Western Suite

This original, 3 movement brass quintet composed by Betsy Bright conjures images of the Wild West. The first movement opens with a nod to the Copland Americana sound, and then quickly dives into an adventurous theme that feels like a hero racing on horseback. Every instrument gets some solo features throughout the movement. The second movement, "Lonesome" paints the picture of a sorrow that can sink even through the most beautiful desert landscape, casting forlorn shadows in every direction. And finally, the third movement, "Rowdy" depicts a wild rodeo! This movement is in Rondo form, and with every return of the theme, we have the sensation of another rider bursting through the gate taking a ride on another bucking bronco. This piece is a major crowd pleaser, whether on a standard recital or a pops program. And any individual movement works perfectly for education shows. Every player has great solo features, yet at no point is this piece super tiring or physically painful in any way, so it's a lot of fun to play too! Duration: 8 minutes