Novum (Brass Band)

Commissioned by world-famous trumpeter and conductor Philip Smith for the University of Georgia British Brass Band, Andrew Blair’s Novum provides the Brass Band with an exciting rhythmic, lyrical, and technical challenge wrapped in a fresh, accessible six-minute package. This work is a sure bet for the enjoyment of both players and audiences alike!

Genre: Brass Band | # of Players: Standard
Series: The Championship Series
Level: Medium Advanced | Duration: 5:15

Instrumentation
Conductor's Score (A3 spiral bound)

E-flat Soprano Cornet (1)
Solo Cornet (4)
Repiano Bf-atl Cornet (1)
2nd B-flat Cornet (2)
3rd B-flat Cornet (2)
1st E-flat Horn (1)
2nd E-flat Horn (1)
1st B-flat Baritone (1)
2nd B-flat Baritone (1)
1st B-flat Trombone (1)
2nd B-flat Trombone (1)
Bass Trombone (1)
B-flat Euphonium (2)
E-flat Bass (2)
B-flat Bass (2)

Percussion 1: Timpani [4 drums], Vibraphone [shared]
Percussion 2: Chimes, Vibraphone [shared], 4.3-octave Marimba
Percussion 3: Drum Set
Percussion 4: Bass Drum, Tam-Tam, Triangle, Wind Chimes, Sizzle Cymbal, Suspended Cymbal

Program Notes
Novum exists largely because of the incredible musical spirit of Philip Smith. Beyond being one of the world’s most celebrated and recorded trumpeters, holding a principal chair in the New York Philharmonic from 1979-2014, Mr. Smith is an internationally renowned trumpet teacher, as well as soloist and conductor in the Brass Band world. From the early days of my graduate work at the University of Georgia, I made it a point to play for and learn from Phil Smith in his Brass Band. After playing in the band for a few years, in the early months of 2020, Mr. Smith asked me to write an exciting piece that we could play.

Around this time, there was also a lot of new newness in my personal world. As the COVID-19 pandemic thrust all of us into uncharted territory, my wife and I welcomed our son Ben into the world. Novum, or "the new thing" in Latin, is an homage to my experiences and education in Phil Smith’s brass band, as well as the excitement and love that new things can bring into our lives. The music itself is an attempt at a character sketch of Mr. Smith, as it's relentless, lyrical, and technical, with a healthy dash of attitude.

As Mr. Smith is known as being one of the great classical trumpet players of the last century, the piece is set in a modern sonata form with an introduction, exposition, contrasting middle, and truncated recapitulation. The piece exhibits traits of a moto-perpetuo, as the rhythmic motion of the piece never stops throughout the entire performance, a musical homage to Mr. Smith’s quick, non-stop rehearsal style. The main thematic material is set in angular, minor blues figures within mixed meter phrases. The contrasting middle section relies on extended harmony and lyricism while continuing the rhythmic moto-perpetuo.

UGA BRass Band, conducted by Andrew Blair