Ave Maria (Angelus Domini)

About the Piece: When arranging this piece, I tried to stay true to the original voicing and also tried to incorporate "mini choirs" within the piece for added color and textural effects. This all starts with a solo euphonium acting as the original "bass voice" with the rest of the ensemble as the two antiphonal choirs. Listeners will notice a pattern throughout; solo, choir, solo, choir, solo, choir. The second solo has a good range for either a baritone or a tenor voice. Again, the main melodic section the rest of the ensemble plays repeats. Finally, a higher tenor voice solo comes in. This is featured by a solo French horn. The ensemble repeats the melodic theme one final time and hen transitions to the final part of the prayer and ends with a series of "amens". The "mini choirs" as mentioned before are represented at the beginning of the second melodic idea as led by the French horns with brief moments from the low brass acting as its own choir. The second and third trumpet serve as the lead voices of the ensemble with the first trumpet acting as a descant voice sitting on top of the ensemble. When ultimately the ensemble reaches the "amen" section, this should end with a triumphant sounding "amen" as opposed to a meditative feeling. It should slowly build to the final chord as if one gives thanks to the Lord. About the Composer: (From LAPhil.com) German composer and arranger Franz Biebl studied music at the Humanistic Gymnasium in Amberg and received Master of Music degrees in composition and choral conducting at the State Music Academy in Munich. Biebl was employed as the choral music consultant to the Bavarian State Radio, where he worked relentlessly to fill the station's archives with popular choral music, listening to and encouraging small choral groups all over Germany. About the Arranger: A native of Lafayette, Louisiana, David is a freelance musician, conductor, teacher, and composer. He holds the bachelor's in Contemporary and Popular Music specializing in music composition from the University of Maine at Augusta having studied under the tutelage of Mr. John Merhmann, composer in residence. David primarily writes music wind band, orchestra, and choral settings. He has been commissioned by local high schools, the local university (ULL) and for professor of euphonium Algirdas Matonis at Seton University (PA). Further, he has written music for the independent films "Bettles on a Billboard" (CJ Metrejean Productions) and "Gumbo 2" (Caldwell Winn Productions). David is also an active performer having performed all over the United States including a performance at Carnegie Hall, has performed with the Acadian Winds Symphony and Lafayette Concert Band, the University of Louisiana at Lafayette Community Trombone Choir and Tuba-Euphonium Choir. He is also a tenor vocalist for the Cathedral of St John the Evangelist. David's profession affiliations include Phi Mu Alpha Sinfonia, Lafayette Concert Band, Acadian Wind Symphony, St. John the Evangelist, and MusicMakers2U.