Brass

The March of the Three Kings

for British-style Brass Band

I wrote this piece, based on a traditional tune, for the Utah Premiere Brass and Timpanogos Chorale a couple of years back. Here is the recording (I’m singing the baritone solo) of the live concert performance in 2005 :

• Live Performance : TheMarchoftheThreeKings.mp3

Here are the score and parts:

• Score : MarchoftheThreeKingsScore-MRyanTaylor.pdf
• Parts : MarchoftheThreeKingsParts-MRyanTaylor.pdf

The instrumentation for the ensemble follows the standard British Brass Band line-up with the addition of a vocal soloist and chorus. The vocal soloist and chorus add a wonderful dimension, but are completely optional. A break-down of the instrumentation for those interested:

• Soprano Cornet
• Solo Cornet
• Repiano Cornet
• 2nd Cornet
• 3rd Cornet
• Flugle
• Solo Horn
• 1st Horn
• 2nd Horn
• 1st Baritone
• 2nd Baritone
• 1st Trombone
• 2nd Trombone
• Bass Trombone
• Euphonium
• Eb Bass Tuba
• BBb Bass Tuba
• Timpani
• Percussion
• Vocal Soloist and Chorus (Optional)

For the optional vocal parts I created my own version of the lyrics, very loosely based on the original French carol, La Marches des Trois Mages:

• The March of the Three Kings
  by M Ryan Taylor
  
  Dawn breaks forth, arising in the east.
  A mighty host of heroes marches hither.
  Dawn breaks forth, they come from out the east,
  their armor glinting with the rising sun.
  
  A page boy leads with his trumpet bold,
  he sounds a tone and my heart is filled with wonder.
  "What brings this fierce host to Bethlehem?"
  "We seek the Savior of the race of men!"
  
  "Three great kings have led us by that star,
  you see it brightly though the sun has risen!
  Three great kings have led us by that star,
  come join our ranks and see the holy child!"
  
  The host moves on bearing chests of gold.
  I see the kings with a body gaurd of paladins.
  My heart cries out, "You must go with them,
  and find the Savior of the race of men!"
  
  Street by street we pass each rich abode,
  and each new door holds hope and expectation.
  Street by street, and looking to the star,
  we come at last to where the light shines down.
  
  The Son  of God lays upon the hay.
  The Son of God laid within a lowly stable.
  Three kings bow low here in Bethlehem,
  before the Savior of the race of men!

I created this arrangement for a local multi-congregational Christmas celebration.

What I ask if you download and use this music (choose one or more) :

1. Let your brass friends know about this site.
2. Make a donation.
3. Find an ad your interested in on this site and visit the sponsor.
4. Or, you could always commission a new work for yourself. Just use the contact form to get in touch.

O Come Let Us Adore Him!
for Brass Choir, Organ and Congregation

Arr. M Ryan Taylor

Instrumentation:

• 3 Horns in F
• 2 Trumpets
• 2 Trombones
• Tuba
• Organ

Files:

• Score and Parts: OComeLetUsAdoreHim-ScoreandParts.pdf
• Computer Realization: OComeLetUsAdoreHim.mp3
• Live Performance: OComeLetUsAdoreHim-Audience,Organ&Brass.mp3

This is a medley of three familiar carols intended for use with a congregation: "Oh, Come, All Ye Faithful" "Angels We Have Heard on High" & "Silent Night" (the verses are sung ABCCA. The brass parts mostly stick to the traditional harmonizations and are not overly difficult. The organ adds punch to the arrangement. Listen to the MP3 (which is almost good enough to use on it’s own) to get the full impact. Perfect for large gatherings and Christmas concerts where you’d like to offer the congregation an opportunity to join in the music making.

Carnival Processional

for small brass choir

• 2 Trumpets
• 4 Horns
• 2 Trombones
• 1 Tuba

This piece was originally written for brass quintet (I’ve lost that version somehow, pretty easy to do actually). This expanded version was written/created for a call for scores from The Chicago Brass Choir. They performed it during their 1999 season and sent me a pretty great live recording :

• Carnival Processional performed by The Chicago Brass Choir :
  CarnivalProcessional-ChicagoBrass.mp3

The piece, as you can hear, is a fun, short romp. When I composed it I imagined a carnival band coming from the distance (think renaissance carnival), getting closer and closer until it abruptly stops in the town square. I think you can hear that in the piece. After almost 10 years I still think it is a ton of fun and is not so difficult that most brass choirs will have any difficulty with it. Here are the score and parts in one handy file:

• CarnivalProcessional-ScoreandParts.pdf

Fanfare for the Eagle

for Brass Trio (Trumpet, Horn & Trombone/Euphonium)
by M Ryan Taylor

• FanfarefortheEagle.pdf

I’m posting this mostly ‘just for fun.’ This was my first brass piece, written in High School for my Boy Scout Eagle Court of Honor (if you know what that is, congratulations). The interesting trio combination was chosen because 3 of my brothers were the players at the event. For you theory buffs, you will note there are some spacing errors, but this was before I’d had any theory classes at all. All in all, I think it works, even if it is a little bit rough around the corners.

I created these arrangements in 2001 and sold them for quite a while with good success on ebay. So, why am I offering them for free now? I just don’t have time for ebay selling on a regular basis.

What I ask if you download and use this music (choose one or more) :

1. Let your brass friends know about this site.
2. Make a donation.
3. Find an ad your interested in on this site and visit the sponsor.
4. Or, you could always commission a new work for yourself. Just use the contact form to get in touch.

An Opera Suite

for Tuba with Piano Accompaniment
Arranged by M Ryan Taylor

• OperaSuite-Tuba.pdf

Contents:

1. Der Vogelfänger bin ich ja (The Magic Flute - Mozart)
2. O du mein holder Abendstern (Tannhäuser - Wagner)
3. Ah! Pescator (La Gioconda - Ponchielli)
4. Cortigiani, vil razza (Rigoletto - Verdi)
5. I am a pirate king (The Pirates of Penzance - Gilbert and Sullivan)

Notes:
This suite features five famous opera arias from the bass repertoire. It begins with a light hearted aria from Papageno the Birdcatcher, one of the principle characters in Mozart’s famous Magic flute. Next is a rapturous song to the evening star (O du mein holder Abendstern) with it’s lush Wagnerian melodic and harmonic structures. "Ah! Pescator" is light hearted, but only on the surface; Ponchielli weaves treachery into a joyful fisherman’s song. Next comes the impassioned cries of Rigelleto as he attempts to rescue his Daughter from the masterwork by Verdi. As a finale, the suite ends with the rollicking song of the king of the jolly ‘Pirates of Penzance." This suite will delight your listeners and makes for an excellent recital or showpiece.