?The Morning Trumpet,? by Benjamin Franklin White (1800-1879), is a camp revival song published in 1844 in the first edition of The Sacred Harp, a shape-note hymn book compiled by White and E.J. King (1821-1844). Shape-note tunes are often predominantly pentatonic, with harmonies that emphasize stark intervals of fourths and fifths. In four-part harmony, the tune is typically in the tenor voice. This arrangement preserves the tune but harmonizes it in a more contemporary style, and features alternating calls between first and second trumpet. Includes snare drum part (optional, may be successfully performed by brass quintet alone). �Copyright 2012 Todd Marchand / ConSpiritoMusic.com

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. ?

This novelty is great as either a featured number or as an encore. It is upbeat, a medley of turn-of-the-last-century tunes that, in the tradition of Haydn?s "Farewell" Symphony (No. 45 in F-sharp minor), provides opportunity for four musicians to leave, one by one, until only Tuba remains. It opens at a fast clip with a statement of ?Good-Night, Ladies? followed by a four-measure vamp that is subsequently repeated after nearly every section. First, horn and tuba perform ?There is a Tavern in the Town.? Second, trombone and trumpets combine to ask, ?Bill Bailey, Won?t You Please Come Home.? Third is a close-harmony, ensemble version of ?Goin? Home.? Fourth features exchanges between trumpets and low brass in ?Toot, Toot, Tootsie!? Fifth is an amalgam of all the tunes; this is played four times, each time featuring a different instrument, which then drops out for the rest of the number. The tuba ends the piece and takes a bow. This arrangement was completed in 2014, and performance time runs about 3 minutes, 56 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.

This suite for organ was commissioned by the American Guild of Organists for the 2020-2021 Student Commissioning Project. It derives its title and source material from William Walker?s 1835 hymnbook Southern Harmony and Musical Companion. Each movement is based on one tune from the collection. The work's harmonic landscape is also derived from Walker?s hymnbook, and the interval of a perfect fifth is extensively used. The end result is an exciting organ suite that brings new life to old melodies.