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£435.40Goldberg 2012 - Svein H. Giske
The first time I heard Bach's Goldberg Variations was in the movie Silence of the lambs, in the early 1990s. I noticed the beautiful background music in one of the scenes, but at that time I didn't know what it was. A few years later, when I was studiying at the Grieg Academy, I got to know the entire piece. For me, this is a piece of music which I can listen to countless times. I think it sounds as fresh today as it did more than 15 years ago and it never ceases to inspire me. Both Bach's composition and Glenn Gould's famous 1955 recording (which was the first one I heard) still makes a great impression on me. Before Gould recorded it at age 22, it wasn't a highly ranked piece amongst pianists and Bach was by many viewed as a bit old-fashioned. The young Canadian turned all this around. He managed to portray Bach in a reformed way, producing fine nuances in phrasing and making the many layers in Bach's music more transparent than anyone before him. Thus he plunged both himself and Bach (back) onto the international music scene. When The Norwegian Band Federation (NMF) asked me to write the test piece for NM in 2012, it was only natural for me to use the Goldberg Variations as a starting point and inspiration for my work. Since I was a teenager at NMF's summer courses in the mid eighties I've always listened to many different styles of music. Growing up in Sunnmre with the Brazz Brothers as teachers and mentors, jazz-, pop/rock- and folk music were early on a natural part of my musical background. I also have my classical education from the Grieg Academy on trumpet. As the title of my piece implies, I've wanted to bring Bach to the present and put his music into various modern musical landscapes. I think you can bring about a special kind of energy when music from different genres are mixed and I've tried to do this by mixing Bach with artists and musical styles from the present. In Goldberg 2012, the music is often constructed by several layers, which in a way are living parallel musical lives. They are seemingly moving or floating freely, almost unaware of each other, but bound together by the same basic pulse. The rythms, however, are often notated on a different rythmic subdivision level than the usual 8th- or 16th note levels. By doing this, I hope to achieve transparent sounds that rythmically are perceived as more free and detached from each other. In large sections of the piece, pop/jazz is fusioned with elements from Bach. I guess you could have this little scene as a synopsis for the piece: picture a group of musicians meeting: some are classical performers, some are jazz. They start to improvise together, each in their own voice or musical dialect and I'm sort of in the middle, trying to write down what they are playing. This is what I feel much of Goldberg 2012 is about. The foundation of the piece, in addition to Bach and references from pop/jazz music, lies also in my own material. This material, basically two chords, is heard in it's purest form in the 1st movement. I use these chords to create scales, new chords and different motifs which contribute to blend together the different moods of the piece. It has not been my intention to copy Bach's form (theme and 30 variations), but rather to use the bits and pieces that I like the most as an inspiration for my own variations. The 1st movement, Aria 2, is for my 3rd son, Olav, who was born on the 21st of April 2011, and the 5th movement, From long ago, is dedicated to the memory of my father, Svein J. Giske, who passed away on the 6th of June 2011. -Svein H. Giske, January 2012-
Estimated dispatch 7-14 working days
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£202.99Missa Tornacum - AndrĂ© Waignein
Flicien Doyen, the President of the Tornacum Royal Choir Circle of Tournai (Belgium) and a close friend of the composer commissioned this Mass. Missa Tornacum was originally composed for mixed choir and organ, gave a memorable performance of thepiece in the Chartres Cathedral in France.Although it does not include the Credo, the work is composed according to the traditional structure of a Mass in five parts : Kyrie, Gloria, Sanctus, Agnus Dei, and Ite missa est. En the first two parts, adialogue is created between the choir and the band. It is followed by the Sanctus cycle ("Sanctus" - "Hosanna" - "Benedictus"), which is remarkable for the contrasts between the tone colorscharacterizing each of its three parts. The fourth part,Agnus Dei, takes on a tone of serene intimacy. A free counterpoint draws this section to a close by fading into an almost imperceptible quietness. Ite missa est begins with a series of imitations, which develop into a majestic and cheerful passagemarking the end of the Mass. Choir parts are available separately.
Estimated dispatch 7-14 working days
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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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£65.99Spirit of the Winds - Robert W. Smith
Spirit of the Winds, a concert/festival work for the developing band, was inspired by the beautiful Temecula Valley of California. Each year, the sky over the valley is filled with hot air balloons creating a visual sight that is not soon forgotten. Of course, balloons are unable to "steer" and must fly with the gentle breezes of the air current. As a result, those subject to the "spirit of the winds" can find themselves over festival grounds or floating above the beautiful Temecula Valley vineyards. Beginning with a bold, yet mysterious statement, the introduction gives way to a soaring melody as our flight begins. Cascading figures in the woodwinds create the effect of wind currents followed by a beautiful secondary melodic statement. The original theme returns leading to a very energetic conclusion. Accessible to a wide range of concert bands, Spirit of the Winds provides multiple teaching opportunities and will be enjoyed by both performer and audience.
Estimated dispatch 7-14 working days
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£121.00Cityscapes - Rob Romeyn
Rob Romeyn's "Cityscapes" is a brilliantly programmatic and celebratory concert opener for mature ensembles. Audiences will be mesmerized by the sparkling opening measures depicting the hustle and bustle of a large city. Our journey continues with a sensitive and expressive section depicting a sunset over downtown, then leads to a section of building intensity and power, creating an incredible climax. From here, the intensity subsides, building imagery of the beautiful scenes of what a large city has to offer. The piece develops further, eliciting an ending of immense emotion and power as our journey concludes. A part for optional piano is included. A valuable addition to the repertoire for more experienced ensembles, "Cityscapes" is sure to impress!This work is not yet in print. Please check back later to view the conductor score and for purchasing information. In the meantime, please enjoy this recording performed by The Washington Winds, conducted by Edward S. Petersen.
