Southern Brass Series

Azmon Variations

Andrew Barrington

*This music is only available as a digital download.

Azmon Variations (Andrew Barrington) is a three-movement piece with completely different interpretations of the great Wesley hymn “O, for a Thousand Tongues to Sing My Great Redeemer’s Praise.” Written for contest brass band scoring (repiano ,2nd, and 3rd cornet), it includes a majestic fanfare section, rich tuba quartet middle movement, and thrilling caprice finale all in under seven minutes of music.

PROGRAM NOTE
Azmon Variations was written in 2002 for The Cherokee Brass Band, a youth band from the Arkansas and Oklahoma
Division of The Salvation Army for whom the composer is the Divisional Music Director. Azmon Variations has four
contrasting variations set in three movements. The glorious theme is not presented until the end of the piece and draws
us to Charles Wesley’s immortal words:
O, for a thousand tongues to sing my great Redeemer’s praise;
The glories of my God and King, the triumphs of His grace!
He breaks the power of cancelled sin, He sets the prisoner free;
His blood can make the foulest clean, His blood avails for me.