Russian Bells

From The Études-Tableaux (“study pictures”) sets of piano études composed by Sergei Rachmaninoff, arranged under opus numbers 33 and 39. These sets were supposed to be “picture pieces”, essentially “musical evocations of external visual stimulae”. Rachmaninoff did not disclose what inspired each piece, stating, “I don’t believe in the artist that discloses too much of his images. Let them paint for themselves what it most suggests.”

Etude #9 is the material here and known as Russian Bells.

For 11 piece brass ensemble

• Piccolo Trumpet 1 in B♭
• Trumpet 2 in E♭
• Trumpet 3 in B♭
• Flugelhorn
• 2 Horns
• 2 Trombones
• Bass Trombone
• Euphonium
• Tuba

This arrangement is part of our Boulder Brass Signature Series.