Opus 63
Canzona Secundi Toni (1975)
for Brass Choir (Three Trumpets, Three Horns, Three Trombones, and Tuba)
Duration: 7 min.
Recording: Toccata TOCC0710
Premiere: 1976; GWU Brass; D. Presgrave; St. Louis, MO
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Canzona Secundi Toni is a work for brass choir split into two smaller choirs, which the composer designates should be “well separated.” The first choir consists of two trumpets, horn, trombone, and tuba; the second of trumpet, horn, trombone, and tuba.
The two principal themes (used throughout in a contrapuntal cantus firmus manner) are a Hypodorian melody from Heinrich Isaac and the principal motive of Josquin des Prez’s Missa Hercules dux Ferrariae. The genre and scoring of the work obviously call to mind the antiphonal brass music of Gabrieli and Schütz, important influences on Rosner’s musical style in general. (Notes by Carson Cooman)