Sound The Trumpet by Henry Purcell Brass Ensemble - Digital Sheet Music

SKU: A0.1943325

Henry Purcell was an English composer. He is generally considered to be one of the greatest English composers with a large repertoire of works. A great feat given his short life as he died at age 36. Purcell is buried adjacent to the organ in Westminster Abbey.

The height of success was to have your music performed at the royal court. Court musical celebrations could be occasioned by many different events, but royal birthdays were a favorite, and there was tradition of performing Odes specially composed for the monarch's birthday. Come, Ye Sons Of Art, from which this popular work is the second movement, is the last of many royal Odes he composed, and was for Queen Mary's birthday in 1694. The piece was originally written for two alto soloists who embody trumpets and oboes described in the text. It is especially noteworthy for its employment of the ground bass, a favorite device of English composers, in which the bass line consists of a brief melody repeated over and over.

Written here is a contemporary version for brass quintet with the trumpets taking over the original alto soloist lines. The whole piece is a cheerful call to celebration and works well for almost any festive occasion.