappear; they should weave together as equal partners in the musical conversation.
• Shape each phrase with forward momentum while respecting the hunting-song character. Avoid letting the middle sections drag; this piece moves.
• Listen for intonation on sustained harmonies in the French horn and tuba. These foundation voices anchor tuning for the whole quintet.
• Articulation consistency between trumpet parts matters more than precision of single notes. Match tonguing style and weight across the top voices so the melody reads as unified.

Program this as a concert opener or early-season festival entry to build audience connection with a recognized masterwork in an accessible arrangement. Its moderate length and confident character make it ideal for school concerts where you want to showcase both the quintet's musicianship and your students' ability to perform genuine art music at their level.

• Balancing melodic lines within a harmonic texture
• Shaping phrase direction in Romantic-era material
• Sustaining consistent articulation across multiple voices
• Listening for intonation stability in slow harmonic passages
• Reading and performing interconnected parts rather than independent lines