Engelbert Humperdinck - Ein Abendsegen, arr. for Brass Quintet by Andrew Loeffler
Engelbert Humperdinck - Ein Abendsegen, arr. for Brass Quintet by Andrew Loeffler
Ein Abendsegen ("Evening Blessing") is one of the most beloved moments in the operatic repertoire. Originally composed by Engelbert Humperdinck as part of his fairy-tale opera Hänsel und Gretel (1893), this gentle prayer has transcended the operatic stage to become a cherished standalone piece, its serene melody and warm harmonic language speaking directly to the heart. Andrew Loeffler's arrangement for brass quintet preserves every ounce of the original's tenderness, distributing the flowing lines across the ensemble with sensitivity and craft. Whether performed as a concert opener, a sacred service piece, or a quiet encore, this arrangement brings a moment of genuine beauty to any brass program.
This edition is a print-ready PDF download, formatted for standard paper sizes and suitable for immediate use in rehearsal or performance.
Instrumentation: Brass Quintet (2 Trumpets, Horn, Trombone, Tuba)
What's included:
- Full conductor score (PDF)
- Individual parts for all five voices (PDF)
About the Composer
Engelbert Humperdinck (1854–1921) was a German composer whose fame rests above all on his opera Hänsel und Gretel, premiered in Weimar in 1893 under the baton of Richard Strauss. A student of Ferdinand Hiller and later a close associate of Richard Wagner — assisting in the preparation of Parsifal at Bayreuth — Humperdinck brought a masterly command of the orchestra and a gift for melody rooted in the German folk tradition. Ein Abendsegen, the opera's evening prayer, became independently famous almost immediately after the premiere and remains one of the most performed pieces in the brass and choral repertoire.
About the Arranger
Equally at home performing jazz and classical, Drew released a solo project in 2000, Festive Music for Trumpet and Organ, for which he wrote all the arrangements and handled recording, mixing, and mastering. He performs throughout South Carolina and surrounding states as a free-lance player, section player, and soloist with many different groups, including the Columbia Jazz Orchestra, the Jimmy Farr Big Band, the O'Kaysions, Second Nature, Swing Set, and the Jimmy Dorsey Orchestra. Drew also fronts his own jazz band, DLG, and brass quintet, Carolina Brass Ensemble, when time permits. Additional artists with whom Drew has shared the stage include Phil Smith, Wycliff Gordon, Ron Westray, Bryson Borgstedt, Allen Vizzutti, Bert Ligon, and Fred Wesley.Drew served as principal trumpet player with the Lake Murray Symphony Orchestra and the Lake Murray Chamber Orchestra, where he also appeared as soloist and arranger. As a band leader, he assumed the position of musical director of the Capital City Big Band following Roger Pemberton's departure, leading the CCBB in community service projects and professional venues throughout South Carolina, where he serves as one of three composer/arrangers in the organization.
Drew is an active private trumpet teacher, composer, arranger, and clinician in South Carolina and Georgia. His teachers include Scott Schesta, Dave Detwiler, Dennis Edelbrock, Kim Dunnick, and Herb Mueller. He completed a Master's Degree at the University of South Carolina, where he studied with Dr. Keith Amstutz and Bert Ligon. Before relocating to Anchorage, Alaska, Drew served as Director of Music at Cardinal Newman School, where he taught instrumental music, vocal choirs, guitar, theory, jazz history, and music appreciation, and founded the elementary instrumental music program at St. Joseph Elementary School. He has also served as an adjunct professor at the University of South Carolina, Claflin University, and Benedict College.