Assemblies Festive & Solemn

For brass quintet (or double quintet) plus timpani

This was written for a brass quintet specifically comprised of two trumpets, two tenor trombones and one bass trombone, plus timpani (four), and for performances within acoustically resonant venues such as large cathedrals, auditoria and the like, for large and ceremonial occasions such as commencements, coronations, weddings royal and otherwise, and such like. The number of brass players may be increased, perhaps doubled — e.g., a double quintet to include the optional horn and tuba — or even additionally augmented to become a much larger brass ensemble, as long as the core quintet that includes at least the full three-part trombone choir remains intact and central to the collective sound. The timpani part is best undertaken with four timpani, but it is performable with three if necessary by some quick and careful adjustments especially in the smaller timpani to accomplish the frequent changes between the Eb and the F, for example.

An alternate Horn in F part is provided for the first Trombone, as to allow this to be performed by a traditional Brass quintet.