American Vignettes was composed during 2011 for the Lyric Brass of Pacific Lutheran University. They were looking for a composition to include on a CD of American music and one that would feature each of the musicians. The first movement, ?Barn Dance?, features the first trumpet and after a syncopated, fanfare-style introduction, the movement uses fragments and elaborations of "Old Chisholm Trail" and "Short?nin Bread". For the second movement, I wanted to write a blues and feature the other trumpet player on Flugelhorn. As I was working on the movement, the blues seem very mysterious and lonely, so I titled the movement 4 A.M. Blues. It reflects someone who can?t sleep and is contemplating the deep mysteries of life and feels very alone in the world. Movement 3 is the tuba feature and is called "Spirituals". I use three different spirituals in this movement, "Nobody Knows the Trouble I?ve Seen". "Cotton Needs Picking" and "Every Time I Feel the Spirit." Movement 4 ?Fiesta? is a trombone feature and represents the Southwest. The Southwestern flavor is accomplished through alternating 6/8 and 3/4 and the bright colors of the muted brass playing staccato eighth note rhythms and "ay" sounding motifs. The Horn is featured in the fifth movement ?From Sea to Shining Sea? that starts with a jazz harmony version of ?America the Beautiful? followed by a jazz waltz built from motifs of the song. The last movement is called ?Harlem Jump? and is an up-tempo jive with Be-bop type solos written for each of the musicians. ?

?American Patrol? is the best-known work by Frank White (F.W.) Meacham (1856?1909), an arranger and composer associated with Tin Pan Alley, the home of New York City-based songwriters and music publishers who dominated the popular music of the United States in the late 19th and early 20th century. ?American Patrol? incorporates both original musical themes by Meacham and melodies from patriotic songs of the era such as ?Columbia, the Gem of the Ocean? and ?Dixie.? The ?patrol? format was popular in the latter 19th century, and was intended to represent a military band approaching, passing, and fading into the distance. It typically included an introduction played pianissimo or piano, in imitation of bugle calls or drums, then themes played progressively louder until a recapitulation of the first theme(s), gradually fading away and finishing softly, like the march began. Published for piano in 1885 and for wind band in 1891, ?American Patrol? became and remained popular through World War I and II, enjoying renewed popularity during WWII and beyond thanks to a swing arrangement for Glenn Miller's band by Jerry Gray. �Copyright 2013 Todd Marchand / ConSpiritoMusic.com

Euday L. Bowman's "12th St. Rag" is a fantastic example of a rag that was reshaped into many different forms by different performers. Our version faithfully reflects the structure of the original composition (I have been unable to find any other arrangements of this that preserve the exciting introduction.) It starts by giving the tuba modified arpeggios (to show who's "boss"!), then we're off and running with the familiar meat of the rag. The primary melody is passed back and forth between the trumpets, with the other instruments either playing offbeats or embroidering around the melody with delicious countermelodic snippets. The trombone part contains a number of Dixieland-style glissandos. Arranged for brass quintet (two Bb trumpets, French horn, trombone, and tuba). Performance time is approximately 2:10. Visit our website, www.tootsuitebrasspublishing.com, for a catalog of our arrangements available through sheetmusicplus.com.

The famous folk song is the best choice for any celebration party: Birthday, Wedding, Holiday, ?.- This exceptional arrangement features all parts. I can be played by a small concert band as it consists of mainly of 5 melodic parts and rhythm. While beginning with a festive introduction it ends up with a melodic modulation: The best way, to say: "thank you" to a really "Jolly good fellow"! Players and audience will love it! Enjoy! Instrumentation: Tpt 1/2 in Bb/C, Horn in F/Eb, Trombone C/Bb, Tuba/Bass in Bb/Eb