What Child Is This: Brass Quintet Score & Parts

A caroler's melody filtered through modern harmonic thinking. The familiar tune grounds the listener immediately, but Smallman's reharmonization and the organ's contemplative accompaniment lend the piece an introspective, almost sophisticated character that honors the hymn's spiritual roots while sounding decidedly contemporary.

Brass quintets with solid intonation and section balance who want something more than a straightforward seasonal arrangement. Directors seeking a medium-difficult piece that challenges players while remaining accessible to audiences unfamiliar with contemporary brass writing.

• Balance the melody across voices carefully during the octave doubling sections. The horn and tuba need clarity without overwhelming the harmonic foundation from the other three players.
• Work the organ part with your accompanist early. Those break strains between verses set the harmonic landscape for what follows, so ensemble precision depends on locking in together.
• Let the reharmony breathe. This arrangement's strength lies in how it colors familiar music unexpectedly, so resist the urge to push tempo. Space allows the ear to register those harmonic choices.
• Shape the transitions from verse to break strain deliberately. This arrangement invites contrast, and how cleanly you execute those shifts will define the performance.

Pair this as a centerpiece on a winter concert, perhaps bookended by more traditional carols to highlight how the same melody can speak in different voices. It also works beautifully as an opening number that establishes sophistication while immediately connecting with your audience through a recognizable tune.

• Reading and executing reharmonized melody in multiple instrumental registers
• Balancing doubled voices (horn and tuba) within the ensemble texture
• Coordinate ensemble attacks and releases across sectional breaks
• Intonation control in chromatic reharmonization
• Ensemble communication and precision with organ accompaniment