Archive for the ‘Religious’ Category

Trumpet Sheet Music- Jesus Christ is Risen Today (trumpet solo/duet/trio/quartet or three descants- with organ)

Saturday, February 4th, 2012

Instrumentation- Solo/Duet/Trio/Quartet or Melody and three Decants with Organ
Composer- arr.Chidester
Length- Depends on number of verses used
Difficulty- E
Range – Easy
Endurance- 2
Finger technique- 2
Counting ability- 2
Ensemble difficulty- 2

I have played a lot of Easter Services and one thing is usually true; most organists don’t know what to do with the brass players unless the arrangement has been written out. Most often we hear this, “I want you to play along on the hymns”. That doesn’t give you much to work on for in order to play along with the hymns, you will have to transpose the top line of the organ part. Although this is expected of trumpet players, it sometimes is a problem with younger players. Then we might be asked to play an obbligato part which will stop most players. Most Easters also include one, two and sometimes three trumpet players who most often have to sit around doing nothing or doubling on the first part.

The days of unorganized confusion in the choir loft are finally over.

This arrangement includes the following possibilities-

1. Transposed hymn melody for trumpet solo.
2. Transposed parts for a trumpet duet/ trio and/or quartet.
3. Transposed melody for one trumpet and choice of three additional descants.

Start collecting these descant arrangements and be a hero to every organist you run into.

Listen to this sample of all four independent parts performed with one of the most popular hymns- Jesus Christ Is Risen Today

View first page of score- Jesus Christ Is Risen Today-First page of score

Priced at only $5.00


Learn more about the Branson Trumpet Ensemble

Trumpet Sheet Music- Crown Him with Many Crowns (trumpet solo/duet/trio/quartet or three descants- with organ)

Thursday, February 2nd, 2012

Instrumentation- Solo/Duet/Trio/Quartet or Melody and three Decants with Organ
Composer- arr.Chidester
Length- Depends on number of verses used
Difficulty- E
Range – M
Endurance- 2
Finger technique- 2
Counting ability- 2
Ensemble difficulty- 2

I have played a lot of Easter Services and one thing is usually true; most organists don’t know what to do with the brass players unless the arrangement has been written out. Most often we hear this, “I want you to play along on the hymns”. That doesn’t give you much to work on for in order to play along with the hymns, you will have to transpose the top line of the organ part. Although this is expected of trumpet players, it sometimes is a problem with younger players. Then we might be asked to play an obbligato part which will stop most players. Most Easters also include one, two and sometimes three trumpet players who most often have to sit around doing nothing or doubling on the first part.

The days of unorganized confusion in the choir loft are finally over.

This arrangement includes the following possibilities-

1. Transposed hymn melody for trumpet solo.
2. Transposed parts for a trumpet duet/ trio and/or quartet.
3. Transposed melody for one trumpet and choice of three additional descants.

Start collecting these descant arrangements and be a hero to every organist you run into.

Listen to this sample of all four independent parts performed with one of the most popular hymns- Crown Him With Many Crowns

View first page of trumpet score- Crown Him- First page of Trumpet score

Priced at only $5.00


Learn more about the Branson Trumpet Ensemble

Trumpet Sheet Music- Were You There? (trumpet solo/duet/trio/quartet or three descants- with organ)

Tuesday, January 31st, 2012

Instrumentation- Solo/Duet/Trio/Quartet or Melody and three Decants with Organ
Composer- arr.Chidester
Length- Depends on number of verses used
Difficulty- E
Range – Easy
Endurance- 2
Finger technique- 2
Counting ability- 2
Ensemble difficulty- 2

I have played a lot of Easter Services and one thing is usually true; most organists don’t know what to do with the brass players unless the arrangement has been written out. Most often we hear this, “I want you to play along on the hymns”. That doesn’t give you much to work on for in order to play along with the hymns, you will have to transpose the top line of the organ part. Although this is expected of trumpet players, it sometimes is a problem with younger players. Then we might be asked to play an obbligato part which will stop most players. Most Easters also include one, two and sometimes three trumpet players who most often have to sit around doing nothing or doubling on the first part.

The days of unorganized confusion in the choir loft are finally over.

This arrangement includes the following possibilities-

1. Transposed hymn melody for trumpet solo.
2. Transposed parts for a trumpet duet/ trio and/or quartet.
3. Transposed melody for one trumpet and choice of three additional descants.

Start collecting these descant arrangements and be a hero to every organist you run into.

Listen to this sample of all four independent parts performed on one of the most popular hymns- Organ 4 trumpets

View first page of score- Were You There-First page of score

Priced at only $5.00


Learn more about the Branson Trumpet Ensemble

My Cup Runneth Over / Jean

Tuesday, January 17th, 2012

Instrumentation- Trumpet Quartet
Composer- arr.Chidester
Length- 3:39
Difficulty- M
Range – Low F# to B (just above staff)
Endurance- 2
Finger technique- 2
Counting ability- 2
Ensemble difficulty- 2

I have a wonderful Mother-In-Law and her name is Jean so I thought I would do this for her. Also, last Saturday I played with a small group and I was impressed with the way the keyboard player played it so that’s another reason to do it. It starts with “My Cup Runneth Over” and the “Jean” section takes over. At the third quarter of the piece, the two are played at the same time. You may choose to play it faster but I thought it would give the resolutional chords more time to resolve at this tempo. Let me know which way you think it should be played. I’d be interested to know others opinions.

