Marches for Quintet

Norm in Bellevue · Post by **Norm in Bellevue** » Sat Mar 04, 2006 11:30 pm

Would someone please recommend a collection of marches transcribed/arranged for brass quintet? I've already checked the archives. There's very little there.

Thanks

Dan Schultz · Post by **Dan Schultz** » Sat Mar 04, 2006 11:42 pm

You can purchase an excellent quintet arrangement of Valdress March here:

http://cgi.ebay.com/Valdres-March-Hanss ... dZViewItem

BVD Press · Post by **BVD Press** » Sun Mar 05, 2006 8:00 am

I might be a bit biased because I own Cimarron, but take a look at any of the arrangements by Don Patterson. His versions of Sousa marches and others are excellent. Before I purchased CImarron, they were the choice of my quintet:

http://www.cimarronmusic.com

__

Some others that come to mind:

Rolling Thunder - arr. Hanna (TBQ Press)
Barnum abd Bailey's - arr. Reynolds (Denver Brass)
5 Marches - arr. Doughty and Beyrent (BVD Press)
1.Free Lance - Sousa/Doughty
2. Father of Victory March - Ganne/Beyrent
3. Bravura - Duble/Beyrent
4. The Whistler and His Dog - Pryor/Beyrent
5. Billboard March - Klohr/Beyrent

If you are looking for something unique, I did a version of a Sousa march called "Circus March". I worked with Paul Bierley on the project and he believes the piece was written for an onstage brass band for an unpublished operetta. It took years to get permission to publish the piece, but it is a fun a chart with a story! I worked for the manuscript that was on micro film at the Library of Congress.

You will also find a ton more on my site:

http://www.bvdpress.com

We currently specialize in Brass Quintet music and carry almost 4000 titles. Please feel free to drop me an email if you questions on any of the charts on the site. Many I have played, heard, know the arranger, etc. and might be able to help match a march to your group.

Wishing you well,

Kevin Miller · Post by **Kevin Miller** » Sun Mar 05, 2006 8:14 am

I think what Norm is looking for would be akin to the old fashioned march folios that many of us have played in the olden days. I don't think that such a thing exists for brass quintet. Too bad, it's much more economical for the quintet and would fill a need in the quintet literature. That's a topical question worth discussion that those publisher types on the board could help with. Why aren't there any folio collection books available of some of these great old marches arranged for quintet?

Norm, if you are needing such a collection for filler, background, or wallflower music, then you may be able to use those old band folios and just play the parts of each instrument in the quintet. I've played many rodeos just using brass parts from band arrangements and they work just fine. If your quintet is playing in a concert setting, then more stylized arrangements for quintet would probably be needed.

BVD Press · Post by **BVD Press** » Sun Mar 05, 2006 10:08 am

Kevin Miller wrote: That's a topical question worth discussion that those publisher types on the board could help with. Why aren't there any folio collection books available of some of these great old marches arranged for quintet?

The reason most publishers do not publish a folio is the loss of income factor. If a publisher had the choice to publish individual marches for $15.00 each or sell 5 for $25.00, they would choose the $15.00 each. One would make an additional $50.00 if all 5 sold individually. You would only have to sell 2 individual copies to get to over $25.00 and the cost to produce a book of 5 is much more.

It also take a long time to put a folio together. One march might take a few hours. A folio would take a while!

In one of my posts above, I mention a set of marches I publish. It sells for $25.00 or $5.00 a march. I think it is a great deal. Do I make a lot of money on it, no, but I felt it was a good way to get a bunch of marches in one book at a very reasonable price.

Chuck(G) · Post by **Chuck(G)** » Sun Mar 05, 2006 12:24 pm

If you're on a budget, there are some decent arrangements available for free, if you look hard enough. Others have minimal cost.

For example, sibelius music has a free arrangement of "Entry of the Gladiators":

http://www.sibeliusmusic.com/cgi-bin/sh ... reid=46148

windshieldbug · Post by **windshieldbug** » Sun Mar 05, 2006 12:53 pm

Chuck(G) wrote:For example, sibelius music has a free arrangement of "Entry of the Gladiators"

Why would someone do a chart about the front hall of a debate team?

Dan Schultz · Post by **Dan Schultz** » Sun Mar 05, 2006 1:47 pm

Not 'zactly marches, but the small groups I play in have a lot of fun with the old 'Hungry Five' arrangements. They are intended for two clarinets, a trumpet, a trombone, and a tuba.... but you can easily eliminate the clarinets and sub other Bb instruments like multiple trumpets/baritones.

Chuck(G) · Post by **Chuck(G)** » Sun Mar 05, 2006 1:49 pm

windshieldbug wrote:
Chuck(G) wrote:For example, sibelius music has a free arrangement of "Entry of the Gladiators"
Why would someone do a chart about the front hall of a debate team?

Hmmm, maybe I'll write a parody of it called "Empying the Radiators"...

windshieldbug · Post by **windshieldbug** » Sun Mar 05, 2006 1:54 pm

Chuck(G) wrote:
windshieldbug wrote:
Chuck(G) wrote:For example, sibelius music has a free arrangement of "Entry of the Gladiators"
Why would someone do a chart about the front hall of a debate team?
Hmmm, maybe I'll write a parody of it called "Empying the Radiators"...

Now THAT'S bleedin' funny!

THE TUBA · Post by **THE TUBA** » Sun Mar 05, 2006 3:23 pm

Chuck(G) wrote:If you're on a budget, there are some decent arrangements available for free, if you look hard enough. Others have minimal cost.

For example, sibelius music has a free arrangement of "Entry of the Gladiators":

http://www.sibeliusmusic.com/cgi-bin/sh ... reid=46148

I found a free pdf of Barnum and Bailey's Favorite March here: http://www.free-scores.com/download-she ... p?pdf=1036

Norm in Bellevue · Post by **Norm in Bellevue** » Sun Mar 05, 2006 10:47 pm

Thanks for all the great replies to my post--most helpful. I know I'll find several good march arrangements.

Tom Holtz · Post by **Tom Holtz** » Mon Mar 06, 2006 12:10 am

BVD Press wrote:I might be a bit biased because I own Cimarron, but take a look at any of the arrangements by Don Patterson. His versions of Sousa marches and others are excellent. Before I purchased CImarron, they were the choice of my quintet:

http://www.cimarronmusic.com

These are really good charts. Solid.

Chuck(G) · Post by **Chuck(G)** » Mon Mar 06, 2006 12:17 am

To my ear, Sousa marches scored for quintet seem to come off sounding a bit "thin" compared to band renditions. No reflection on the many fine arrangers; it's just that there are only 5 voices to work with--and one has its job pretty much pre-defined.

The same goes for Alford marches, I think.

OTOH, screamers seem to work very well.

Does anyone else feel this way?

BVD Press · Post by **BVD Press** » Mon Mar 06, 2006 8:28 am

Dear Chuck,

Chuck(G) wrote:To my ear, Sousa marches scored for quintet seem to come off sounding a bit "thin" compared to band renditions.
Does anyone else feel this way?

I am curious if you have tried any of the Patterson charts? If not, let me know and I will send out a copy. They are thinner, but no matter what ones does going from 20+ parts to 5 is quite difficult to keep the "flavor".

Leland · Post by **Leland** » Thu Mar 16, 2006 4:09 pm

We pulled out regular band arrangements and just used the parts we needed. Served well enough for the incidental gigs we had.