Brass quintet - advanced
SKU: CY.CC2845
Composed by Herbert L.
Clarke. Arranged by
Geoffrey Bergler.
American early 20th
Century. Score and parts.
Published by Cherry
Classics (CY.CC2845).
Cornet solos
are an important part of
the American Brass
tradition. The Southern
Cross is one of Clarke's
most well known Cornet
solos and was written in
1911, dedicated to the
Australians and first
recorded by the composer
with Orchestra the next
year for Victor
Records.
During 1911,
Clarke was the solo
Cornetist of the Sousa
Band while the band was
on a world tour that
included visits to South
Africa, Tazmania and
Australia from March
through to
August.
Below is a
photo of the Sousa band
from their 1911 tour.
Clarke is sitting in the
front row 5th in from the
right with his moustache
and his Cornet on his
lap. He assuredly
composed this solo to
perform on that tour. The
Southern Cross is a
constellation that is
only seen from the
southern hemisphere and
features the five stars
of the Cross from the
1901 design of the
Australian
flag.
This
5-minute virtuosic
arrangement by Geoffrey
Bergler features not only
the Cornet, but a bit of
all the other four
members of the Brass
Quintet.
Instrumentat
ion is for:
2
Trumpets in B-flat
(Trumpet 1 solo, Trumpet
2 also plays
Piccolo)
Horn,
Tr
ombone
Tuba/Bass
Trombone
The sound
track below features Mr.
Bergler from his student
days as Cornet
soloist
Berg Victor Herbert
