The Book of Love

In 1999, the American singer-songwriter Stephin Merritt released his song "The Book of Love" on the album "69 Love Songs". In the almost spartan original version, Merritt's unpolished vocal performance is accompanied only by a guitar. The English singer Peter Gabriel came in touch with the song for a joint performance with Merritt's band in London, and subsequently adopted it for the soundtrack to the film "Shall We Dance?". Gabriel's version is clearly more opulent and orchestral. Arranged in this different way, the song gained greater popularity, especially through a new CD release by Gabriel in 2010.

In his arrangement of the song, Martin Scharnagl now transfers this well-known version to brass sextet. In doing so, the arranger has decided to retain the original key of A flat major - because it is very well suited for wind instruments. The romantic intimacy of the string-dominated orchestral sound of the Gabriel version is by no means lost but is - on the contrary - complemented by further facets.

Sextet Set includes:

• Score
• 1st part in Bb/C (Trumpet 1 / Flugelhorn 1)
• 2nd part in Bb/C (Trumpet 2 / Flugelhorn 2)
• 3rd part in Bb/C (Trumpet 3 / Flugelhorn 3)
• 4th part in Bb/C (Trombone 1 / Tenorhorn)
• 4th part in F/Eb (Horn 1)
• 5th part in C/Bb (Trombone 2 / Baritone)
• 5th part in F/Eb (Horn 2)
• 6th part in C/Eb (high) (Tuba 1)
• 6th part in C/Bb (low) (Tuba 2)
• Drumset (ad libitum)
• Accordeon/Guitar (ad libitum)