Voyageur Suite
For Brass Quintet
Duration: ca. 9'30"
"This is a tonal work with nice writing for brass, fun to play and a work that general audiences would enjoy. ... an excellent work with parts of equal interest to all performers."
— Journal of the Int'l Brass Chamber Music Festival
Llevant Chamber Brass: Quand J'étais Chez Mon Père 1. Quand J'étais Chez Mon Père
The Carolina Brass Quintet: Le Retour du Mari Soldat 2. Le Retour du Mari Soldat
Seattle Quintet: La Bergere Muette 3. La Bergère Muette
Performance History · Purchase Sheet Music
Winner of the 2012 Burke & Bagley PrizeThe Carolina Brass Quintet2. Le Retour du Mari Soldat |
Honorable Mention in the
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The voyageurs were French-Canadian men who guided and paddled the canoes of explorers and fur traders from Quebec and Montreal to the regions bordering the Great Lakes and on to the Mackenzie and Columbia Rivers during the 17th, 18th and early 19th centuries. While they paddled hour after hour in their cramped canoes, the voyageurs sang of their canoes, their country, their life and their loves. This suite is based on melodies from three of their songs:
- Quand J'étais Chez Mon Père
- Le Retour du Mari Soldat
- La Bergère Muette
At least two of my ancestors, both named Antoine Pepin, were voyageurs. This suite is dedicated to my nephew, Alexander Pepin Gilbert, on the occasion of his Bar Mitzvah.
Voyageur Suite was commissioned by Dr. Gary Powell Nash of Fisk University. The Alaska Brass of the United States Air Force Band of the Pacific presented the world premiere at a concert sponsored by the Canadian Consulate at the Loussac Library's Wilda Maston Theater in Anchorage, Alaska, on February 15, 2007.
The Carolina Brass Quintet's video of Le Retour du Mari Soldat won the 2012 Burke & Bagley Prize, and the Llevant Chamber Brass video of Quand J'étais Chez Mon Père was awarded Honorable Mention. The Seattle Quintet performance was recorded on Friday, February 8, 2008, at the Pleasure for the Ear concert by Brian Chin & Matt Swihart, trumpets, Becky Miller, horn, Kevin Raichart, trombone, and Kevin Pih, tuba.