Tipplers Revel (XCIX Utres Cervisiae in Muro and other bacchanalian airs)
Brass Ensemble - Digital Sheet Music

Brass Ensemble - Level 4 - Digital Download

SKU: A0.1093770

Composed by F. Leslie Smith. Folk,Holiday,Traditional. Score and parts. 57 pages. Sweetwater Brass Press #697853. Published by Sweetwater Brass Press (A0.1093770).

     The dictionary defines revel as “a time or instance of carefree fun.” The verb tipple refers to the imbibing of spirits. A tippler is one who drinks beer, wine, whiskey or other such spirituous liquids. So a tipplers revel would be a gathering of folks who, in the words of Dolly Parton’s “Two Doors Down,” are “laughing and drinking and having a party.”

     This "Tipplers Revel" is a compilation of traditional drinking songs. It begins and ends with that bane of school trips, faculty sponsors, bus drivers and chaperones, “99 Bottles of Beer on the Wall.” And between those two bookends come “Rye Whiskey,” “Little Brown Jug,” “Landlord, Fill the Flowing Bowl,” “Jimmy Crack Corn,” “Beer, Beer, Beer (An Ode to Charlie Mops, The Man Who Invented Beer),” “Hot Time in the Old Town Tonight,” “Wein, Weib und Gesang [Wine, Woman, and Song],” “Drink to Me Only with Thine Eyes,” “There Is a Tavern in the Town,” “Good Night, Ladies,” “How Dry I Am,” and brief quotes from about a half dozen other melodies associated with quaffing.

     For the most part, this arrangement’s time signature is 4/4 and should be played at about 120 BPM. There are, however, two sections of 3/4 time, one of which is marked “tempo di valse,” and the opening and ending few measures should be played rather slowly.

     The music should be well within the normal range of the group. Possible exceptions: trumpets play their A above the staff a couple of times.

     There are quite a few 16th notes in the allegro sections. (And one could make the argument that at least two sections ought to have been written in 6/8 time. But they weren’t.)

     Completed in 2022, performance time runs about 6 minutes, 43 seconds. The arranger, Les Smith, will be happy to provide substitute parts (for example, treble clef baritone for trombone) at no charge. He would like to receive your suggestions, comments, corrections and criticisms. For more arrangements by Les, enter "Sweetwater Brass Press" (without the quotation marks) in the Sheet Music Plus or Sheet Music Direct search box. (Also, purchase of this piece entitles you to your choice of another of his arrangements at no charge; send a copy of your purchase receipt directly to him at lessmith61@bellsouth.net.)