Easter Music

[DelVento]

Hey all,

I've been getting calls to perform at Easter services at local churches and I don't really know what to play and when to play it.

Any suggestions?

-John

[fsung]

Solo or ensemble?

A couple of solos that spring immediately to mind are:

Easter Glory (euph & piano), arr. James Curnow, in More Great Hymns is a nice piece that's not to demanding technically;

Dave Werden's arrangement of Six Variations on a Theme from Handel's Oratorio "Judas Macabeus" (euph & piano) is more demanding technically, but a GREAT piece to play (and would have the added future benefit of being appropriate to program for a recital). The theme is the the tune for the Easter hymn, Thine Be the Glory.

[Edit: added links]

[DelVento]

Solo...just to be clear.

[fsung]

Also, look at Gloria, a collection of Easter hymns arranged by Stephen Bulla.

Not specifically Easter, but Et exultavit spiritus meus (Bach) from Magnificat in D major, BWV 243, or The Holy City, by Stephen Adams would be probably appropriate.

[RickF]

John,

There are two that I have done in the past. "Beneath the Cross of Jesus" (may be better the Sunday before Easter) arr. by Bob Walters of Washington Music. Bob Walters played trumpet with the USAF Band I think. You play unaccompanied for the first 16 measures, hold a note, and the piano comes in on a new key. It changes keys twice (dropping a sharp ea time or up a 4th). Very nice arrangement for only $5.

Beneath the Cross of Jesus
Note: pdf shows TC in concert pitch

"Jesus Paid it All" would be great on Easter Sunday. There's one that the King's Brass performs (Tim Zimmerman on Flugel horn) arr. by Dan Marvin and only $4.

Jesus Paid it All

Hope this helps.

[DelVento]

I also found James Curnow's "Messiah at Easter" series...LOVE IT!

Thanks for all the rep guys!

[blueeuph]

One that you could do in the future is Rich Heffler's arrangement of Were You There? , David E Smith Publication, You likely have to get it under clarinet, trombone or bassoon. It starts very slow, the range goes to high C, a small cadenza, nothing major.

[RickF]

In looking around for something new to play during Easter season, I found a free arrangement of Handel's "I know that my redeemer Liveth" here (pdf and mp3).

This gorgeous piece usually runs about 8 mins, but this arr is only 3:45 long so it is edited down in size. In listening to this piece on YouTube links (soprano soloist w/orch) and following along on the pdf, the melodic line changes in places. I wonder if this would still work as a prelude? Eight mins for prelude is too long, so 4 mins or less would be good. But I have a few concerns...
1. First, it's a soprano aria. Will it sound appropriate played on euphonium?
2. It's in 'F' major, so up 1/2 step from the original 'E' major. Will purists notice or care?
3. Will they notice that is shorter in length?
Thanks for any and all opinions.

[dkstone]

In my opinion this piece is well suited to euphonium and sounds wonderful on the instrument. As for the key, I have always believed that a piece should be played in the key that best suits the instrument, regardless of what the original key was. I have played it in E-flat, and it lays on the instrument well in that key. I would think F would work just as well, and both are "euphonium friendly" keys. I would think that most of your audience would recognize the aria, but I seriously doubt that most would notice the change in length. They would probably notice more if you took more than what they considered as your allotted time.

[RickF]

Thanks for the comments dkstone,

I think it should work but maybe with adding more solo lines in that arr. I'll have to check with my accompanist about it.

In the meantime, just last night ordered another Handel piece that Adam Frey just advertised. It's only 3 mins in length, but a beautiful piece. It doesn't necessarily have an "Easter theme", but would work anytime as a prelude. "Ombra mai fù" from Xerxes (also called "Largo from Xerxes"). Here's a link if interested:

Handel - Largo from Xerxes