Rhapsody in E flat Op 119, No 4
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Brahms arr Eric Crees

Rhapsody in E flat Op 119, No 4

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Instrument: brass tentet (score and parts)
Grade: conservatoire
Catalogue No: AL003

In December 1890, a world-weary Brahms sent his publisher a note: "You can now take leave of my music: it's high time I stopped". It was not to be, since in 1891 he heard the clarinetist, Richard Mühlfield and was inspired to write the A minor Trio and B minor Quintet for him to play. These were in turn followed by a series of piano pieces published in four sets as Op. 116, 117, 118 and 119.

The Rhapsody in Eb is the most substantial work in Op. 119, almost of symphonic stature rather than an occasional piece. It has a schizophrenic nature, beginning assertively in the major and then moving constantly in and out of the minor key. After the final statement of the principal theme there is a reverse 'tièrce de Picardie' whereafter the coda begins surprisingly in the minor: there it stubbornly stays and defiantly ends, a reversal of the usual musical scheme. The quavers/8th-notes of the opening bars need an almost 'held-back' quality to give them the musical weight they require and the later triplet figures must be fully sustained, though with a forward-moving impetus.

This arrangement is an ideal companion to the other two Op. 119 works published by ALAW.

Eric Crees
Eric Crees is one of the most distinguished trombonists, arrangers and educators in the UK. He was Co-Principal Trombone in the London Symphony Orchestra for twenty-seven years and from 2000 until 2020 was Section Principal Trombone with the Orchestra of The Royal Opera House, Covent Garden. He has played on many of the most iconic film tracks, including the first four 'Star Wars', 'Superman' 1&2, 'Harry Potter' 1,2&3, 'Braveheart', 'Raiders of the Lost Ark' and dozens more.

Eric has taught at the Guildhall School of Music and Drama, London since 1977 and in 2014 was awarded two prestigious honours, Conferment to Professor at the Guildhall and the International Trombone Association's Neil Humfeld Award for Teaching Excellence. He is internationally recognised as a conductor and arranger of brass music at the highest level and has been the Musical Director of London Symphony Orchestra Brass and the Brass Soloists of the Royal Opera House and made seven CDs with them, mainly of his own compositions, arrangements and editions. He is now Artistic Director of his own group, The Symphonic Brass of London and has released two albums with them, 'A Bridge across the Pyrenees' and 'Preludes, Rags and Cakewalks'.


For more information see the two websites: ericcrees.co.uk
thesymphonicbrassoflondon.com
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