Tico Tico: Brass Choir Score & Parts

David Marlatt's scoring gives every brass section something engaging to play while keeping the spotlight firmly on the lead trumpet, which makes the piece rewarding for both featured players and section musicians. The optional piccolo trumpet parts and high licks add flexibility for groups at different levels while the strong rhythmic foundation ensures the ensemble locks in quickly. This is contest material that sounds far more polished than the rehearsal time required.

Tico Tico radiates warmth and irresistible forward motion. The syncopated rhythms and bright harmonic colors transport listeners, while the soaring trumpet lines feel celebratory and joyful, creating a piece that energizes both performers and audience.

This works best for intermediate to advanced brass choirs with a solid lead trumpet who thrives on the feature role and wants to showcase technical facility. It suits festival and contest settings where a recognizable crowd-pleaser with genuine musical substance gives audiences immediate satisfaction.

• Plant the groove early by locking the rhythm section (horns, trombones, euphonium, tuba, and percussion) before featuring the lead trumpet line. The arrangement lives or dies on the pocket.
• Have your lead trumpet nail the optional high licks in performance. They are the icing that gets the standing ovation, but only if they land cleanly.
• Balance the piccolo trumpet carefully if you use that part. It should sparkle above the main trumpet section without overwhelming the texture.
• Let the percussion drive the Latin feel. The articulation and energy of the drums and auxiliary percussion anchor everything else.

Use this as a closing number on a concert when you want to leave the audience smiling and energized. It pairs well with more serious repertoire earlier in the program because it shifts the mood decisively toward fun without sacrificing musicianship.

• Playing with a strong Latin groove and appropriate articulation style
• Balancing featured solos against ensemble support
• Reading syncopated rhythms across a large brass ensemble
• Executing optional ornamentation and high passages with precision
• Maintaining groove and pocket in a full ensemble context