Bozza - Sonatine [score]

Center City Brass Quintet October 22, 2002 Eugene Bozza is well known to brass players for his etudes and test pieces. The Sonatine was written in 1951 and is humbly dedicated to the musicians of the Republican Guard. The first movement, like the Lutoslawski Mini Overture, makes potent use of mixed meters and dove-tailing shapes among the five instruments. The second movement contains a long-breathed melody for the trumpet which soars over a chordal undercarriage. The music seems to get quicker in this Andante but the pulse remains constant, the variations being written in increasingly rapid note values. The third movement is a ’catch-me-if-you can’ pace which requires ensemble and a corporate brilliance of technique. John Fletcher, the late tuba player of the Philip Jones Brass Ensemble used to say of this movement: “It contains millions of notes and we plan to play all of them!“ The finale opens with a