The original piece was written by Franz Schneider (1737- 1812), organist and musical director at the Benedictine abbey of Melk on the Danube, for choir, string quartet, two trumpets and timpani. This arrangement can be performed with choir and band, without choir or by a mixed ensemble or band. Instead of using the complete choir, one can also only use the first choir part solo with accompaniment of the quartet parts. Therefore, the four part mixed choir score has alternatively been arranged for multipart wind ensemble (from a quartet).The original string parts have been arranged for symphonic band. Thanks to the cue notes, the passages intended for large band can also be performed by smaller ensembles in a most satisfactory way. The various instrumentation possibilities are clearly indicated in the instrumentation lists of the wind quartet and orchestra. The complete percussion part is totally ‘ad libitum'.
