Sax Choir

The Trumpet Will Send Its Wondrous Sound

Giuseppe Verdi, arr. Ben Tordoff

Composed:
1874 Arranged:
2024 Grouping:
lsSSAAACTTTBBbc Duration:
02:00

Verdi wrote his Requiem in truly dramatic style, using all his operatic skills to bring the text to life. This extract is taken from the verse 'Tuba Mirum':

Tuba mirum spargens sonum
per sepulchra regionum
coget omnes ante thronum.

The trumpet will send its wondrous sound
throughout earth’s sepulchres
and gather all before the throne.

Verdi chose to set this text using no less than eight trumpets, with four in the orchestra and four offstage. This even goes one above the 'seven angels with seven trumpets' described in Revelations. The slow build from a lone trumpet voice and echo, adding more and more fanfare until the full force of the orchestra and chorus is unleashed is surely one of the greatest build-ups in Romantic music.

This arrangement was created for Whittlesey Saxophone Choir as a concert opener. Whilst somewhat melancholy, the theatrics of having off-stage players and the slow build to the full force of the choir can be an impressive way to start any performance.

If you enjoyed this piece, have comments or corrections, we'd love to hear from you.

This music is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution Licence.