Brass Chamber – Rookwood Music https://www.rookwood-music.co.uk Music, ideas and the creative process Mon, 05 Oct 2026 14:43:42 +0000 en-GB hourly 1 https://wordpress.org/?v=7.1.4 https://www.rookwood-music.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/Rookwood-Logo-150x150.png Brass Chamber – Rookwood Music https://www.rookwood-music.co.uk 32 32 3 Miniatures for 10 https://www.rookwood-music.co.uk/product/3-miniatures-for-10/ Thu, 27 Aug 2026 19:17:21 +0000 https://www.rookwood-music.co.uk/?post_type=product&p=292 Listen

Three Miniatures for 10

Three Miniatures for 10 was written for Harlequin Brass, a Sheffield-based ten-piece brass ensemble. As the title suggests, the work is cast in three short, contrasting movements, each with its own distinct character.

1. Harlequin
A brief, bright fanfare sets things in motion before giving way to a quick and quirky waltz. Playful, slightly mischievous and full of rhythmic character, it provides an energetic opening to the set.

2. Standing Stones
A complete change of mood. This slow, atmospheric serenade has a more reflective character, allowing the colours and sonorities of the ten-piece ensemble to come to the fore.

3. Gallop
The set finishes at full tilt with a fast and lively gallop. Energetic, good-humoured and designed to bring the work to an exhilarating conclusion, it gives the ensemble plenty to get its teeth into — and provides a suitably spirited finale.

]]> Courante https://www.rookwood-music.co.uk/product/courante/ Thu, 27 Aug 2026 15:59:18 +0000 https://www.rookwood-music.co.uk/?post_type=product&p=286 Listen

A favourite of the late, great John Fletcher, and one of my own favourite recital pieces, the Courante from J. S. Bach’s Cello Suite No. 1 in G major is a wonderful test of a tuba player’s technique, agility and musicianship.

In this arrangement, I have added an accompaniment to Bach’s original solo line, presenting the piece as a feature for solo tuba with brass quintet. The tuba remains very much the star of the show, while the accompanying parts provide a sympathetic harmonic and rhythmic setting without detracting from the character of the original.

I have given the arrangement a difficulty rating of 3/4, reflecting the demands of the tuba part. The remaining brass parts are considerably less challenging and should be comfortably within the reach of Grade 1 players.

The tuba part is an exact transcription of Bach’s original cello part, so it also works perfectly well as an unaccompanied solo. This makes the arrangement equally useful as a recital feature with brass quintet or simply as an opportunity to explore one of Bach’s great solo works on the tuba.

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