Giovanni Gabrieli's Canzon per Sonar Noni Toni à 8 (Ch. 173) is an instrumental work in 8 parts (2 choirs antiphonal) composed in 1597 as part of a collection of 45 motets titled Sacrae Symphoniae. These works were performed in St. Marks Basilica after Gabrieli returned to Venice to become the principal organist there and propelled him to become recognized as one of Europe's leading composers.

The instrumental works of the Sacrae Symphoniae have been cherished by brass performers for many years now. This new arrangement by Damiano Drei has been carefully edited for modern instruments with minimal changes and includes substitute parts to allow the performance of this glorious work by 8 or more advanced performers.

Instrumentation is for: 4 Trumpets in B-flat, Horn in F, 2 Trombones and Tuba. Alternate parts are written for Horns in F and Trombone).

Samuel Scheidt's Galliard Battaglia composed around 1621, has become one of the most recognized works in the brass quintet repertoire. This secular work was originally written for five viols. The Galliard dance style, very popular at the time serves as a perfect "foil" for the music's echoing back-and-forth fanfares and brilliant scales.

Neal Bennett of iTromboni has done a great job of arranging this music for Trombone quintet of 2 altos (possible on tenor also), 2 tenors & bass, playable by advanced performers. Length is about 2 minutes.

The brilliant sound track sample is taken from a live performance by iTromboni.

Heinrich Schütz (1585-1672) wrote the Musikalische Exequien, opus 7 (SWV 279-281) for the funeral of Prince Heinrich Posthumus von Reuss (1572-1635). Prince Heinrich?s widow and sons commissioned the work upon his death and provided Schütz with Bible verses as the text, which were also inscribed on the prince?s coffin.

Two of the three parts of the Musikalische Exequien have been arranged for 8-part Trombone Ensemble in two different choirs. The first piece, Motet is reminiscent of Gabrieli's Sonatas. The second piece, Canticum Sineonis is dense, rich, and evokes deep spiritual suffering and loss.

Two Sacred Pieces have been exquisitely edited and arranged by Kenneth Biggs for moderately advanced performers and work very well with 2 Alto Trombones, 4 Tenor Trombones, and 2 Bass Trombones.