Sonatina for Trumpet and Organ

About the piece

Sonatina for Trumpet and Organ is a portrait of a happy time and place — a place where church bells ring across a village square, where lovers sing to one another whether together or apart, and where family and friends congregate on holidays for meals and shared joy. The three movements (I. Pealing Bells, II. Canção de Saudades, III. Feast Day) are about people being together, being present with one another, and cherishing those moments in our lives that make us us.

The second movement, Canção de Saudades, is written for my wife, Cassia. It is grounded in the rhythm and feel of Bossa Nova — the Brazilian style that grew out of samba and has since been much imitated by American jazz musicians. Its B section, interpretable in either 3/4 or 6/8, quotes "Pela luz dos olhos teus" ("By the Light of Your Eyes") as recorded by Miúcha and Antônio Carlos Jobim, the song we waltzed to at our wedding reception. The third movement, Feast Day, was our ceremony recessional. The piece in full was featured in the 2024 International Trumpet Guild Conference New Works Virtual Recital - performed by Drs. Steven Felix, trumpet, and Jonathan Wessler, organ, at First Lutheran Church in Boston.

Performance notes

Registrations are left to the organist's discretion based on the capabilities of the available instrument. The second movement asks for particular care: stops should balance warmth of timbre (so as not to cover the muted trumpet) with clarity at the fronts of notes (to articulate the syncopated in-clave ostinato). In a live acoustic, a simple and intimate registration often helps the syncopation come through.

Grace notes appear frequently in the trumpet part and occasionally in the organ part. They are written to give performers latitude in rhythmic interpretation and may be approached differently depending on how each performer hears them.

Recording

A reference recording of the complete Sonatina is available on YouTube: [youtu.be/TFO4FBXfwbE](https://youtu.be/TFO4FBXfwbE).

What this purchase includes

• Full score (PDF, 29 pages)
• Trumpet part in B♭ (PDF, 6 pages)
• Trumpet part in C (PDF, 6 pages)
• License: Single institution, unlimited performances. Parts may be reproduced for the purchasing performer only.

Perusal

Full perusal score available on request. Email [john@johnmange.com](mailto:john@johnmange.com).