Sonata From Die Bankelsangerlieder Brass Ensemble - Digital Sheet Music

SKU: A0.1937508

The use of brass instruments in small ensembles reaches back to at least the fourteenth century. This is even before the Violin or Oboe existed. During the sixteenth century, ensembles of purely brass began to appear. In the seventeenth century, the use of standard instrumental ensembles, particularly the Brass Quintet, started to appear. This ensemble generally consisted of two Cornetts and three trombones, alto, tenor and bass.

This anonymous seventeenth century German work was originally scored for such an ensemble. It was discovered at the end of a collection of vocal pieces published in 1684, under the title of ''Die Bankelsangerlieder." The title means “the bench singer,” a musician who travels from place to place who often performed in the local taverns while standing on benches. The word “Sonata” is derived from the Italian "Sonare," meaning to play or to sound, as opposed to Cantata from "cantare," to sing.

This lively work is unusual in the almost modern tonality of its themes. It uses antiphonal effects in which groupings of two and three instruments answer back and forth between each other. Harmonies go back and forth between minor and major. These effects foreshadowed the later concerto.

This contemporary arrangement for the modern brass quintet takes this most interesting historical work into a modern concert piece. It makes for a lively piece that works well as an opening fanfare, exiting fanfare or recital work.