Results
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£68.99Requiem Aeternam - Giacomo Puccini
Giacomo Puccini was commissioned to write a second opera after the resounding success of his first, Le Villi. However, the original four-act, grand opera Edgar, to a libretto by Ferdinando Fontana, received a rather lukewarm reception at its premire in La Scala in Milan in 1889 - initially, the work was only performed three times. Of all the planned performances in the subsequent two years, only one took place, in Lucca, Puccini's birthplace. There, the work was well received. Nevertheless, the composer decided to make drastic changes to Edgar the most radical being the reduction of the opera to three acts, as well as altering a few arias, charactersand instrumental parts. In its revised form, the work was even less popular than before. The discarded fourth act later provided material for Tosca (the duet Amoro sol' per te), but Puccini never felt the need to defend Edgar - as he did other less fortunate operas, such as La Rondine and Suor Angelica. On a piano excerpt for his female friend Sybil Seligman he even corrupted the title to 'E Dio ti GuARda da quest' opera' (may God preserve you from this opera). This did not prevent Arturo Toscanini performing the Requiem from the third act at Puccini's funeral in Milan Cathedral on 3 December 1924. The Requiem in the third act is being played when the long funeral procession carries the alleged body of Edgar - the confusedyoung man hesitating between the love of the virtuous Fidelia and the exotic Tigrana. The mass hails Edgar as a hero, but a monk claims that he has betrayed his country for a few gold pieces. When the soldiers try to desecrate the body, they discover that the armor contains none. The monk reveals himself as Edgar. He wants to leave with his faithful Fidelia, but the vengeful Tigrana stabs him and kills Fidelia. Edgar grieves over the lifeless body of his beloved, while Tigrana is arrested and the people submerge into prayer.
Estimated dispatch 7-14 working days
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£129.99Ratatouille Satirique
Erik Satie, born in Honfleur in Normandy (France) in 1866 is undoubtedly one of the most striking personalities in the history of French music. He composed in various, often quite divergent, styles. Besides light-hearted, entertaining works he also wrote several serious compositions, among which the three ballets: Parade, Rel che and Les Aventures de Mercure. However his piano pieces, such as Trois Gymnopdies or Gnossiennes will remain his most popular compositions. Satie co-operated with almost all great artists of his time: Pablo Picasso, Jean Cocteau, Sergej Diaghilev and Georges Braque and the composers Darius Milhaud (Le Groupe des Six) and Claude Debussy. Johan deMeij made an orchestration of three short pieces by Erik Satie: I. Prlude (from: Jack in the Box) II. Rverie (from: Trois petites pices montes) III. Marche: Le Piccadilly (1904) It was only after Satie's death in 1925 that the manuscript of the piano piece Jack in the Box was recovered. Satie himself thought he had lost the manuscript in a bus. When his flat in Arceuil was cleaned out, a small notebook was discovered behind his piano and it contained the manuscript which was assumed to be lost forever. The Rverie (De l'Enfance de Pantagruel) is an extract from Trois petites pices montes, originally composed for small symphony orchestra. In this suite it is meant as a restful intermezzo. It is clear that, as with Milhaud (La Cration du Monde) and Debussy (Golliwogg's Cakewalk; Le Petit Ngre), it is hard to deny obvious influences of jazz music in Erik Satie's compositions. Le Piccadilly, dating from 1904, displays a lot of similarities with the compositions of Scott Joplin.
Estimated dispatch 7-14 working days
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£149.99
Trois Rag-Caprices - Darius Milhaud
The French composer Darius Milhaud (1892-1974) was a member of the 'Groupe des Six'. This group of six composers gathering Honegger, Poulence, Auric, Durey, Tailleferre and Milhaud, imitated Erik Satie by revolting against the deeply rooted traditional conventions of that time. They reacted against impressionism (Debussy) and romanticism (Wagner, Mahler) and felt very strongly about the music of Satie and Strawinsky. Milhaud's most popular work is undoubtedly the ballet 'La Cration du Monde', one of the most striking examples of jazz influences in classical music. The premire at the 'Th?tre des Champs Elyses' in October 1923 caused a real scandal with the Paris public.The 'Trois Rag-Caprices' for piano were composed one year earlier, in the summer of 1922, and could be considered as a kind of preliminary sketch for 'La Cration du monde'. There are indeed clear similarities between both compositions as to the rhythmical and harmonic aspects. The 'Trois Rag-Caprices' were orchestrated for symphony orchestra by Milhaud himself some time later. The same happened to 'Saudades do Brasil' (1920), a piano composition punctuated with Latin-American influences, which was written after his stay in Rio de Janeiro (1917-18) exactly as his ballet 'Le Boeuf sur le Toit'. Johan de Meij's orchestration of 'Trois Rag-Caprices' for symphonic band is a most welcome addition next to the original band works of Milhaud, such as 'Suite Fran?aise' (1945) and 'West Point Suite' (1951).
