Two English Voluntaries

Organ voluntaries were a staple of English church music during the Baroque period. Consisting of a brief slow opening section followed by a faster antiphonal movement utilizing the trumpet stop of the organ, voluntaries found great utility in church services. John Stanley (of Trumpet Tune fame) and his less well-known student John Alcock composed numerous such voluntaries that adapt extremely well for brass instruments. The two selections presented here make great prelude or postlude choices and feature effective echo-like writing throughout all parts. Scored for flexible instrumentation, it can be performed by two trumpets and two trombones, or with a horn substitute part; add the optional tuba part to make it an effective quintet piece as well. Duration: 6:20