Results
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£164.99A Centennial Journey - Philip Sparke
A Centennial Journey was commissioned by the Norwegian ensemble Stavanger Musikkorps av 1919 to celebrate their 100th anniversary in 2019. The work was premiered under conductor Morten E. Hansen at their Jubilee Concert in the Stavanger Konserthus on 28th September 2019. The piece opens dramatically with a sweeping melody on horns and saxophones under florid woodwind figuration, building to a majestic climax. A trio for the trombones calms the mood until the opening melody returns in a gentler style, eventually building to a busy molto vivo. The woodwind figuration continues over a series of brass trios until the main theme of the work appears on clarinets and euphoniums. This develops to introduce a change of key, featuring a long, hymn-like melody on clarinets and horns. The melody is then taken up by the full band, interspersed with sporadic brass fanfares. The opening of the molto vivo returns and leads to a return of the opening horn melody, building to a thrilling coda based on previous melodic material.
Estimated dispatch 7-14 working days
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£118.99North Hills Fantasy - Philip Sparke
North Hills Fantasy was commissioned by the North Hills High School Bands, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania (director: Len Lavelle) as part of a commissioning programme that has run since 1965 - the longest of its kind in the USA. The work opens with a reflective, unaccompanied solo for alto saxophone which develops into a chorale for horns and saxes. This is taken up by the trumpets and subsides to a change of key and mood, with highly decorated folk-like solos for clarinet, bassoon and saxes. These solos build to a climax for full band, which heralds a triumphant return of the horn chorale, accompanied by florid woodwind figuration. But the mood soon winds down; fragments of earlier melodies return calmly to peacefully close the work.
Estimated dispatch 7-14 working days
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£137.99Highland Dawn - Philip Sparke
Highland Dawn portrays a sunrise in the Scottish Highlands, where stunning mountain scenery and clear air create a special atmosphere. A faster central section describes the area coming to life as the day begins, using the Scotch 'snaps' which are characteristic of traditional bagpipe music; but the serenity of the opening returns to bring the work to a peaceful close.
Estimated dispatch 7-14 working days
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£134.99Bacchanalia - Philip Sparke
Bacchanalia was commissioned by the Yokohama Bacchus Brass Orchestra to celebrate their 20th anniversary in 2019. The band wanted the title of this short opener to reflect the reference to Bacchus in their name, so Bacchanalia was agreed upon. The spirit of the Greek god of wine does indeed permeate the piece, with bustling themes, dance motifs and occasional harmonic ambiguity. A lovely piece of music full of joie de vivre.
Estimated dispatch 7-14 working days
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£137.99A Little Klezmer Suite - Philip Sparke
A Little Klezmer Suite was commissioned by Rushton Park High School to celebrate the 50th anniversary of their band programme. They gave the premiere in a virtual online concert in October 2020. Klezmer music originated in the 'shtetl' (villages) and the ghettos of Eastern Europe, where itinerant Jewish troubadours, known as 'klezmorim', had performed at celebrations, particularly weddings, since the early Middle Ages. 'Klezmer' is a Yiddish term combining the Hebrew words 'kley' (instrument) and 'zemer' (song). The roots of the style are found in secular melodies, popular dances, Jewish 'hazanut' (cantorial music) and also the 'nigunim', the wordless melodies intoned by the 'Hasidim' (orthodox Jews). The melodies used in the four movements of A Little Klezmer Suite have traditionally been used in Jewish wedding ceremonies and celebrations.
Estimated dispatch 7-14 working days
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£91.99Guardians of the Waves - Philip Sparke
Guardians of the Waves was commissioned by the Japan Coast Guard Band to celebrate their 30th anniversary in 2018. They gave the premiere as part of a 30th anniversary concert on November 8th that year. Set in traditional march form, Guardians of the Waves opens with a short introduction, which leads to the main theme, played initially by the brass and then repeated with a florid woodwind descant. The theme is extended and morphs into a second theme, first played tutti and then quietly repeated by bassoon, tenor sax and euphonium. This leads to a conventional 'bass strain', played twice with varying accompaniments. A quieter trio section follows, delicately scored and featuring the tenor instruments of the band. Taken up by the full band, this leads back to a recall of the introduction and a return to the main two themes, which lead to a triumphal close.Recorded by the Kobe College Wind Orchestra and its conductor Osama Matsuura
Estimated dispatch 7-14 working days
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£164.99A Sevenoaks Suite - Philip Sparke
A Sevenoaks Suite was commissioned by the Sevenoaks and Tonbridge Concert Band from Kent in the south-east of England. The suite describes 3 famous landmarks in the Sevenoaks and Tonbridge area: 'Knole Park', situated to the south-east of Sevenoaks. 'The Chapel - Tonbridge School': This movement centres around a hymn-like chorale, depicting the years of worship that have taken place within the chapel, and 'The Vine Bandstand' suggesting the type of music often played in bandstands. It is in march form, but is not actually a march throughout, veering off into other styles before ending emphatically.
Estimated dispatch 7-14 working days
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£199.99Gemini Concerto - Philip Sparke
Gemini Concerto was commissioned by and written for Ryukoku University (Japan), Andr Henry and Shoichiro Hokazono. Set in three movements, the concerto aims to explore the close relationship, as solo instruments, between the trumpet and euphonium, exploiting the many common factors between the two as well as the subtly different characteristics they possess in terms of both lyrical and rhythmic playing. The first movement is a bustling toccata and the second movement is lyrical and improvisatory in nature. A fantastic piece and a great addition to the repertoire!
Estimated dispatch 7-14 working days
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£91.99Step by Step - Philip Sparke
Step by Step was commissioned by the Sony Concert Band to celebrate their 60th anniversary in 2018. Step by Step is an up-tempo concert march. The title was chosen as it has obvious associations with marching but also as a salute to the constant improvement and development that makes the products of Sony Corporation famous around the world. Step by Step was commissioned by the Sony Concert Band to celebrate their 60th anniversary in 2018. Step by Step is an up-tempo concert march. The title was chosen as it has obvious associations with marching but also as a salute to the constant improvement and development that makes the products of Sony Corporationfamous around the world.
Estimated dispatch 7-14 working days
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£183.99Three Norwegian Sketches - Philip Sparke
Three Norwegian Sketches was commissioned by ...ndalsnes Musikkforening, Norway, who are conducted by John Hudson. The three contrasting movements - TROLLVEGGEN (The Troll Wall), RAUMA ELV (River Rauma) and RAUMABANEN (The Rauma Line) - describe life and scenery around the town of ...ndalsnes on the beautiful west coast of Norway. This is a challenging, imaginative and versatile new work, ideal for a concert or a contest.
Estimated dispatch 7-14 working days
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