Reviewer: Krista M.

Reeder

REPERTOIRE EVALUATION FORM

Title: Emmanuel Variants

Composer / Arranger: Robert E. Foster

Publisher: Wingert-Jones

Date of Publication: 1989

Price: $65 Band Set & Score; $11 Extra Score

Ensemble Type: Concert Band

Description/Genre: Fantasy/Variations on a O Come, O Come Emmanuel

Duration: 8:00-9:00 (depends on tempos you take)

Difculty: V. Easy ! Easy ! Mod. ! Diff. ! V. Diff. !

Score: Full Score ! Reduced Score ! / Transposed ! C-Score !

Instrumentation:
Picc ! Fl1 ! Fl2 ! Fl3 ! Alto Fl ! Bass Fl !
Ob1 ! Ob2 ! EHn ! Bsn1 ! Bsn2 ! CBsn !
EbCl! Cl1 ! Cl2 ! Cl 3 ! Alto Cl ! Bass Cl !
CAltoCl ! EbContraBCl ! SSax! ASax1 ! ASax2 !
TSax ! BarSax ! BassSax !

Cor1 ! Cor2 ! Cor3 ! Trp1 ! Trp2 ! Trp3 !
Hn1 ! Hn2 ! Hn3 ! Hn4 ! Flg1 ! Flg2 !
Tbn1 ! Tbn2 ! Tbn3 ! BTbn ! BarTC ! BarBC !
EuphTC ! EuphBC ! Tuba1 ! Tuba2 ! StBass !
Other Brass:

Harp ! Celeste! Glock. ! Xylo ! Mar. ! Vibes !
Piano ! Synth ! Chimes ! Crotales ! Timp ! Bass Dr. !
Snare ! Toms ! CrCym ! SusCym ! Tam ! Tri. !
TempleBlks ! WdBlks ! Gong !

Other Considerations:
Highest Pitch Trumpet: C6 Highest Pitch Clarinet: E6

Clarinet Crosses Break?: Yes ! No ! N/A !

Other Range Concerns: Arpeggios & ourishes in top range of ute/picc

Technical Concerns: Primarily with rhythm, patterns, & articulations

Articulations/Bowings: Slur patterns - accented 16ths -

Meter(s): 4/4 2/4 5/8 6/8

Rhythmic Complexities: Fanfare section
16th (and faster) licks
Multi-meters

Key(s): Multiple - see form for more information

Harmonic Concerns: Often sparse & exposed instrumentation

Primary Texture(s): Polyphonic

Featured Instrument(s)/Solo(s):Trumpet/brass fanfare
Piccolo solo

Compositional Techniques: Fanfare repeated throughout as a transitional element
Almost symphonic-like

Form: Exposition (Fanfare)
Verse 1 - Fanfare sampling (Cm)
Verse 2 - 1st variation: key & meter
Cm-Dm 5/8 and 6/8
Verse 3 - 2nd variation: key & melody/harmony
Dm - Abm
Fanfare Gm-BbM (rst time this has happened)
Verse 4 - 3rd variation: key; motives/fantasy/fanfare
BbM-Gm Highly polyphonic
Final Statement & Coda: Combined elements

Program Notes:
O Come, O Come Emmanuel takes a distinctly uncharacteristic turn away from its somber hymn version in Robert
E. Fosters Emmanuel Variants. As the title suggests, the melody evolves as the piece progresses, creating rhythmic,
melodic, and harmonic demands on the performers in a variety of ways.

Similar Pieces (Title/Composer):

Additional Comments:

What is at the heart of this piece?
Educationally, there is a lot of room to teach about theme and variations. I can get fairly deep with metaphorical
religious connections, although I wouldnt necessarily delve into them unless a student asked rst. At the heart of
this piece is transformation.

I would play this piece with: Advanced High School
Honor Band
Collegiate Band

I would recommend this piece: Yes ! No !
It really needs the right musicians to bring out the nuances and to be capable of the independence it takes to perform
this successfully.