Listen to sample- My Cup Runneth Over & Jean

View first page of score- My Cup-Jean- first page of score

Priced at only $5.00


Learn more about the Branson Trumpet Ensemble

I Know That My Redeemer Liveth

Monday, January 9th, 2012

Instrumentation- Trumpet Quartet
Composer- Handel/trans.Chidester
Length- 5:30
Difficulty- M
Range – Low F# to A (just above staff)
Endurance- 2
Finger technique- 2
Counting ability- 2
Ensemble difficulty- 2

When you transcribe from the best composers, the work may be time intensive but the products are wonderful. Few composers can handle (cute) counterpoint as well as old GF! Even though the piece is longer than most (about two minutes longer) the parts move back and forth to give the players breaks. Each player has beautiful melodies throughout. This is one of the best five arrangements I have done this year and hope you enjoy it.

Listen to sample- I Know That My Redeemer Liveth-short

View first page of score- I Know That My Redeamer Liveth

Priced at only $20.00


Learn more about the Branson Trumpet Ensemble

The New Lord’s Prayer

Friday, December 16th, 2011

Instrumentation- Trumpet Quartet
Composer- arr.Chidester
Length- 4:30
Difficulty- D
Range – Low G to high C
Endurance- 3
Finger technique- 2
Counting ability- 2
Ensemble difficulty- 3

We have an arrangement of this tune in our book that we did a couple of years ago and I thought it was time for a different style for next year. This is not for your average Jr. or even High School ensemble. I did record this one step higher than written so the range is not as high as it sounds. The unusual harmonization will catch the more traditional concert goers by surprise and the rolling triplets tend to give it a more updated feel.
Listen to sample-

Listed- The New Lords Prayer

Priced at only $5.00


Learn more about the Branson Trumpet Ensemble

Free Descants- “Love Divine, All Loves Excelling” / “Dear Lord and Father of Mankind”

Saturday, December 3rd, 2011

Instrumentation- Trumpet Descant
Composer- arr.Chidester
Length- 1:54 and :54
Difficulty- M+
Range – F first space to high C (Concert pitches)
Endurance- 1+
Finger technique- 2
Counting ability- 2
Ensemble difficulty- 2

Another request!

After return home from a Christmas party last night, I noticed a request on one of the trumpet bulletin boards asking for descants for “Love Divine, All Loves Excelling” and “Dear Lord and Father of Mankind”. Neither of these numbers is readily available so I arranged the requested descants this morning and after sending them to the original requester (living in Scotland) I checked my Email and found that a recent friend (living in Haiti) had recommended that the requester contact me. Is this what’s call International Good Will?

I love the Internet!

There are two descants for each of the hymns. In measure 32-33-34 of “Love Divine” the part goes a little high so I wrote a lower part. Both parts are on the recording so you could split the two decants between two players and play the high as well as the lower parts to make it sound like a duet. This is also true in measures 21-22-23.

All parts are written in Concert pitch.

Listen to sample- Love Divine, All Loves Excelling

Free score- Love Divine, All Loves Excelling Descant

Learn more about the Branson Trumpet Ensemble

Eternal Father, Strong to Save

Monday, October 31st, 2011

Instrumentation- Trumpet Quartet
Composer- Dykes/arr.Chidester
Length- 3:03
Difficulty- M
Range – Low G to G just above staff
Endurance- 2
Finger technique- 2+
Counting ability- 2
Ensemble difficulty- 2

Great piece. Good arrangement. Easy and interesting to play. That’s it.

Listen to sample- Eternal Father, Strong to Save

View first page of score- Eternal Fater, Strong to Save- first page of score only

Priced at only $5.00


Learn more about the Branson Trumpet Ensemble

Built on the Rock

Wednesday, October 26th, 2011

Instrumentation- Trumpet Quartet/w Piano
Composer- Lindeman/arr.Chidester
Length- 3:04
Difficulty- E
Range – Low Bb to A just above staff
Endurance- 1+
Finger technique- 1
Counting ability- 1+
Ensemble difficulty- 1+

When faced with “five” times through a hymn, I like to use the tag team approach. Each player plays a short phrase and turns it over to someone else. I staged this as an antiphonal performance to break up the repetition. If you want to sound professional and use young players, this works very well.

Listen to sample- Built on the Rock

View first page of score- Built on the Rock

Priced at only $5.00


Learn more about the Branson Trumpet Ensemble

Free Trumpet Sheet Music- The Church’s One Foundation

Monday, October 24th, 2011

Instrumentation- Trumpet Quartet/w Organ
Composer- Wesley/arr.Chidester
Length- 2:19
Difficulty- E
Range – Low Bb to top line F
Endurance- 1
Finger technique- 1
Counting ability- 1
Ensemble difficulty- 1

When faced with four times through a hymn, I like to use the “tag team” approach. Each player plays a short phrase and turns it over to someone else. I staged this as an antiphonal performance to break up the repetition. If you want to sound professional with your younger players, this works very well.It begins as solo antiphonal, then duet antiphonal, then more homophonic and the last time through reverts back to more traditional sound.

Listen to sample- The Church’s One Foundation

Download parts and score- The Church’s One Foundation

Learn more about the Branson Trumpet Ensemble