Lorena: A Brass Quintet Setting Brass Quintet - Digital Sheet Music

SKU: A0.1468129

In 1856 Joseph P. Webster, a Wisconsin songwriter, met Henry D.L. Webster (no relation), formerly the minister of Zanesville, Ohio’s Universalist Church. Joseph was in the process of writing a song but needed lyrics to go with his melody. Henry obliged by writing a longish poem about the love of his life, Ella Blocksom. She had been his fiancée, but the engagement had been broken and, apparently, so had Henry’s heart. Joseph’s melody needed a name that would fit into a three-note phrase, so “Ella” was changed to “Lorena.” Chicago’s Higgins Brothers published the song in 1857, and it became widely popular. When the American Civil war broke out, “Lorena” was beloved by both Union and Confederate soldiers as they thought of the wives and girlfriends they had left behind.
J.P. Webster’s “Lorena” is beautiful and plaintive. It is no wonder that this song has remained a sentimental favorite over the years and is still performed and recorded. In this composition, “Lorena: A Brass Quintet Setting,” the “Lorena” tune has been expanded and transformed to create additional melodies that enhance and complement the original. You’ll find it a pleasure to play and a real crowd pleaser for audiences.
This composition is 201 measures in length. It begins in the key of E-flat, transitions to B-flat at section C (measure 51) and goes to F at section G (measure 141). Initial tempo marking is Adagio, increasing to Moderato at section C. There are a number of temporary tempo variations and fermata marks, and the last 9 measures are characterized by a gradual slowing.
The introduction is 21 measures in length. It leads to the second section, which consists of a plain, simple and straightforward statement of J.P. Webster’s “Lorena” theme, complete with grace notes and gruppetto. In this section, Horn and Trumpet 1 do the honors, eventually joined by Tuba, and it should be played with great expression.
At section C, tempo then picks up, and the arrangement presents a series of explications of the theme in various styles.
The final section, I (measure 179), reprises most of the variations and ends with a partial reiteration of the “Lorena” theme.
Performance time is about eight minutes, forty seconds. Tuba plays several notes near the top of its scale; otherwise, all notes are within the normal playing range of each instrument.
The composer, 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. Contact him at lessmith61@bellsouth.net. For more arrangements by Les, enter "Sweetwater Brass Press" (without the quotation marks) in the Sheet Music Plus or Sheet Music Direct search box.