Ewald Quintet #1

[BVD Press]

Remember I am biased because I have a version of all three that I publish, but here goes:

Robert King version - This is for quintet, but is titled Symphony for Brass because there are parts that are written for Sextet. There are also some changes from the original.

Music Express - This version is a good version, but there is an awful page turn in movement 2. The page is a turn in the middle of a repeated section in some parts. Not sure if it is in all parts.

Lyceum Press - I don't know this version

Not on the King site, but there is a version that is published by Chester Music. It is no longer available in the US. I believe it is the version that has been recorded on several Philip Jones CD's (records).

Biased part:

BVD Press - The version I did was based on the original score published by M. P. Belaieff in 1895. I did make some changes in slurs, etc., but it mainly the original. A review can be found here:

http://www.trumpetguild.org/pdf/2003jou ... sicRev.pdf

or

http://www.iteaonline.org/Journal/31N2/ ... ials.shtml

My version also includes the other 2 quintets in one book. Not a bad deal for $55.00!

If you want to take a look, there are 23 pages of score sample on my site. Just search Ewald:

http://www.bvdpress.com
____

If you are looking for another quintet standard, I put out a book of all 76 of Pezel pieces about a year after the Ewald's. Both were projects that took forever, but I felt they would be nice additions to the quintet rep.

Good luck making your decisions,

[Alex C]

There are 3 or so versions of this piece on the R. King website. I've only played through the King version of it, and I was wondering what the others are like. Differences? Better? Worse? You decide!

The Robert King version is heavily edited and was originally intended for brass choir. The tuba part doubles the euphonium an octave lower and should be left out in quintet performances. As in most King arrangements, the tuba should play the euphonium part.

Robert King's transcription was ground-breaking in the 1960's but more historical accuracy is appreciated these days.

I'm surprised that nobody mentioned that the original scoring of the piece was for a conical bore quintet: 2 cornets, (Eb?) alto horn, Bb tenor horn and Eb tuba, if memory serves as a source.

However, .ahem...most trumpet players do not want to be cornetists and even an open-minded horn player doesn't want to play and alto horn, much less sound like one. Oh, and real tenor horns are hard to find... so my quintet ended up playing with 2 cornets, horn euphonium and Eb tuba. It sounds completely different in this scoring; overtones abound and you get a new perspective on the piece.

The King edition is very playable but I would try one of the other editions.

[BVD Press]

If you can find a copy available, the Baltic Brass will demonstrate what Alex is talking about in terms of a completely different sound:


http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/630751 ... oding=UTF8

[Alex C]

Thanks for the tip Bryan! I found a copy here:

http://www.cduniverse.com/productinfo.a ... =336212344

[Z-Tuba Dude]

1) EWALD, V. / KING, R. KING MUSIC COMPANY, ROBERT SYMPHONY (QUINTET #1) / [2 TRPTS/HN/TRBN/BAR(TBA)]
the only reason this is even still available is because R.King was a Baritone player. All of the really fun parts in the Tuba and Trombone part are gone and have been placed in the baritone part. Doesnt nearly work as well as a Sextet as a Quintet.

2) EWALD, V. / MILLER LYCEUM PRESS QUINTET #1 OP. 5
This is an older version of the quintet - has lots of mistakes.

3) EWALD, V. / THOMAS, D.R. MUSIC EXPRESS QUINTET # 1
This version is the most up-to-date with the corrections. This in my opinion is the best version to buy.

The first two are in a manuscript while the third is in printed type and therefore much easier to read. Buy the Music Express version if you have a choice.*

*Just my opinion and does not reflect the opinion of anyone but myself.

Anybody familiar with a version by Ensemble Publications, of Buffalo, NY?

[BVD Press]

I know they are no longer in Buffalo, but do not know anything about their version of Ewald 1.

They are currently owned by Chuck DePalo of Hickey's Music in Ithaca, NY. If you are headed to either the ITG or ITEC Conferences in June, Hickey's will be there and will probably have copies available.

Sorry the post wasn't too helpful!