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£104.99Prelude and Polonaise - Nikolai Rimsky-Korsakov
Nikolai Rimsky-Korsakov (1844-1908) composed his opera The Night before Christmas in 1894-95. The premiere took place on December 10 1895 in St. Petersburg. The libretto to the opera came from Rimsky-Korsakov himself and is based on a tale by Nikolai Gogol, which some years earlier had already served as operatic material for Pjotr Tchaikovsky. The opera tells the story of Vakula, the blacksmith of a small Ukranian village. He is madly in love with Oxana who demands - as proof of his love - a most unusual Christmas present: the magnificent slippers of the Empress. Knowing full well that, in normal circumstances, he would never be able to fulfil Oxana's wish, Vakula seekssupernatural assistance and finds it in the shape of the devil, who comes up with a ploy to help him. The devil carries him on his back to St. Petersburg, where during a lavish reception at court Vakula finds an opportunity to present his request to the empress. The Empress actually agrees to Vakula's wish and hands over her slippers to him. Thereupon he returns to his own village. Here, in the meantime, he had been given up for dead, and Oxana had been plunged into great sorrow as she had come to realise that she also truly loved Vakula. In the end, however, all misunderstandings are resolved and all adversities overcome: Oxana receives her extravagant present, the lovers are united, and the church bells call the villagers to the Christmas service.The vibrant Polonaise is played in the 3rd act of the opera at the entrance of the Empress, whose appearance is anticipated in the prelude by the fanfare motives. The music paints a vivid picture of the party atmosphere and the marvellous dcor at the imperial court of St. Petersburg, which Rimsky-Korsakov conjures up in his opera and which can also be played outside of the Advent and Christmas season, for example as an opening piece to any festive concert.
Estimated dispatch 7-14 working days
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£149.99Moretus - Bart Picqueur
Jan Moretus (1543-1610) was a book printer and publisher in his native city of Antwerp. He worked as assistant to his father-in-law, the renowned master printer and publisher Christoffel Plantijn. After Plantijn's death in 1589 Moretus took over the business.The composition Moretus consists of four parts that draw on the remarkable personality of Jan Moretus aswell as the printing business. In both the titles of the movements and the thematic structure we can see a certain symmetry: a playful allusion to the process of printing.Part 1, A Celebrated Gentleman, describes the illustrious figure of Moretus in a festive chorale. In the second part, ExpressiveImpressions, the printing press itself is brought to life in repeated motifs - despite the industrial, mechanical nature of the process, the product always has an artistic and cultural dimension. In the third part, Impressive Expression, the wind band is invited (or challenged), to intone the slow theme with a poignant expressiveness. Part 4, A Gentle Celebration, is a celebratory finale with a fresh theme.
Estimated dispatch 7-14 working days
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£94.99Exultate - Naoya Wada
Exultate is a merry, exuberant composition that begins with a festive opening fanfare that gives way to a lyrical theme - the common thread that runs throughout this work. This piece, which was commissioned by the Comfort Wind Ensemble from Fukuoka, Japan, is an ideal opening work for any concert!
Estimated dispatch 7-14 working days
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£84.99Return of the Vikings - Bert Appermont
This composition paints a picture of belligerent and brave Vikings. After a short introduction the lofty main theme is heard, accompanied by sombre drum sounds. A brief idyllic passage follows that evokes a beautiful landscape. Gradually, a heroicmelody is revealed, leading to a great tutti, in which the rousing main theme is heard once more. Return of the Vikings closes with the sound of heroic brass and festive chords.
Estimated dispatch 7-14 working days
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£79.99Fanfare and Flourishes - James Curnow
Based on Marc-Antoine Charpentier's (1634-1704) Te Deum, Fanfare and Flourishes for a Festive Occasion was originally commissioned for the 1991 European Brass Band Championships held in Rotterdam, Holland.
Estimated dispatch 7-14 working days
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£69.99
Christmas Carillon - James Curnow
This sparkling arrangement of Ding Dong Merrily On High is full of the festive sounds of bells that ring from church steeples, street corners, and stores throughout the holiday season! It's a vibrant work that captures the jubilant and triumphant sounds of Christmas! Wonderful!
