Clearly Midnight (Based on "It Came Upon The Midnight Clear")

"It Came Upon the Midnight Clear" is a poem and Christmas carol written by Edmund Sears, pastor of the Unitarian Church in Wayland, Massachusetts. Sears' lyrics are set to "Carol," composed by Richard Storrs Willis. This version is brought up to date with interesting and modernized harmonies. The uses of mutes, interesting textures, developmental material, jazz voicings and key changes makes this a refreshing take on an age old standard.

World Parts are provided with this score when purchased as a PDF download.  Instrumentation for standard and a number of alternate parts make this playable by almost any 5 piece brass ensemble:

• Part 1 - Bb Trumpet (alt. C Trumpet)
• Part 2 - Bb Trumpet (alt. C Trumpet)
• Part 3 - F Horn (alt. Eb Horn, Bb Baritone T.C.)
• Part 4 - Trombone B.C. (alt. Bb Trombone T.C.)
• Part 5 - Tuba B.C. (alt. Eb Bass T.C., Bb Bass T.C)
   

To order the Gig Ready Brass Quintet Library, Volume V: Holiday #2, which contains this arrangement and 24 others, click here.

The ScoreFlipper rendition features the excellent playing of the Spanish Brass Luur Metalls from their CD entitled "SuBLiMe Christmas".

Review by Jason Dovel, assistant professor of trumpet, University of Kentucky of Spanish Brass-SuBLiMe Christmas in the International Trumpet Guild Magazine

Another commercial arrangement is Christmas Time is Here, which boasts exuberant trumpet improvisation and a tight ensemble groove. Throughout the entire disc. the group’s exquisite musicianship provides a most diaphanous texture in which all parts are always clearly heard. In addition to providing a wonderful sonic experience, this disc also promotes some wonderful new arrangements of holiday tunes. Several of the works including God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen, Carol of the Bells, Christmas Time is Here, Clearly Midnight, What Child, and Three Free Kings, are published and available through Art of Sound Music. With superb musicianship, clever arrangements, and superior engineering, this disc is a must-have for all who enjoy holiday music for brass quintet.