This hymn tune, Nettleton, was penned by John Wyeth over 150 years ago, and is still quite popular.
In 3/4 time, the tune is very espressive and majestic. This arrangement makes it fun and interesting by leaving 3/4 time behind and switching to 5/4 time. Using a rhythm borrowed from Lalo Shiffern's theme for Mission: Impossible, the piece takes on a latin flair with mariachi-style trumpet licks and the tuba driving the rhythmic figure throughout.
Once the counting issues are sorted out, this will be a fun piece for high school players on up. Some more advanced junior high players may even be able to handle it, as the keys (concert Eb and concert F) are familiar. Be really solid on the rhythms, though, because if the audience gets into it and tries to clap along, things could get ugly-- only real musicians can clap in 5/4 time.
This arrangement was originally scored for two trumpets, two trombones, and tuba. As many brass quintets consist of two trumpets, one french horn, one trombone, and tuba, we have made a french horn part (substitute for first trombone) available.
COME THOU FOUNT OF EVERY BLESSING, an arrangement of a hymn tune by John Wyeth for two trumpets, two trombones, and tuba by Tom Kirkland, comes in a pdf file of 647K, with a five-page score, five two-page parts, and a license page, sixteen pages in all. Performance time should be approximately 3:05.