Tag: brass

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.

hop-house-hop-cabaret-la-ruse-watermarked-sample-pages-1Download
Hop House Hop – Sound File

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.

Blessed is the Fruit – Brass Quartet with Vocals – Musical Collage

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).

Bier Trinken – Musical Collage

Holiday – A Pastafarian Carol for All

Many people have been wondering, something good has to come out of 2020, right?!

As we say in the Northland, “You betcha!!”

Well, here is a fun gift to 2020, the Year of the Plague and unrelenting sensationalized wackiness gifted to us by our own species.

Enjoy the first of these wonderful, light-hearted contributions to the Pastafarian Hymnal because sometimes…we all just need something fun! Share and spread the joy!

Cheers to us and Cheers to All!

Holiday – Brass Quartet Collage

If you are interested in checking out some of these other hymns and songs in progress, here is the link to the page on this site.

Pastafarian Hymnal Contributions