Music: The latest titles from mf-musikverlag frank

Miserere
 Mei, Deus
Composed by Gregorio Allegri
Arranged by Bruce Fraser
Published by mf-musikverlag frank

Gregorio Allegri’s religious work, Miserere Mei, Deus, is given a sensitive treatment by arranger, Bruce Fraser. Originally a choral work, the music translates effectively to the brass band medium with beautifully rich chords to enjoy as part of the slow, solemn musical lines.

Without the spoken words, the brief sections depicting plainchant may seem a touch uninteresting in a brass band setting, but can
be made to work with intelligent direction and these sections are far outweighed by the beauty on show elsewhere.

Issues of balance and tuning will emerge, but this arrangement will be accessible to all and fit into the trend of choral works as concert items.

Scottish Landscape
Composed
 by Nic Mills
Published by mf-musikverlag frank

Nic Mills showcases an attractive musical landscape in a work
of three parts.
Firstly, the landscape is revealed in calm, expansive chords and the solo cornet is featured in a lyrical solo line. The original material is then augmented by flowing quaver lines, as the piece builds in intensity, before the percussion section launches into the second part of the piece, a lively Scottish dance. Driving percussion continues to propel the music forward, as the whole band wholeheartedly explores the lively thematic material. Lastly, there is a brief return to the original calm material before a grand finale.

Having the advantage of not being massively technically challenging, Scottish Landscape
will make an entertaining concert work for bands in the middle sections.


Hymn for my Daughter

Composed
 by Mario Burki
Published by mf-musikverlag frank

Commissioned by Otto Meyer, Hymn for my Daughter is a touching, intelligently composed work from the pen of Mario Burki. Lyrical in nature throughout, Burki cleverly interweaves the melody through a number of solo instruments around the band and notably features the often-neglected tenor horn section as a trio in two chorale-style sections, providing challenge of balance and intonation, but with rich rewards. The music builds to a broad climax before gradually fading away, once again, to a whispering finale.

Hymn for my Daughter provides a moving concert item and will be particularly attractive
to lower section bands, which wish to show off the expressive abilities of their soloists and those
of the tenor horn section.


THOMAS DUNNE - Click on titles for purchase links

Read more reviews, interviews and features by subscribing to BBW Digital. Alternatively, subscribe to the printed magazine delivered by post: £40 (UK); £68 (Europe); £81 (Rest of the World)