Estimated dispatch 7-14 working days
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£122.50
For Unto You Is Born This Day! - James L. Hosay
A magnificent offering for your Christmas performance! James L. Hosay has taken the story of the birth of Christ, according to the Gospel of Luke, and set it to heart lifting music. A stunning and unforgettable performance can be had with a chorus or with a narrator. Either way, this piece will add to the festive mood of your Holiday concert and help your audience feel the true spirit of Christmas. If you do a concert where a chorus performs half and a concert band performs half, consider programming FOR UNTO YOU IS BORN THIS DAY as a grand finale. If your performance stage is a bit cramped for that many musicians all at once, perhaps having the chorus surround the audiencewill work for you. The "surround-sound" effect can be wonderful.
Estimated dispatch 7-14 working days
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£179.99
El Golpe Fatal - Dirk Brossé
With the sound of trumpets and a long drum roll Dirk Bross takes you to the splendour of the opening ceremony of a bullfight! The rhythm and the use of South American percussion instruments convey a festive atmosphere whilst broad lines and bright colours describe the solemn nature of this event. The imaginary bull is received with great acclaim with the full band playing. Two contrasting themes represent the heroic matador and the condemned bull. The audience cheers as the bull collapses and strong final chords round off the triumph of the matador. The final quiet notes give a feeling of melancholy reflecting the sad end of this story.
Estimated dispatch 7-14 working days
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£169.99Olympica - Jan van der Roost
This "Grand Overture" was commissioned by the "Nagano Community Band" - Japan- on occasion of its jubilee in 1992 and is dedicated to the band's conductor, Ikuo Inagaki.The work is based upon three main themes, each symbolising a certain theme. The first part is characterized by its bright themes played mainly by the brass, accompanied by the woodwinds and festive percussion. This part symbolizes the jubilee which is the origin of the composition. This is followed by a bouncing allegro, in which each register of the band displays brilliant techniques. Especially the woodwinds come to the fore! This movement depicts the industriousness and enthousiasm shown by the members of the"Nagano Community Band" in the carrying out of their hobby. A third, main theme, is choral-like in character and is displayed both in the (soft) brass as well as in the warm medium register of the reeds. Here, nature's beaty in and around the city of Nagano is musically celebrated. Following a "chamber-music episode" (featuring the flute, oboe, clarinet, alto-saxophone and horn) the initial allegro re-occurs, weaving its way towards a grandiose finale, in which the two previous themes are once again apparent. Due to its very colourful scoring and the enormous diversity of musical thoughts and ideas, this composition is a fascinating and memorable piece, worthy a jubilee overture!
Estimated dispatch 7-14 working days
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£144.99Ross Roy - Jacob de Haan
Jacob de Haan was commissioned to compose this concert piece by the "St. Peters Wind Symphony" from Brisbane, Australia. "Ross Roy" is the monumental late 19th century villa where St. Peters Lutheran College was founded in 1945. The villa has always remained the school symbol. In this composition, Jacob de Haan sees the "Ross Roy" as a metaphor for the years spent at school (a monument in time), where one's personality is formed. So, the opening theme the artist calls the Ross Roy theme initially has monumental characteristics.The rhythmic motion, which strides along in the lower register and percussion at the beginning of the next section is typical of "Tempo di Marcia". Thismovement, accompanied by repetitions of sound, is a metaphor for the structure and discipline in school. This is the introduction to a march theme, symbolic of "passing through" the classes up to the final examinations.Then, the Ross Roy theme is dealt with again, now in a playful, humorous variation. As if the composer is saying there should also be time for a smile in school. The same theme can be heard in major key and a slower tempo in the following section, expressing pride and self-confidence. This is also the introduction to the expressive middle section that represents love, friendship and understanding.We then return to the march theme in a slightly altered construction. The oriental sounds, constituting the modulation to the final theme, are symbols of the diversity of cultures in the school. The characteristic final theme first sounds solemn, but turns into a festive apotheosis. It is no coincidence that the final cadence is reminiscent of the close to a traditional overture, for the school years can be considered the "overture" to the rest of one's life. The premiere of "Ross Roy" was conducted by Jacob de Haan in Brisbane, on August 22, 1997.
Estimated dispatch 7-14 working days
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