Fantasia in G Major for Brass Quartet

Hello everyone! 

I just composed a Fantasia for brass quartet and I want to share it with you.

I named it "Fantasia" because I am not sure what form it is in. I never have time to compose but I had a totally free weekend so I wanted to practice counterpoint (first piece I do with four independent voices) and ended up composing this. I did not have any clear form in mind when I started so I will explain the resulting form briefly so you can enjoy the piece better (if any of you know under which musical form this would fall, please, let me know! 🙂) 

The piece can be understood as having three sections in the form ABA'. The summary of the structure is the following:

First section: Phrase A and phrase B presentation all in home key  (section A)

1. [m.1~8]: Phrase A repeated twice (Gmaj)
2. [m.9~16]: Phrase B repeated twice (Gmaj)

Second section: Counterpoint Fantasia  (section B)

1. [m.17~24]: Restatement of phrase A. In the second repetition the phrase is broken. 
2. [m.25~m.33]: 4 bar-based idea repeated (Gmaj)
3. [m.33~m.39]: 4 bar-based idea repeated with modulation (Gmaj --> Emin)
4. [m.39~m.48]: 8 bar modulatory lyrical passage (Emin --> Cmaj)
5. [m.48-56]: 4 bar-based idea repeated (Cmaj)
6. [m.56~64]: Variation of phrase A in C major. The second repetition modulates (Cmaj --> Dmaj) 
7. [m.64~71]: Phrase B in D major. The second repetition modulates (Dmaj --> Gmaj)
8. [m.71~74]: Transition to the restatement of the beginning

Third section: Restatement of phrase A and B in home key  (section A')

1. [m.75~91]: Repetition of the beginning of the peace in home key. Theme A and Theme B repeated twice each. 
2. [m.91~94]: Final repetition of Theme A with final crescendo.
3. [m.94-95]: One measure coda (might extend it in the future). 

I do not really know much about brass instruments so there might be many playability issues, particularly in low dynamic levels (please, feel free to point anything out). Also, I did not transposed the clef for the Bb and F instruments for making it easier to read for most people. 

Any comment and feedback is more than welcome!

Thank you for listening and hope you enjoy it!

Hi @JorgeDavid,

It would be great to have antiphonal effect in the first expedition between the two trumpets if you use different dynamics for them! Just like the opening of the 2nd movement of Mahler’s 7th Symphony. B.48 is great since it’s the 1st time the other instruments shine! I like that and want it happen earlier! I like the piece with its simplicity which achieve great effect with the use of G major, thx for sharing!

Henry

On 2/23/2024 at 11:12 PM, Henry Ng Tsz Kiu said:

Hi @JorgeDavid,

It would be great to have antiphonal effect in the first expedition between the two trumpets if you use different dynamics for them! Just like the opening of the 2nd movement of Mahler’s 7th Symphony. B.48 is great since it’s the 1st time the other instruments shine! I like that and want it happen earlier! I like the piece with its simplicity which achieve great effect with the use of G major, thx for sharing!

Henry

 

Hi @Henry Ng Tsz Kiu, 

Thank you for commenting and sorry for the late reply. 

I will take a look into the Mahler Symphony for considering changing dynamics, since I agree that the beginning is a little repetitive because of the lack of contrast between statements.

Thanks for commenting and listening!