Gabrieli’s Sacrae Symphoniae (1597) No.3 Canzon Septimi Toni À 8 (No.2) is written for 4 Trumpets and 4 Trombones, arranged into two opposing choirs.

Gabrieli’s contributions to brass music are formidable: he was the preeminent composer to venture beyond compositions exceeding eight parts and to employ polychoral techniques. Moreover, his ingenuity extended to juxtaposing polyphonic and homophonic textures, as well as seamlessly integrating duple and triple meters within individual works, all while exhibiting a discerning ear for tonal color and specified instrumentation to evoke dramatic effects. In his seminal work “Life and Works of Giovanni Gabrieli” (American Institute of Musicology, 1967), Egon Kenton discerns the nascent forms of the concerto grosso and solo concerto in Gabrieli’s juxtaposition of tutti and solo passages, and the interplay between soloistic upper voices and accompanying lower voices. It would not be an exaggeration to affirm that Gabrieli not only pioneered innovative techniques but also executed them with consummate skill, demonstrating his mastery over materials of the highest order.

Take a look at sample pages of the parts and score and then click above for an immediate PDF download.