Author: euph1ium
I am a euphonium and trombone player, composer and arranger. I love nature and being outdoors.
Sarah and the Houligans Band Page
Officially launching a basic webpage for our Traditional NOLA Style Jazz Band! Check out what we have to offer here and visit our Facebook page. We’ve got some links to live performances, band pictures and posters, an updated repertoire list and contact info!
Sarah and the Houligans at the Blue Boat – April 30, 2022
Sarah and the Houligans is a traditional jazz band, comprised of musicians with a passion for the music of New Orleans. The group began playing together on decks and driveways and over live stream during the summer of 2020 when many musicians were out of work due to shuttered venues. Reminiscent of the numerous pick-up bands of New Orleans, our music will transport you to one of the many tiny, hole in the wall clubs of the French Quarter that entice people in with the sounds of traditional jazz. The members of Sarah and the Houligans come from a variety of backgrounds, from NOLA brass band to big top jam band to marching band and orchestra, bringing their individual experiences to the ensemble. Get ready to tap your toes to a little trad jazz!
‘Twas in the Moon of Wintertime”
“‘Twas in the Moon of Wintertime”, Traditional French Canadian Carol for Euphonium Quartet, arranged by Sarah Houle, 2021.
Based on an old French folk tune, this arrangement elaborates on the traditional hymn tune, sometimes known as “The Huron Carol”, except I wanted to make it considerably more musically interesting instead of just chunky block chord progressions.
The tune embodies the cold and stillness of winter. The melodic line is very much like “O Come Emmanuel” in that it can float over a pedal note drone. There isn’t much of a static pedal drone note in this arrangement. Instead, individual parts often enter on harmonic tones that sometimes linger just long enough to create a crystalline dissonance in the music. The sound of bitter cold and dark nights.
Though this is only an instrumental, it can be mentioned that the text for the lyrics to this melody were written by a French missionary in the 1600s and have many Native American references. The purpose of this text was no doubt to aid in converting the Huron to Christianity as a part of the cultural genocide carried out by Europeans during colonization. Hidden within the tune is also a deep sadness indicative of past atrocities.
So, new lyrics reflecting the reason for the season are in order. “Twas in the moon of wintertime, when all the birds had fled, the mighty Gitchi Manitou watched the earth and said, “O, longest night upon the land, the day will break and turn the hand. The southern winds shall rush the plain and all the birds return again.”
Canon in D for Solo Unaccompanied Euphonium
There have been a lot of requests for this particular arrangement. Thanks to everyone who inquired about it…and sorry it would take me so long to respond… Now, it can be purchased from Sheet Music Plus and downloaded instantly! Enjoy!
“Canon in D”, by Johann Pachelbel, arranged for Solo Unaccompanied Euphonium by Sarah Houle, 2016.
A classic piece, arranged for Solo Unaccompanied Euphonium, with some different variations on the theme. In this arrangement, I have woven the melody, harmony and accompaniment into the euphonium solo creating a fresh, fun, and unique way to present this beautiful piece. Scores are in bass and Bb treble clef.
If you would like to purchase a copy of the Canon in D arrangement, please follow this link to Sheet Music Plus where it is available as a digital download!
Hop House Hop
“Hop House Hop”, for Banjo, Guitar, Accordion/Trombone, Tuba, by Sarah Houle, 2021.
I wanted to create a Balkan style, up-beat piece that was tied to some of the traditional charts our group, Cabaret La Ruse, has been putting together. One of those was “Willie the Weeper”. Willie the Weeper went to a hop house on a Saturday night, but his experience there didn’t end so well. His dreams were bright and fast, a whirlwind of worldly travel and meeting interesting individuals.
With a low, dark underlying rhythmic motive, the opening sets the tone before a different, modal motive enters with the banjo. The tune progresses to a stable almost march-like feel in the B section carried by the relatively simple banjo melody. This builds to the more lively C hook section where the instruments engage in more syncopated activity. The ups and downs of this piece make for interesting variety.
