Hercule and the Waggoner (Sprecher)

Hercule and the Waggoner (Sprecher) (Aesops fable recounts a tale of a wagonner driving his cart along a muddy road. Eventually the cart sticks in the mud. Rather than try to push it out himself he prays to Hercules to help him. Hercules chastises him for not attempting to help himself before appealing to others. The moral: The gods help those who help themselves. This musical version, written for junior players, uses a trumpet quartet to add a framework of illustrative gestures to compliment the story. Performance note: Aim to play with great character, giving a good impression of the features of the fable. Make the fanfare music very lively and cleanly articulated but be careful not to tongue too hard - avoid a brash sound Make the movements in the slurred figures (bar 9 onwards) as quickly as possible - think of the small notes as a preparation for the next main beat - as if falling onto the beat. Keep the staccato quavers very short but aim for a proper, full note. Maybe practice this by stopping on the quaver and holding it to check what the harmony is and how it should sound when you play it short. At bar 23 make the upbeat figure as tight as possible and land on the main note very clearly, like a whip crack. The prayer music, from 28, should be very smooth. Although it is quiet it should have a full tone - make sure there is a good flow of breath.)