Edmund Löffler

Festive Christmas music

Christmas, the joy-bringing, high feast of Christianity is celebrated by a rich wreath of carols. A selection of these beautiful melodies was arranged in the 'Christmas music for three wind instruments' by means of a certain sequence and by tone-painting interludes to form a musical Christmas narrative. This begins with the description of Christmas anticipation in the songs: 'Alle Jahre wieder kommt das Christuskind' and 'Morgen, Kinder, wird's was geben'. Then follow fanfare-like sounds that lead to the time-honored tune: 'Es ist ein Ros' entsprungen'. This is answered by the horn calls and the gathering calls of the shepherds in the field, who still hurry in the night to Bethlehem. One hears the song: 'Little children, come, come all'! Motifs of the shepherds' music lead over to: 'Silent night, holy night', and 'O you merry, O you blessed, grace-bringing Christmas time'. After a short postlude symbolizing the ringing of bells, a joyful song begins: 'Kling, Glöckchen, kling'. Hereupon, chords of festive character form the prelude to Handel's famous chorus: 'Tochter Zion, freue dich'! The Christmas music closes with this jubilant, victorious melody.
Instrumentation:
1st voice in Bb (trumpet/flugelhorn/clarinet)
2nd voice in Bb (trumpet/flugelhorn/clarinet)
3rd voice in Bb. Voice in Bb
(trumpet/flugelhorn/clarinet)
3rd voice in F (horn)
3rd voice in Eb (horn
3rd voice in Bb (tenor horn, trombone)
3rd voice in C (trombone, baritone)