Estimated dispatch 7-14 working days
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£102.99
Jazz Suite No. 2 - March - Dimitri Shostakovich
In 1938 Shostakovich composed his Second Jazz Suite at the request of the recently founded State Orchestra for Jazz conducted by Victor Knushevitsky. This suite was originally scored for a complete symphony orchestra to which four saxophones, an accordion and a guitar had been added. The Jazz Suite no. 1 in three movements, composed in 1934, had been written for a smaller ensemble. The title 'Jazz Suite' is rather misleading, as the composer definitely uses the style of light music. Back in 1928, the twenty-two-year-old Shostakovich had already composed some light music. A bet among friends to make an orchestration of the popular song 'Tea for Two' in less then one hour time, causedhim to compose 'Tahiti Trot'. Shostakovich easily won the bet as he completed the original and witty arrangement within only forty minutes!
Estimated dispatch 7-14 working days
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£99.99
Jazz Suite No. 2 - Dance II - Dimitri Shostakovich
In 1938 Shostakovich composed his Second Jazz Suite at the request of the recently founded State Orchestra for Jazz conducted by Victor Knushevitsky. This suite was originally scored for a complete symphony orchestra to which four saxophones, an accordion and a guitar had been added. The Jazz Suite no. 1 in three movements, composed in 1934, had been written for a smaller ensemble. The title 'Jazz Suite' is rather misleading, as the composer definitely uses the style of light music. Back in 1928, the twenty-two-year-old Shostakovich had already composed some light music. A bet among friends to make an orchestration of the popular song 'Tea for Two' in less then one hour time, causedhim to compose 'Tahiti Trot'. Shostakovich easily won the bet as he completed the original and witty arrangement within only forty minutes!
Estimated dispatch 7-14 working days
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£101.00Ocean Ridge Rhapsody - Robert Sheldon
This spirited offering is teeming with vitality and color. The festive opening leads to a romantic theme with broad sweeping lines. The energetic ending is a well-crafted blend of rhythmic development and melodic content from the pen of this very popular composer. Highly recommended for contest.
Estimated dispatch 7-14 working days
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£76.99West Highlands Sojourn - David Sheldon
Inspired by this popular composer's journey through the western hill country of England and Wales, this delightful piece borrows from folk melodies he heard on a river near the Scottish border. The three contrasting sections of the piece make it equally suitable for concert or contest use. This Build-A-Band version makes this wonderful composition playable by very small bands and it will sound great as long has you have the four essential parts covered. Optional percussion and keyboard parts can add to the overall effect.
Estimated dispatch 7-14 working days
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£50.50Entrance To The Dragon Cave - Bankston
Your growing musicians will relish in rehearsing and performing this safely scored and adventurous work. It offers a wealth of educational opportunities and is easy to play and teach. Encouraging and entertaining, this is the perfect piece to foster your young band's excitement for music and no question a popular favorite at their next concert.
Estimated dispatch 7-14 working days
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£73.50When Saint Nick Comes Marching In
New Orleans and its unique music history has impacted the entire world through the roots of jazz and popular music. Beginning with a trumpet solo inspired by Louis Armstrong, the piece quickly transitions to a Dixieland Jazz quintet. The full band, in the tradition of the New Orleans Brass Bands, joins the street parade with Saint Nick leading the celebration shouting "Heaux, Heaux, Heaux!" Staging and performance options abound. This will be the hit of your holiday concert!
Estimated dispatch 7-14 working days
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£50.50
Beta Cat - Hoefle
For every Alpha Dog there is a Beta Cat! This follow-up to the popular Alpha Dog for Very Beginning Band portrays a perhaps frustrated yet sneaky cat who attacks when it is least expected! Cymbal scrapes and soft melodies are interrupted when the cat decides to POUNCE! But...this cat always lands on its feet and always has the last hiss.
Estimated dispatch 7-14 working days
