Bach composed the secular cantata Was mir behagt, ist nur die muntre Jagd BWV 208 in 1713. By far, the most famous and most performed movement is the ninth, Schafe k�nnen sicher weiden, more popularly known by its English name, "Sheep May Safely Graze." Bach scored the piece for soprano with two recorders and continuo, but others have since provided arrangements for myriad instrument combinations. Long an instrumental favorite at weddings, now even some churches include ?Sheep May Safely Graze? on their list of recommended music for marriage ceremonies. This arrangement is particularly effective in translating Bach?s music into a beautiful and quiet brass quintet composition. Horn in F and Trumpet 1 take turns with the melody, while Trombone and Tuba provide the basso continuo. Upper accompaniment is given to Trumpet 2 and, at various points, whoever else is not otherwise engaged?Trumpet 1, Horn in F and occasionally even Trombone. This arrangement was completed in 2017, and performance time runs about 4 minutes, 4 seconds. The arranger, Les Smith, will be happy to provide substitute parts (for example, treble clef baritone for trombone) at no charge; contact him directly at lessmith61@bellsouth.net. If you like this arrangement, don?t miss ?Andante Cantabile from String Quartet Op. 11,? ?Arabesque #1,? ?Chorale St. Antoni,? ?Clair de lune? and ?Jesus Bleibet Meine Freude (Jesu, Joy of Man's Desiring).? For more arrangements by Les, enter "Sweetwater Brass Press" (without the quotation marks) in the SheetMusicPlus search box.

Here is a completely different take on this well-known Christmas carol. After an introduction that proudly establishes the ?O Holy Night? refrain, a 10-measure prelude sets the tone for the rest of the piece. Then comes the carol itself. But what a special version! Upbeat and celebratory, it uses the differing tonal colors of the brass quintet instruments to create pyramids of buoyant sound, winding up with a restatement of the introduction. This arrangement was completed in 2012, and performance time runs about 1 minutes, 32 seconds. The arranger, Les Smith, will be happy to provide substitute parts (for example, treble clef baritone for trombone) at no charge; contact him directly at lessmith61@bellsouth.net. For more arrangements by Les, enter "Sweetwater Brass Press" (without the quotation marks) in the SheetMusicPlus search box.

?The holly and the ivy/When they are both full grown/Of all the trees that are in the wood/The holly bears the crown.? So go the opening words to this cheerful, upbeat Christmas song. The lyrics appeared as broadsides in early nineteenth century Birmingham, England. The melody was first published in Cecil J. Sharp?s 1911 English Folk-Carols; on page 63 of the collection?s ?Notes on the Carols? section, Sharp wrote that he heard the tune sung by "Mrs. Mary Clayton, at Chipping Camden." (An alternative version linked the words to a melody identified as "old French carol.") This version is a fast-moving and fun treatment of the Sharp/Clayton melody. It includes, among other things, a call-and-response variation, a running tuba solo, an alternative ?verse? tune and a countermelody section featuring ?Deck the Halls.? There are two key changes, trumpets play a couple of B-above-the-staff notes, and the time signature changes from � to 4/4 near the end. Completed in 2016, this arrangement runs about 3 minutes, 20 seconds. Contact the arranger, Les Smith, at lessmith@ufl.edu. If you like this one, don?t miss Les? arrangements of ?Silver Bells,? ?Jingle Bells,? ?Jolly Old St. Nicholas,? ?Up On The Housetop,? ?Deck the Halls? and many other Christmas songs and carols. Enter "Sweetwater Brass Press" (without the quotation marks) in the SheetMusicPlus search box.