Markham Fair Suite: Brass Quintet Score & Parts

A walk through the fairgrounds in sound. The suite captures the visual spectacle and childlike wonder of carnival attractions without ever becoming saccharine; the animal imitations ground it in playful humor rather than cuteness.

Young brass ensembles ready to move past unison and parallel fourths into real ensemble writing, plus any group looking for contest-ready material that doesn't sacrifice entertainment value. This works equally well for a school brass quintet or a community ensemble with emerging players.

• Assign the animal imitations to specific players in "Old McDonald's Barn" during your first read and stick with those assignments. This prevents chaos and lets each player commit to their character.
• The fanfare that opens the suite sets the tone for everything that follows. Make it bright and clean; even small intonation wobbles will undermine the festive energy.
• Balance the melodic lines carefully in the Ferris wheel section. Since every player gets material here, resist the urge to let anyone dominate; each voice should land clearly but without overwhelming the texture.
• Rehearse the animal sounds as a rhythm section exercise first, then layer in the harmonic material. This separates technical concerns and makes the final product feel less cluttered.

Pair this with a more serious brass work on a concert to show the full range of what your ensemble can do, or use it as a standalone program opener that immediately wins over an audience. It also fits naturally into spring or family concert settings where lighter fare makes sense.

• Balancing and blending within a five-part harmonic texture
• Independent melodic line reading across all voice parts
• Rhythmic precision in fanfare-style articulation
• Ensemble communication through non-traditional sound production (animal imitations)