Variations on Drink to Me Only (revised 2016)Solo  for Euphonium and Concert Band

by Howard Snell
 

These Variations are composed in the form first made popular for brass by Jean-Baptiste Arban. Since its introduction in 1998, my Variations on Drink to Me

Only for Euphonium has been set for a significant number of international Euphonium Competitions including the Leonard Falcone Competition in the USA

and the Lieksa Festival Competition in Finland. Originally composed with brass band or piano accompaniment, this version has been re-worked specifically for

Soloist and Concert Band.

 

The Guide to the Euphonium Repertoire: The Euphonium Source Book edited by R. Winston Morris, Lloyd E. Bone, Jr., Eric Pauli, (published by by lndiana

University Press) comments (shortened) as follows: Howard Snell has penned a tremendous work — a classic showpiece in the form of a traditional

theme and variations. ll makes use of contemporary harmonies and variations that are highly sophisticated and unlike other variation solos.

The mandatory lyrical interlude sees the euphonium soar wonderfully. A brief cadenza makes use of some very unique harmonies before the flourish to finish. This piece is worth the challenges,

 

Recorded by Steven Mead (QPRLO95D) with the Williams Fairey Band conducted by the composer.

 

lwan Fox, writing in ‘4barsrest,’ a UK brass band website, commented of the recording with Piano (TFROO1) by the Nonivegian euphonium star

Tormod Flaten, that
 

“ The final piece (on the CD) is a masterwork —- Shel/‘s brilliant "Variations on Drink to Me Only" as different a theme and variations as you would ever like to hear (is) given a cracker of a work out by both the soloist and the man on the ivories.)

 

Howard Snell 2017
 

Instrumentation:

 

Piccolo - 1 

Flutes - 1 & 2 

Oboes-1 

Cor Anglais (English Horn) - 1 

Clarinets - 1, 2 & 3 

Bass Clarinet - 1 Euphonium - 1

Bassoons — 1 & 2 

Alto Saxophone - 1 & 2 

Tenor Saxophone - 1 

Baritone Saxophone - 1

Trumpets - 1, 2, 3

Horns-1,2,3&4

Tenor Trombones - 1 & 2

Bass Trombone - 1

Euphonium - 1

Tuba 1-

String Double Bass - 1

Timpani - 1