Anton Bruckner's Virga Jesse, Motet W.A.B. 52, for 4-part Tuba Ensemble was written in 1885 as a tribute to Jesse, the father of King David. The text is based on Isaiah 11 establishing Jesus in the lineage of King David.

The music is symphonic in breadth, but also harkens back to Gregorian Chant and Renaissance polyphony. As with so much of Bruckner's music, long phrases begin softly and mysteriously, building to giant ecstatic climaxes.

Robert Coulter has beautifully arranged this work of 4 minutes in length for performers at a moderately advanced level. Parts are all in bass clef for 2 Euphoniums and 2 Tubas.

Symphony No. 9 in D minor by Anton Bruckner is his final work, unfinished and in 3 movements. Randall Malmstrom has arranged another great excerpt from the Austrian master, the Coda of Movement I for an 8-part Trombone Ensemble.

The Coda is solemn, majestic, spiritual, and leaves the listener spellbound, its effect being so overwhelming.

The arrangement of about 3 1/2 minutes in length is appropriate for advanced performers. The top part is in alto clef.

Ecce Sacerdos Magnus (?Behold the Great Priest?) comes from the early European tradition of plainchant. Bruckner?s setting of the responsory, originally scored for eight-part mixed choir, organ and three trombones, brings certain medieval qualities to an otherwise Romantic-era composition.



This transcription for 10-part brass choir is appropriate for intermediate level and above and attempts to retain the majesty, power, and beauty of the original piece. It should be approached as a choral piece: connected and fluid. The harmonic language is essentially triadic; great care should be taken in the tuning of each chord throughout the piece.



Instrumentation is for: 3 Trumpets in B-flat, 2 Horns, 3 Trombones, Euphonium and Tuba.



Listen to the live performance by a young group of musicians conducted by Dr. Paul Stevens, Professor of Horn at KU.