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£113.30Moderate Dances - Angelo Sormani
This piece is a tribute to dance music, especially passionate, intense and meditative dance music. "Moderate Dances" is divided into three movements: a "Tango", a "Slow Waltz" and a "Bossa Nova". Each movement and each dance has its own particular characteristics but, when combined, these different rhythmic beats and times give the piece a feeling of completeness and uniformity. The Tango started to flourish in the suburbs of Buenos Aires in around 1880. There is still some doubt as to its origins, which may be Cuban (Habanera) but are probably African. It was most popular in Argentina and Brazil: here the male protagonist was originally the "gaucho" with his inseparable guitar, later to be replaced by the proud, elegant "compadre". By around 1910 the Tango had spread to Italy and France. New clubs opened, where the upper classes could watch and dance the Tango. Here the dance also underwent some rapid transformations. The exaggerated and extravagant gestures and body movements disappeared. Slow, gliding steps replaced the old rotational movements. The women's red ankle-boots and the partners "staring into each other's eyes" accentuated the erotic nature and sensuality of this dance. So much so that, in 1913, the German government banned soldiers from dancing the Tango. Those who broke the law were immediately discharged from the army. From a strictly musical perspective, the basic instruments were a flute, a harp (the diatonic harp typically played by the Indians of Paraguay) and a violin, or flute, guitar and violin or even clarinet, guitar and violin. These instruments were easy to transport, ideal for playing at parties, in the streets and in courtyards. The musicians played by ear, frequently improvising: there were no scores, no records, which is the main reason why it is impossible to trace the Tango back to its exact origins. However, the Tango's evolution (and growing popularity) was once again fostered by its fundamental ability to absorb "other" cultures, languages and sounds. And it was the arrival of the "bandoneon" (an accordion-like instrument that was invented in Germany and brought to Rio de la Plata by some immigrant), which replaced the flute, that marked the beginning of the Tango's huge success outside Argentina. A number of talented composers, above all the great Astor Piazzola (1921-1992), transformed the bandoneon from a simple accompanying instrument to a solo instrument that was to become the distinguishing feature of the 20th century Tango. The Slow Waltz originated from the Waltz, the typical dance of the Bavarian and Tyrolese peasants in the 1700s. It was composers like Johann Strauss, father and son, who carried the Waltz to its zenith in the 1800s, creating the sensual and melancholy yet joyful and charming dance we are all familiar with. When the Waltz first became popular in Germany, the members of respectable society were shocked at the closeness of the dancing partners, who had always previously danced apart. The main difference between the Waltz and Slow Waltz is that the latter has a slower, more expressive rhythm: the men wear tails and the women wear ball gowns decorated with beads and feathers and couples dance in graceful rotational movements. "Bossa Nova" is the title of the last movement in the piece. Jobim, the great Brazilian musician, described this musical genre as a combination of modern Jazz and Samba. Bossa Nova means "new wave". This was the name of the artistic and musical movement that evolved in Brazil in the late Fifties and was extremely popular throughout the Sixties. The songs are usually about love or social matters, drawing inspiration from the slums of Rio De Janeiro and the lives of their inhabitants. Bossa Nova, with its original compositions and the artistic talent of its musicians, also became hugely popular in the United States and Europe, and top Jazz musicians (Ella Fitzgerald, Stan Getz, Bob Cooper, Charlie Bird, Sonny Rollins, Dexter Gordon, Dizzy Gillespie) started to include Bossa in their repertoires.
Estimated dispatch 7-14 working days
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£164.95
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£99.95
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£72.95
Three Processionals - Michael Ball
Estimated dispatch 7-14 working days
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£82.50Power Play - Robert E. Foster Jr.
Power Play was commissioned by band director Robert Ball and the Mill Creek Middle School Band, Shawnee, Kansas. This exciting addition to young band repertoire was written to deliver an energetic element to concert programs. Pushing the tempo will help players develop their technique and, along with exaggerating the accents, will contribute to the driving force of the piece. While the overall effect sounds difficult, it is very playable by middle or high school bands and will be a reliable power source for your next performance.
Estimated dispatch 7-14 working days
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£102.99
Surround Sound - Søren Hyldgaard
This unusual new work really lives up to its title with sound hitting the audience from all sides. The composer intended that this work not only be heard but experienced. The audience will feel how the drums and trumpet figures fly around the auditorium as if a ball being kicked between players. This innovative piece is sure to be a hit with all who hear and play it.
Estimated dispatch 7-14 working days
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£47.50Clarinet Hoedown - John Moss
Master Level (correlates with Book 2, p. 32) Not only will your clarinets have a ball with this section feature, but there is something here for every section of the band. In a style reminiscent of Copland, John Moss uses livelythemes, clever harmonies and effective percussion writing in creating this appealing composition. (2:55)
Estimated dispatch 7-14 working days
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£57.50Peanut Vendor
Here's a unique change of pace featuring the familiar strains of this Latin classic. Your percussion section will have a ball with this one, and there are twists and turns for everyone in this clever and appealing arrangement.
Estimated dispatch 7-14 working days
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£72.99Big Band Signatures
Here's a delightful collection of some of the most memorable icons of the fabulous Big Band era. John Higgins' arrangement weaves through great musical memories, each closely identified with a legendary artist and the unique sound of his band. Includes: Peanut Vendor (Stan Kenton), Caravan (Duke Ellington), Woodchopper's Ball (Woody Herman), and Leap Frog (Les Brown).
Estimated dispatch 7-14 working days
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£57.50Spring Festival - Chen Yi
Composer Chen Yi wrote Spring Festival as a celebration of the Chinese New Year and all the traditions that accompany this special Chinese festival. While the melody is drawn from a southern Chinese folk ensemble piece called Lion Playing Ball, the form of the piece is based on the idea of the Golden Section. Learn more on YouTube! BandQuest, an exciting series of new music and accompanying curricula for band, is a program published by the American Composers Forum. The series was started as a response to feedback from music educators that there is a pressing need for new, fresh band music. The heart of this program is new works written by a diverse group of leading American composers who have created challenging pieces that are a true departure from standard middle school repertoire. Every BandQuest project includes a residency component in which the composer works collaboratively with a middle school as they create their new piece.Many BandQuest pieces are accompanied by an interdisciplinary curriculum designed to assist students as they learn the music and to integrate each piece with non-music studies. Visit www.bandquest.org to learn more about this innovative series, and email [email protected] to request a free downloadable audio catalog.
Estimated dispatch 7-14 working days
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