SKU: CY.CC2475

Equali were works written for equal, or similar, instruments; in the eighteenth century they were almost always used for funeral services and usually employed a quartet of trombones. The most famous of these were the three Beethoven wrote for the Linz Cathedral in Austria on All Soul's Day 1812. Two of these were adapted later for male voices and were sung at Beethoven's funeral.

These pieces are some of the most famous works for trombones, no doubt due to the fact that they were composed by Beethoven. They were commissioned by Franz Xaver Gloggl, Kappelmeister of the city of Linz, while Beethoven was visiting his brother. According to later accounts by Gloggl's son, although his father had a complete collection of trombones (soprano, alto, tenor, bass or quart) the three Equali were performed by a traditional quartet of alto, tenor and bass trombones.

This edition offers a compromise: the original score and parts are given exactly as written in the complete works, and a version designed for the less experienced players: the three movements are transposed down one step, edited with minor musical suggestions, and all four parts are written in bass clef.

Dr. Mathie has done the Trombone world a great service in bringing this great work in its two forms to publication.

SKU: CY.CC2372

Tomas Luis de Victoria was the most famous composer of the 16th century in Spain, and one of the most important composers of the Counter-Reformation, along with Palestrina and Orlando di Lasso. Victoria was not only a composer, but also an accomplished organist and singer. However, he preferred the life of a composer to that of a performer. He is sometimes known as the Spanish Palestrina because he may have been taught by Palestrina.

O Magnum Mysterium is a 4 part a cappella motet written in Latin for the Catholic Church service and is performed mostly around the Christmas period as the text refers to the great mystery of the Virgin birth, animals and baby Jesus in the manger. This work was written during the composer's stay in Rome and has some of Palestrina's influence.

Dr. Converse has done a beautiful job of transcribing one of the most beautiful sacred choral works of the Renaissance period.