?Were You There? is a nineteenth-century African-American spiritual that likely predates the American Civil War, and may have roots in a folk hymn known in Tennessee as ?Have You Heard How They Crucified MyLord?? It was first published in William Eleazar Barton's 1899 Old Plantation Hymns; and in 1940, it was included in the hymnal of the Episcopal Church with harmonization by C. Winfred Douglas, making it the first spiritual to be included in any major American hymnal. This arrangement evokes the call-and-response tradition of the spiritual, and features solo trumpet answered by low brass in the introduction and first stanza, solo trombone/low brass trio in the second stanza, and full ensemble in the final stanza. Although appropriate for use throughout the year, it is particularly fitting for performance on Good Friday, Holy Saturday (Easter Vigil) and Easter sunrise services. This intermediate-level arrangement is suitable for ensembles from high school to community and professional musicians. �Copyright 2015 Todd Marchand / ConSpiritoMusic.com

The lush and lyrical Easter Hymn from the operaCavalleria Rusticana is sung as the villagers process into church on Easter morning. Perfect for a concert or a church service, especially an Easter service! This arrangement is fun to play and it's a unique addition to your current library of Easter music. Includes B-flat and C Trumpet parts. Performance time, 5:30. Published by Dorm 40 Music, www.dorm40music.com .

In 1887, George Kitchin wrote ?Lift High the Cross.? Michael R. Newbolt revised it in 1916, and it was printed in that year in Sydney Nicholson?s supplement to Hymns Ancient and Modern. At the same time, it was set to Nicholson?s hymn tune, ?Crucifer,? and has since come to be used as the opening or closing hymn in many churches. There are several very good arrangements of ?Lift High the Cross? featuring brass instruments with varying combinations of other musicians?organ, choir, tympani, snare drum, hand bells, high voice descant. This arrangement features brass quintet alone, and the triumphant nature of the hymn?s melody sits exceptionally well with this particular instrumental grouping. It begins, however, with a completely different interpretation?the first time through the refrain and the verse are played relatively slowly, quietly and contemplatively (the tempo marking instructs ?Reverently?). The pace then picks up, and the feeling of the piece changes to one of exultation. This joyous mood is sustained throughout the variations that follow, and each player gets a chance to shine. Finally, after one last statement of the refrain, the dynamics quiet down for a beautifully soft finish. This is a perfect concert piece for Easter, Lent, or church processional or recessional. This arrangement was completed in 2017, and performance time runs about 5 minutes, 10 seconds. The arranger, Les Smith, would be very interested in your comments on this piece; contact him at lessmith@ufl.edu or leave a review on the SheetMusicPlus website. For more arrangements by Les, enter "Sweetwater Brass Press" (without the quotation marks) in the SheetMusicPlus search box.

This is the song designed for a time of decision. A beautiful arrangement that says with instruments, What can wash away my sin? Nothing but the blood of Jesus. For Jesus paid it all. Sin had left a crimson stain He washed it white as snow. Yes! NOTHING but the blood of Jesus can wash our sins away. This is my favorite. I hope you enjoy. (Tell the trumpets it works better if they play on flugels). Grade 2 Along with the traditional brass instrumentation (Trumpet 1 and 2, Horn, Trombone and Tuba), there are substitution parts provided for: Alto Sax (for Trumpet 2) Alto Sax (for Horn) Trumpet 3 (for Horn) Trombone (for Horn) Baritone Treble Cleff/Tenor Sax (for Trombone) Baritone Sax (for Tuba) Horn (for Trombone)