Americana Trumpet Suite for Trumpet Septet

Americana Trumpet Suite

For Trumpet Septet (7 Trumpets) 
by Eddie Lewis

Americana Trumpet Suite is a trumpet ensemble composition written for seven trumpets (Trumpet Septet). It has seven movements composed in a style that was popular over 100 years ago when people were still traveling by horse and train.

The movements are as follows:

1. Fanfare
2. Polacca
3. Work Song
4. Sacred Hymn
5. Waltz
6. Appalachian Song
7. March

About the Composition

When I do a commission, I send a questionnaire to the leader asking about the members of the group and their abilities. Americana Trumpet Suite was composed for students with very specific skill sets. Some of the parts are significantly easier than others, because the skill levels of the members of the group were of a wide range.

Most of the movements have the first trumpet player playing piccolo trumpet. This was a request made by the ensemble’s leader. There was also a request for a part that had mostly flugelhorn. It’s an interesting combination of instruments and skill sets.

The piece does not need to be performed in its entirety. The plan is to publish individual movements eventually. So it’s obviously alright to separate the movements and only perform the ones that match your programming needs.