Sonata: Brass Ensemble Score & Parts

Name: Sonata: Brass Ensemble Score & Parts
Brand: Alfred Music
SKU: 81-TPBE974
Price: 25.00 USD
Availability: InStock

By Johann Schmelzer / arr. David Marlatt

Level: Medium-Difficult

Item: 81-TPBE974

$25.00

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This Sonata features the trumpets and the trombones with the horn and tuba filling in harmonies representing a part of an organ. 2 b-flat trumpets and 2 e-flat trumpets are used to allow the brilliant lightness of the e-flat trumpet to float above the foundation set by the remainder of the ensemble. This is an example of idiomatic brass music that has been altered slightly in instrumentation to produce a new sonority. The figures found in this three section work are elegant and far more interesting than the standard trumpet/trombone ensemble pieces of this era.

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Series: Eighth Note Publications

Publisher: Eighth Note Publications

ISBN10: 1-55472-917-3

ISBN13: 978-1-55472-917-3

UPC: 685462010660

SKU: 81-TPBE974

More about this title

About the Composer: Johann Schmelzer

Johann Schmelzer (1620, 1680) was one of the most influential composers of the Austro-German Baroque, serving as Kapellmeister at the Habsburg court in Vienna. He wrote extensively for strings and brass, establishing compositional techniques that would shape Central European music for generations. His instrumental works are marked by elegant melodic figures and sophisticated harmonic thinking, qualities that shine through in this sonata.

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Why we love this

This sonata rewards the care you invest in it. The writing sits comfortably for brass instruments while maintaining the refined character of Baroque chamber music; the antique figures feel genuinely interesting rather than formulaic. Using both B-flat and E-flat trumpets creates a textural sophistication many directors overlook at this level, making it a strong choice for festival adjudication or a concert program that needs real substance.

What to expect

Courtly and measured, with an underlying energy in the figured melodies. The piece breathes within clear formal sections while the bright E-flat trumpets lend an almost ethereal quality against the grounded support of the lower brass.

Who it's for

Brass ensembles at the intermediate-advanced level looking for repertoire that combines technical interest with historical credibility. Directors programming chamber music that steps beyond standard brass quintet literature will find this sonata both performable and musically substantial.

How to get the most out of it

Balance the E-flat trumpets as a distinct voice floating above the lower brass foundation rather than blending them into the overall sonority. Their brightness matters.
Approach the harmonic motion with a sense of forward direction through the three sections; these figures may be elegant, but they need momentum to stay alive.
Tune the harmonic intervals carefully between horn and tuba, as they're carrying the organ-like support that anchors the entire sonata.
Shape the melodic lines with subtle articulation variation so the baroque figures don't sound merely mechanical or repetitive.

How to use it

Pair this with other Baroque instrumental works to build a historically cohesive concert segment, or use it as a centerpiece that demonstrates your ensemble's ability to handle both technical demands and stylistic nuance. Its three-section structure gives it sufficient weight for a standalone item without requiring a major time commitment.