O Canada Fanfare Cover Image

O Canada Fanfare: Brass Choir Score & Parts

$25.00 USD
$25.00 USD
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O Canada Fanfare Cover Image
O Canada Fanfare: Brass Choir Score & Parts

O Canada Fanfare: Brass Choir Score & Parts

By Calixa Lavallée / arr. Paul Sylvester

Level: Medium-Difficult

Item: 81-BC2227
$25.00
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Description
The Canadian national anthem has been arranged for brass quintet, clarinet ensemble, concert band, brass band, woodwind quintet, and trombone quartet by various arrangers on staff. This new version for a brass choir consisting of 4 trumpets, 2 horns, 2 trombones, euphonium, 2 tubas, and percussion is a great addition to the catalogue. Brilliant fanfare figures in the trumpets and driving percussion writing add excitement and interest in this new arrangement.

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Additional Details
Series: Eighth Note Publications
Publisher: Eighth Note Publications
ISBN10: 1-55472-701-4
ISBN13: 978-1-55472-701-8
UPC: 685462000395
SKU: 81-BC2227
Instrumentation: 4.2.2.1.1.perc

More about this title

About the Composer: Calixa Lavallée

Calixa Lavallée (1842-1891) was a Canadian pianist, organist, and composer whose work helped establish a distinct musical identity for his nation during the 19th century. He composed the melody for "O Canada" in 1880, setting words by French-Canadian poet Adolphe-Basile Routhier, and the anthem was officially adopted in 1980 as Canada's national song. His compositional voice drew from Romantic traditions while incorporating French-Canadian musical character, making him a foundational figure in Canadian classical music.

Why we love this

Paul Sylvester's arrangement captures the ceremonial weight of this national anthem while maximizing the brightness and impact of a full brass choir. The fanfare writing for trumpets and energetic percussion create forward motion that keeps the piece engaging rather than stately, giving young brass ensembles a chance to perform an iconic work with genuine musical substance and presence.

What to expect

A ceremonial fanfare that honors the anthem's dignity while injecting brass choir energy into every bar. The combination of soaring trumpet figures, rich harmonic foundation, and propulsive percussion creates a stirring, confident sound that feels both respectful and fully alive.

Who it's for

Brass choir directors working with intermediate to advanced ensembles who want to program a nationally recognized work with real musical substance. This arrangement suits schools preparing for patriotic ceremonies, festivals, or concerts where a confident, brilliantly scored treatment of "O Canada" adds both meaning and technical challenge.

How to get the most out of it

  • Balance the trumpet fanfare figures so they sing through without overshadowing the harmonic support from horns and trombones; this is a melody-driven arrangement, and clarity pays off.
  • Shape the phrases with the natural breathing points of the anthem's original melody rather than pushing through to the next structural point; let the patriotic quality breathe.
  • Keep the percussion writing (especially any timpani or bass drum parts) rhythmically tight and grounded; the "driving" character depends on precision from the bottom up.
  • Tune the low brass cluster carefully at dynamic peaks; euphonium and tubas carrying full harmony at forte requires ensemble precision to sit well together.

How to use it

Open a concert or special event with this arrangement to set a patriotic tone without relying on a formulaic, subdued treatment. Its medium-difficult level makes it an ideal centerpiece for a brass choir recital, positioned alongside other concert band transcriptions or original brass works.

Skills your students will build

  • Playing exposed trumpet fanfare figures with confidence and tonal security
  • Balancing multiple concurrent melodic and harmonic lines in a full brass choir texture
  • Responding to percussion cues and maintaining rhythmic precision across a large ensemble
  • Sustaining long phrases while managing breath across a full-length national anthem arrangement
  • Tuning complex chord clusters in the low brass register

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