Description

Rolf Wilhelm (1927-2013)

5 pieces for wind ensemble

Fanfare – Valse – Bavaria – Interludio lirico – Polka

4 Tp, Hn, 4 Pos, Tb

This work was written in 1994 for the pleasure of making music with the tried and tested Philip Jones instrumentation of four trumpets, four trombones, horn and tuba. Not overly modern, consumable, often harmonically spicy pieces for ten soloists who want to show that they are up to the higher demands of technique and ensemble playing. “My intention was to give both the players and the audience pleasure and fun in the relatively concise pieces.” (Rolf A. Wilhelm)

• FANFARE: A spirited beginning is contrasted by a calm middle section which, after renewed contrapuntally interwoven fanfares, brings the movement to a hymn-like close.
• VALSE: A slightly upbeat piece that offers the first trumpet, the horn and the third trumpet, which plays with mute in dialog with the melody, the opportunity to emerge as soloists.
• BAVARIA: Here, traditional Bavarian Ländler motifs are put to the test with loving irony, rhythmically altered (5/4 time), harmonically twisted: a lively, optimistically upbeat movement.
• INTERLUDIO LIRICO: The resting point between the moving movements offers the opportunity for solo performance of the often canonically conducted voices.
• POLKA: A coarse, humorous polka forms the conclusion of the five character sketches and allows the trumpet section in particular to demonstrate its virtuoso interplay.