Victory in Defeat: Brass Quintet Score & Parts

Marlatt introduces 7/8 time without the usual pedagogical awkwardness. The contrasting sections feel genuinely musical rather than theoretical, so students engage with the meter through actual playing instead of intellectual effort. The arc from aggressive to lyrical to celebratory gives your ensemble a complete emotional journey in one piece.

Victory in Defeat starts with adrenaline and conviction. The contrasting middle section feels like taking a breath before plunging back in, bringing an almost dancelike quality to the final push. The piece radiates resolution and confidence, earning its title through genuine musical progression rather than mere optimism.

This work serves ensemble directors introducing non-standard meters to intermediate brass players. It works equally well for quintet competitions, concert programs needing something contemporary with substance, or pedagogical situations where learning 7/8 shouldn't feel like work.

• Establish the 7/8 groove firmly in the opening section by locking the pulse between the bottom brass and the ensemble before adding textural layers. A slight emphasis on beats 1 and 5 helps anchor the unusual meter.
• Let the middle section breathe. The syncopated support underneath those flowing melodies works best when the upper voices aren't rushed; treat it like a genuine lyrical contrast rather than a brief interlude.
• Bring energy back for the final section without losing the dance-like character. The return to 7/8 feels celebratory here, so clarity and joy matter more than aggressive dynamics.

Pair this with a standard waltz or march to show students the rhythmic diversity brass quintets can handle. It also makes an excellent opening or closing number for a concert; the energy arc works as a statement piece. Consider programming it alongside more traditional repertoire to demonstrate how contemporary brass writing respects the genre's voice.

• Reading and maintaining 7/8 time signature
• Distinguishing metric pulse from melodic rhythm
• Balancing syncopated accompaniment patterns with principal melodic lines
• Executing stylistic contrasts within a single movement
• Ensemble cohesion under metric challenges