Estimated dispatch 7-14 working days
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£154.99Symphonic Variations - Jacob de Haan
This composition is based on a passacaglia theme, in which artistic perfection, symphonic drama and oriental melody lines play a role. The passacaglia is originally a dance made up of a series of variations above a bass line constantly present as an ostinato. It is not in this sense that the "Symphonic Variations" are in the passacaglia form but in the sense of the open form of the variations. Jacob de Haan, himself originally an organist, took his inspiration for this piece from the famous passacaglia for organ in C-minor by J.S. Bach. Following the introduction of the passacaglia theme (in the bass) the entry by the trumpets and trombones forms the majestic start to amusical adventure, in which this theme (often fragmentary) returns in variations. Then there follow two faster movements with dramatic contrasts and virtuose passages. Particularly striking here is the use of two characteristic intervals from the beginning of the theme namely the minor second and the augmented fourth. An apause in the composition comes in the slow bridge where a syncopated bourdon (perfect fifth) is constantly repeated. The tension grows in dynamics and harmony, and the oriental-flavour becomes obvious in the melody. We arrive at a faster movement via an accelerando, in which a perpetuum mobile based on the passacaglia theme is central. Finally the whole flows into a martial theme, in which the ostinato accompaniment n the descant derives from the passacaglia theme.
Estimated dispatch 7-14 working days
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£204.99
Credentium - Jan van der Roost
A spectacular dive via an extended chromatic scale immediately submerges us in a charged and somewhat archaic-feeling atmosphere. Trumpets, horns and trombones resound in rhythmic patterns, buttressed by restless motifs in the percussion. A second theme, in the woodwinds, begins much calmer but is quickly pushed aside by that same brass offensive. This introduction is the musical expression of the sometimes tumultuous early history of the town of Peer in Belgium. It closes with a D scale played over two octaves and repeated three times, symbolizing the church steeples that dominate the townscape. Peer has the credentials of a town, and people should know about it.There followsa rhythmic, turbulent passage: in the course of history, Peer has not been spared the ravages of war, arson, occupation, epidemic and other evils. In contrast, a slow, pastoral, lyrical part expresses the periods of peace and prosperity the town has known, as well as the serene geographic setting that still characterizes the place. Various instruments in groups are developed in solo style while the accompaniment displays vast, painterly images of sound. Now and then an exotic intonation is heard: a variety of peoples and cultures have left their mark on the town.This episode of tranquility and peacefulness comes to a sudden end when, via a surprising, almost chaotic transitional passage, we are in effect transported back to our own time. A hopeful, festive march expresses the confidence in the future that the Royal Concert Band of Peer exudes. This confidence is wholly justified: under the direction of conductor Willy Fransen, the 95 members of the concert band have experienced an extended period of good fortune, and the 75 musicians of the youth band - and the 45 little musicians of the mini-band - are involved in thriving operations.
Estimated dispatch 7-14 working days
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£75.00Sonata - Derek Bourgeois
This work, composed in 1998, was commissioned by the American trombonist Don Lucas as a work for trombone and piano and first performed by him in Birmingham on 19th May 2000. Subsequently, I arranged the music for both solo trombone and brass band and solo trombone and wind band so that it now exists in three formats. The first movement, in B flat major, is brisk and energetic, and is cast in sonata form. The second subject is gentler and more lyrical. The second movement, a scherzo in C major, is the most complex of the four. Basically the structure is a rond. For a long time the music remains in the opening 5/8 time until a new theme introduces more broken rhythms in a more jazzy idiom. After a return of the opening theme the following episode is more tonally ambiguous. Finally, the main theme returns to round off the movement. The third movement, a lyrical adagio, is really one long extended melodic flow. The harmonies are lush and the textures simple and direct. The tonal center is A minor, but the music meanders through so many keys, that this key centre is heavily disguised. The finale is a fiery affair. G minor is really its home key, but throughout the movement the music moves about a lot and the second subject is first heard in A flat minor. The movement's underlying sonata structure is masked not only by its loose tonality but also by its frequently changing time signatures. Like the first movement the second subject is more lyrical in nature and for a while it seems that the music will end peacefully, but a final flurry heralds a triple forte unison on the home note of the first movement - B flat. Derek Bourgeois
Estimated dispatch 7-14 working days
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£121.00Third Vortex - Roland Barrett
From the creative pen of this talented young composer, we have Barretts latest contribution to the exciting contemporary literature for band. While not technically difficult, this work is extremely effective, as it presents four contrasting musical sections beginning with The Summoning, which opens with a very commanding tutti entrance that evolves into a quieter, mysterious section, then develops with a sense of urgency into a very strong dynamic ending. This is followed by Fear, a dramatic section with extensive use of percussion, leading to The Eye of the Vortex, beginning quietly, as it starts to develop to a great dynamic climax followed immediately by a serene quietness that leads to the final section, Fury, ending with a dramatic and furious finale. An exceptional, adventuresome new work!
Estimated dispatch 7-14 working days
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£91.99
Forged in Fire - Rob Romeyn
An epic programmatic piece, "Forged In Fire" is a work of vibrant energy, vivid color and immense power. It draws inspiration from the immense power and uses of fire, and its effect on early civilization and industrialization. A calm and sensitive introductions leads to a new theme at a quickening tempo. This theme, stated simply at first, is then embellished by a driving rhythm multi-meter effect, and further developed with layered contemporary harmonies, changing textures and variations on the theme. After a breathtaking climax, the original theme is restated, more powerfully this time. It then subsides, before building to a shimmering, red hot ending that will leave your audience breathless. Certain to become a mainstay for concert and festival use. Not to be missed!
Estimated dispatch 7-14 working days
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