Results
-
£74.99Fanfare for an Occasion - Philip Sparke
Fanfare for an Occasion was written to celebrate the 20th anniversary of the founding of Anglo Music Press, the publishing company dedicated to the works of British composer, Philip Sparke. It is a bright and festive work in which the main theme starts on the tenor instruments of the band before appearing as canonical imitation by all sections in turn. A short, repeated bridge passage leads to a second theme on the saxes that is taken up by the full band and leads back to a return of the main theme and a repeat of the second subject, which brings the fanfare to a brilliant close.
Estimated dispatch 7-14 working days
-
£141.99Pulcinella - Philip Sparke
Pulcinella was commissioned by the Taiwanese euphonium player Tzu-Hsiang Lin. Lin is a renowned soloist and teacher and a Besson Euphonium Artist. He teaches euphonium at Taipei National University of the Arts, National Taiwan University of Arts, Shih Chien University and National Kaohsiung Normal University. Lin gave the premiere of Pulcinella in both its concert band and brass band versions in January 2021. Pulcinella continues Sparke's series of euphonium solos named after characters of the Italian commedia dell'arte and opens with a long and expressive minor melody for the soloist over a brooding accompaniment. This is taken up briefly by the full band and is extended by the soloist after a change of key. A cadenza, accompanied by fragments of the main melody leads to a complete change of mood, tempo and tonality, introducing a Vivo section starting with a perky syncopated tune for the soloist. The band then uses elements of this new tune to introduce a change of key, where the soloist introduces a more lyrical second subject over a pulsing accompaniment. The band then takes this up and changes key to reintroduce the original Vivo melody, which leads to a short and acrobatic coda to bring the work to a spectacular close.
Estimated dispatch 7-14 working days
-
£99.99March of the Robot Army - Philip Sparke
March of the Robot Army was commissioned by Linda Anzolin & Giordano-Bruno Tedeschi for Campobanda 2019, with funds made available by JUST ITALIA. Campobanda is an Italian summer music camp for 8- to 18-year-olds (held in Camposilvano in 2019) which has a different theme every year. The theme for 2019 was 'science fiction', so composer Philip Sparke chose to write a robot march. After a quirky introduction featuring trumpet calls and chromatic figures, the main theme appears in a minor mode on clarinet and tenor sax and is then taken up by the full band. A change of key heralds a new theme, led by the trumpet and again repeated by the full ensemble. A further change of key introduces a legato 'trio' melody over a rather robotic accompaniment: instruments are added bit by bit until a climax is reached. Small motifs from the introduction then lead back to a full recapitulation, revisiting the first two themes in new guises before finishing the march with a flourish.
Estimated dispatch 7-14 working days
-
£99.99Watch Your Step! - Philip Sparke
Watch Your Step! was commissioned by Stadtmusik Biel from Switzerland and is dedicated to the mayor of Biel/Bienne, Erich Fehr. The title was chosen to represent Biel as the watch-making capital of Switzerland. Watch Your Step! is one part of a series of 'up tempo' Sparke marches such as Slipstream, The Bandwagon and Jubiloso. After a bright opening, a syncopated first theme is played, firstly by clarinets and saxophones, and then by the full band. A 'bass strain' is followed by a contrasting second subject, which is played twice. The bass melody returns to herald a truncated version of the main theme, before the opening fanfarereappears as a coda.
Estimated dispatch 7-14 working days
-
£152.99Songs From Across The Water - Philip Sparke
Songs from Across the Water was commissioned by Pennsylvania Symphonic Winds - Phil Evans, Founder and Director. Phil Evans hails from the UK and served for 25 years in the Band of HM Royal Marines. Now resident in the USA he founded Pennsylvania Symphonic Winds in 2008, giving them the tag line 'An American Band with a British Accent', as he wanted to combine the best of both countries' band traditions. With this in mind, composer Philip Sparke decided to create a suite of British folk songs, scored with an American influence to fulfil the philosophy of the band's tag line. The three movements, which are played without a break, are based onthe following folk songs, which come from all corners of the British Isles: 'The Three Ravens & The Cruiskeen Lawn', 'The Lark in the Clear Air' and 'The Piper o' Dundee & Men of Harlech'.
Estimated dispatch 7-14 working days
-
£164.99Zodiac Dances - Philip Sparke
Zodiac Dances was commissioned by the Izumiotsu City Band, Osaka, Japan to celebrate their 50th anniversary. Sparke had previously written the piece, Prelude to a Celebration for the band, and in composing a new piece for their 50th anniversary wanted to personalise it to reflect the band's history. He chose to write a set of six dance-miniatures based on the decades following the band's foundation and the equivalent signs from the Japanese 'Junishi'. During the piece, all aspects of true musicianship come to the surface. Energetic playing, phrasing, melodic music making, technique and a spectacular finale make this work a perfect test or concertwork!
Estimated dispatch 7-14 working days
-
£137.99And Still, the Spirit - Philip Sparke
This work was commissioned by Dr. Robert Oertli from Mhlin, Switzerland, and is based on an earlier composition called Spirit of the Sequoia. The piece is inspired by how the human spirit can gain from setbacks: we become stronger after adversity. Sparke used the Californian redwood tree as a metaphor for this basic idea. The remarkable life cycle of these amazing trees involves them dropping seeds to the ground, which require heat to open their shells and germinate; the seeds require destruction in order to procreate. This piece is particularly suitable for younger bands - one of the last wishes of the initial commissioner.
Estimated dispatch 7-14 working days
-
£110.99With Clouds Descending - Philip Sparke
With Clouds Descending is a fantasy on the powerful Advent hymn Helmsley which is long associated with another Advent hymn - Wesley's Lo! He Comes with Clouds Descending. The hymn tune is divided into an introduction and three complete verses of Helmsley, which surround a slower central section, whose melody is derived from the last line of the hymn tune. Philip Sparke's grade 4 arrangement of this majestic piece for Concert Band is equally suitable as a concert opener or a main concert piece.
Estimated dispatch 7-14 working days
-
£87.99Clarinet Calypso - Philip Sparke
Music from the Caribbean is instantly recognisable. It somehow conveys sunshine and lazy summers and is full of the 'feel-good' factor. It is this infectious happiness that composer Philip Sparke has tried to capture in Clarinet Calypso.
Estimated dispatch 7-14 working days
-
£152.99Albion Heritage - Philip Sparke
Comissioned to write a patriotic piece, Albion Heritage is a folk song fantasy by Philip Sparke, based on melodies originating across various British Islands. Songs include: Brighton Camp from England, O Waly, Waly from Scotland, and the famous Men of Harlech from Wales. Albion Heritage is a stunning and enjoyable arrangement sure to stir up patriotic pride in every performance!
Estimated dispatch 7-14 working days
View Music