Belmont Fanfare for Brass

Hi there!

I have a performance coming up with the trumpet ensemble of the 126th Army Band, and since we have some doublers (one also plays horn, one plays euph, and I am actually a tubist), I decided to include those as well. I also recently built a subcontrabass trumpet seen below, so I figured this would be a fun opportunity to try it out.

For the music itself, I wanted to create something with a relatively standard fanfare feel, but using some chords more commonly found in neo-soul music (min 11s and Maj 9s) to represent the area where we are stationed (Grand Rapids area) which is very hip and modern. I recorded all the parts and a multitrack video is coming soon!

Great idea to have only part of the piece be up to the performers - that part works really well as an introduction before the bona fide fanfare comes in preceded by a dramatic crescendo.  In this rendition you've made it so that the various instruments don't run over each other - here's hoping that it will sound just as good performed live (because if they run over each other there's potential for it to sound muddy and disorganized).  Great job though - I think you've accomplished what you set out to compose - I love the harmonies.

Interesting picture of the trumpet you've got there - I take it it's not really a marching instrument because those valves really protrude quite far out!  LoL  I noticed also you have a Melophone in the score but you said in the description that French Horn and Euphonium were going to be used?  I play French Horn and I marched in a drum corps that had all their instruments in G so my Melophone was in G - it doesn't say what key your Melophone is in here.  Also - I've never seen concert pitch score in this kind of context.

Anyways - great job once again and thanks for sharing!