Results
-
£106.99Song Of Friendship - Philip Sparke
Song of Friendship was commissioned by the Concert Band of Jumonji University, Saitama, Japan and their conductor, Yutaka Nishida. The commission marked the 50th year of Yutaka Nishida's involvement with bands as a player, conductor and radio presenter. The ceremonial Song of Friendship opens with an extended fanfare, largely featuring the brass section. This leads to the main theme, which develops slowly until it is played by the full band. A change of key signals a contrasting central section containing a quiet woodwind chorale, which grows until the return of the triumphant sounding main theme. Elements of the opening fanfare then close the work.
Estimated dispatch 7-14 working days
-
£137.99A Bluegrass Overture - Philip Sparke
A Bluegrass Overture was commissioned by Gabriel Wooley and funded by a grant from Leslie and Cathy Anderson for the Central Kentucky Concert Band to celebrate their 40th anniversary in 2016.This energetic overture opens with an introduction loosely based on 'bluegrass' chords before a slower, legato chorale appears in the clarinets and flutes. This is short-lived and soon a new mood is introduced, based on a repeated-note accompaniment. This leads to the main theme, heavily syncopated with bluesy inflections.A central section features a cantabile melody, which changes key frequently, before the main theme reappears, leading toa triumphal presentation of the earlier chorale melody.
Estimated dispatch 7-14 working days
-
£137.99Prelude to a Pageant - Philip Sparke
Prelude to a Pageant was commissioned by Woodley Concert Band to celebrate their 40th anniversary in 2014. Celebratory in nature, Prelude to a Pageant includes a famous musical link to The Reading Rota (Sumer is icumen in), a manuscript dating from around 1240, discovered nearby Reading Abbey. This lively tune appears early in the work, after an arresting, rhythmic opening and expressive slower section, and also forms the final climax.
Estimated dispatch 7-14 working days
-
£110.99Highdays and Holidays - Philip Sparke
Highdays and Holidays was commissioned by the South Berks Concert Band to celebrate its 40th anniversary in 2016. The band rehearses in the village of Mortimer, which has a long and fascinating history dating back to, and beyond, the BronzeAge. Mortimer is famous for The Mortimer Revel, an annual event which was apparently a fairly rumbustious and sometimes violent affair. Highdays and Holidays seeks to capture some of this festive event in the form of an energeticoverture, which explores a variety of moods including the somewhat chaotic atmosphere of the Revel.
Estimated dispatch 7-14 working days
-
£164.99Reflections on an Old Japanese Folk Song - Philip Sparke
Reflections on an Old Japanese Folk Song is based on the tune Suiryo-Bushi, which comes from the shamisen tradition and opens with two contrasting statements of the melody followed by several variations each in an own style based uponthe same tune, or sometimes only fragments of it. In one of the variants, the pentatonic scale is used. The final section is in the form of a scherzo, which eventually forms the accompaniment to a final presentation of the folk tune.
Estimated dispatch 7-14 working days
-
£256.99The Unknown Journey - Philip Sparke
The Unknown Journey was commissioned by Kwansei Gakuin University Symphony Band which was established in 1954 and has grown to become one of the top college bands in Japan. The composer chose the title as the piece seemed to create its ownmomentum as it developed, starting slowly and continuously increasing the tempo. Towards the end it gradually transmogrifies into the closing bars of Ravel's La Valse, a piece which perfectly characterises the idea of unstoppable momentum.
Estimated dispatch 7-14 working days
-
£69.99Westminster Prelude - Philip Sparke
London is famous for its history and pageantry. No part of the city epitomises this better than the area known as Westminster. It is home to The Houses of Parliament and Big Ben, Westminster Abbey, Westminster Bridge and numerous other historical sites. It also hosts many annual parliamentary ceremonies that characterise London life. Westminster Prelude aims to capture the mood of life in this famous part of London, both the majesty of its history and the pomp of its ceremonies.
Estimated dispatch 7-14 working days
-
£194.99Euphonium Concerto II - Philip Sparke
The original concept for this work was a suite of short movements, each with its own character, but by the time the first movement was complete it was clear that a conventional three-movement format was going to work out better. The opening movement contains much syncopation and is almost rag-like in style. The slower second movement explores the unsurpassable ability of the euphonium to play lyrically, with a theme that is later taken up by the band whilst the soloist weaves a filigree descant. This leads straight into the third movement, which is almost bebop in style and shows off the jazzier capabilities of the euphonium. The concerto was composed for the virtuoso soloist,Steven Mead. A version for euphonium and piano is also available.
Estimated dispatch 7-14 working days
-
£149.99Sierra Nevada - Philip Sparke
Sierra Nevada presents the listener with the wondrous grandeur of one of the great mountain ranges in California, U.S.A., the Sierra Nevada. Experience the awakening of an early morning in the Sierras, complete with a mysterious, foggy mist, totally obscuring any hint of what lies within, to the tremendous panorama of grand snow-covered mountain peaks and the circling golden eagles, the regal elk and royal stags. A wonderfully descriptive work that will fit well into any concert program.
Estimated dispatch 7-14 working days
-
£110.99The Harbour: Sunday Morning - Philip Sparke
The Harbour:Sunday Morningwas commissioned by the Jersey Instrumental Service for the Jersey Youth Wind Band.The history of the Channel Islands is inextricably linked to the sea and this determined the theme for this composition. The composer is intrigued by man?s fascination with elements of nature (such as the sea, mountains, deserts and deep space), which are both beautiful and dangerous. Bring the power of the sea to your concert with this truly descriptive piece.
Estimated dispatch 7-14 working days
