Trumpet Voluntary (The Prince of Denmark's March): 2 Trumpets & Keyboard Part(s)

David Marlatt's arrangement transforms this cornerstone Baroque piece into an accessible gateway for trumpet duets at intermediate levels, removing the historical barriers that once kept it reserved for advanced ensembles. By providing both D and B-flat organ parts, it solves the practical problem of mixed trumpet inventories without sacrificing musical integrity. Directors consistently return to this arrangement because it delivers genuine repertoire substance without requiring virtuosic technique from either player.

Stately and processional, with an unhurried dignity that belongs in grand spaces. The writing unfolds with the ceremony of a royal march, each phrase arriving with purpose, allowing silence and breath to carry as much weight as the sounding notes. There's pageantry here without bombast, formality without coldness.

Intermediate trumpet students looking for substantial duet literature that doesn't demand advanced technique, trumpet pairs preparing wedding or ceremonial repertoire, and directors seeking repertoire that bridges Baroque masterworks and accessible ensemble playing. This arrangement welcomes players who can handle moderate range and straightforward rhythmic patterns but haven't yet developed the speed or endurance for demanding virtuosic writing.

• Establish a conversation between the two trumpet lines rather than a leader-and-follower dynamic. The piece gains its ceremonial impact when both voices feel equally important, trading between statement and counterstatement.
• Shape the articulation suggestions as a foundation, not a mandate. Once the basic tonguing is secure, explore how breathing patterns and slight rubato can give the duet breathing room and nobility.
• Coordinate the keyboard choice (D or B-flat) before the first rehearsal and stick with it. The tessitura and resonance of each key will affect how the trumpets project and balance with the organ.
• Reserve aggressive vibrato for the culminating moments. The Baroque character calls for focused, straight tone in most passages, allowing the harmonic movement and dialogue to carry the musical weight.

Program this for weddings, graduation ceremonies, or concert closings where a ceremonial finish serves the occasion better than virtuosic fireworks. It pairs naturally with other Baroque chamber works or as an interlude between contrasting pieces, and it's equally at home in a competitive festival where intermediate duets are underrepresented in the repertoire.

• Baroque articulation and phrasing conventions
• Balanced ensemble playing between equal voices
• Reading and executing ornaments in context
• Keyboard-to-brass coordination and independence
• Sustaining tone with proper support across moderate range