The “Hop House Hop” could very well be one of those dreams he had.
The Confluence March
It’s in the works! Two rivers, two main themes. The rough sketch is mostly there. Next comes the orchestration for full band.
The Parting Glass
Goodbye, 2020, even though some good came of you: a renewal of focus on the self, new directions in artistic creativity, new ensemble collaborations, and new friends.
A glass raised to you as we part ways and head towards a brighter future!
A Hymn About Tomatoes
“Blessed is the Fruit” from the vine, soaked with sun and ripened so fine!
This lovely little hymn tune is a song about….tomatoes! Tomatoes are one of the most revered fruits according to Pastafarians. The Sauce, in the Pastafarian Holy Trinity (The Pasta, Sauce and Meatballs), is typically a delicious, red marinara.
Appropriate for any harvest time celebration of thanks-giving, “Blessed is the Fruit” honors the humble tomato and all the time and effort that goes into its transformation from garden to plate.
Beginning with a short instrumental intro, this tune has three verses, each with a bit of variation. I chose to give the euphonium the melody line in Verse 1 with typical part writing in the trumpet, trombone and tuba. In verse 2, the trombone gets the melody over a pretty interesting pizzicato-like tuba line. The other instruments enter into harmonies halfway through the verse. Verse 3 is special. The trumpet soars with the melody while the tuba gets to play a descant line. Trombone and euphonium play their own fanfare-like fills interspersed with the tuba. In verses 2 and 3, there are optional vocal harmonies and obbligato lines.
In addition, I am figuring out how to better utilize the video/audio editing software and was able to add some churchy-style reverb to this one! I am very excited for this feature!
Enjoy this wonderful Pastafarian Tomato Hymn!
Jessica Landsteiner: Trumpet and Vocals
Sarah Houle: Trombone, Euphonium, Tuba and Vocals
“Blessed is the Fruit”, by Sarah Houle, 2020, for Brass Quartet (Trumpet, Trombone, Euphonium, Tuba) and Piano/Vocal/Chords.
Bier Trinken
I’m remembering the fun, adult band trips overseas today as I post this special piece. There has been hopeful talk of once again gathering for band. Another special trip seems to possibly be in the works as well as the summer season for two community bands I’m a part of. Leadership and members have been pretty active emailing each other and trying to figure out how to have a safe musical outdoor season this coming summer.
We all miss our community band friends and long to play as a group again.
This piece, “Bier Trinken”, was conceived after returning from my second international band tour with the Three Rivers Concert Band in 2016. We visited Hungary, Czech Republic, and Austria. One of our concerts in Czech Republic occurred at a beer hall in a very small town (Spejchar Zelec). Playing that concert of typical band pieces with some polkas thrown in, smelling and tasting the brews, was a highlight of that tour. Finally, in 2020, the year of staying home and not playing music in ensemble, I’ve been able to focus more on composition and finished “Bier Trinken”. Please and dunkel, pils and thank you…enjoy!
“Bier Trinken”, by Sarah Houle, 2020, for Brass Quartet (Trumpet with optional divisi 2nd part, Trombone, Euphonium, Tuba) with Lyrics and Lead Sheet (Piano, Vocal, Chords).
Veni Emmanuel Bell Carol
It’s a perfect day to introduce “Veni Emmanuel Bell Carol”! In a way, this arrangement embodies the blowing snow and blizzard-like conditions we are currently experiencing here…as well as it being the darkest time of the year. The Veni, Veni Emmanuel melody shines out from over the deep drones in the low brass, leading to a driving flurry of notes throughout the Bell Carol section. The wind and snow return to calm as the Emmanuel melody returns to close the piece. We hope you enjoy our little collage project! We had fun learning to put it together!
Happy Holidays to All!!
“Veni Emmanuel Bell Carol”, for brass quartet (Trumpet, Trombone, Euphonium, Tuba) arranged by Sarah Houle, 2014.
Euphonious Music 