20008 Serenade in E Minor Op 20

E. Elgar (1857-1934)

arranged by Roger Harvey

Symphonic brass ensemble (3 trumpets; 4 horns; 3 trombones; tuba)

Difficulty: Medium hard

Price: £35.00

Programme note:
The Serenade is one of Elgar's earliest mature works, certainly the first with which he confessed to being satisfied and it remained one of his own favourite pieces throughout his life. It was written, like much of his early music for amateur musician freinds to play, in this case the Worcester Ladies' Orchestral Class and first performed in 1892 with himself as the conductor. The first public performance was in Antwerp in 1896 but it was not heard in its complete form in England until 1899.
it was published in 1892 and remains one his most popular and most frequently performed works.
It is a much simpler, more direct piece than the slightluy later Introduction and Allegro but it has an exquisite charm that is entirely characteristic of Elgar.
There ar 3 movements:
I: Piacevole - in a lilting, slightly melancholy moood.
II: Larghetto - which contains one of Elgar's best upwardly swooping melodies.
III: Allegretto - another similarl rising melody in the first section before a return to the music of the first movement.

Performance note:
Elgar uses some heavy articulation markings in the string parts; these have been reduced to take account of the diffence in attack of brass instruments. Nevertheless, be careful to treat accents as phrasing points rather than anything hard or aggressive. The music should be gently, but clearly articulated when necessary and very cantabile elsewhere.
Be aware of balance and aim for homogeonous tone throughout the group.
The 1st trumpet part requires an E flat or piccolo trumpet but great care should be taken to avoid sticking out from the texture at any time - attempt to blend and colour rather than dominate.