Results
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£228.70Reflections - Suite on a Norwegian Folk Tune - John Brakstad
The suite is constructed around a Norwegian folk tune. The melody is called "Dark Forebodings", and the words of the song revolve around thoughts and reflections on a future that can take unexpected, insecure, or perhaps dramatic and tragic turns.This is essentially a sad song with a beautiful melody. The folk tune itself is presented in the 2nd movement. In the 1st movement, the folk tune is joined with fleeting themes that indicate the unexpected; as if the music sometimesis confused as to which way to go. There are constant changes in atmosphere and feeling, from the harsh and dissonant, to the harmonious and melodic. The 3rd movement presents a more lively variant of thefolk tune, showing optimism andhappiness, even though the "halting" character of the rhythm underscores the unpredictable. The title "Reflections", therefore, refers to thoughts we can have about life. To the Conductor:The 2nd movement has an alternativeending which is may be used if the movement is played as an independent lyrical piece in a concert.It is advisable to begin first rehersal with the 2nd movement so that the main theme is known, before beginning on the 1st movement with itsmore semi-tonal parts. Intervals and intonation can provide much of the challenge in this movement.The 3rd movement can be more technically challenging, but there is considerable leeway in the tempo marking! It is important to maintain theenergy and intensity of the music through the whole movement.
Estimated dispatch 7-14 working days
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£228.70Celebration for Band - John Brakstad
Many Norwegian bands have grown up around factories, but Norwegian factories are often located in the countrysides - by a fjord or lake, by a river or waterfall that provided power for the factory. The factory was the foundation for the existence of the community, but it was also essential for the community's cultural life, choirs, bands etc. (cp. British brass bands and mining). "Celebration for band" tries to give a picture of the environment and life around a band like this, with both factory noise and the natural world (Pastorale), as well as the challenges and development of the band itself. The composition is built up of five connected episodes: - Fanfare and Prologue (concludes with a feeling of the untamed power of the river) - Pastorale I: " At the river" - Intermezzo: " The Factory" (starts with the opening of water for the turbines: snare drum. Factory whistle and bell call to work, and the spinning and weaving machinery starts up.) - Pastorale II: " Summer evening on the fjord." - Finale: " Challenge and Progress"
Estimated dispatch 7-14 working days
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£93.50Christmas Morning - Gene Milford
Allow arranger Gene Milford to transport you to that wonderful feeling of sitting around the tree on Christmas morning! Christmas Morning (Around the Christmas Tree) is an excellent choice for holiday concerts.
Estimated dispatch 7-14 working days
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£84.99Song of Hope - Johan Nijs
Song of Hope is built up around a main theme with some small motifs woven around it. With this quiet, delicate work, the Belgian composer Johan Nijs has reflected hope of peace in the future. The profound melody reminds us of the fact that a moment's rest is wonderful in the hustle and bustle of our stressful existence. Why not calm down your concert mood with this highly atmospheric work.
Estimated dispatch 7-14 working days
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£106.99Dance of the Whale - Philip Sparke
Dance of the Whale was commissioned by the Spanish music foundation, Musica et Orbi, at the instigation of its president, Frank De Vuyst. It is part of a unique project which involved nine composers each writing a short movement, describing ananimal of the composers' choice, to form a suite called Bestiarium. A consortium of bands around the world helped to fund the project and the world premiere of the suite took place in March 2013 in Medell n, Colombia. Dance of the Whaleuses the tenor instruments of the band to describe a lazy and graceful dance by a blue whale and is dedicated to endangered species around the world.
Estimated dispatch 7-14 working days
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£149.99Jericho - Bert Appermont
Jericho is the musical translation of the well-known story from the book of Joshua about the capture of the city of Jericho by the Israelites.Part 1 depicts the cruel journey through the desert to Canaan, the promised land. An emotional lamentation for the yearning for a home, for the end of a roaming existence.The capture of Jericho is the theme of part 2. The city cannot be captured immediately and Jehovah orders an impressive army to march around the city for six days. On the seventh day, they marched around the city seven times and the priests blew their trumpets and the people cried so loud that the walls of Jericho came tumbling down. The Jews stormed the city and drove theinhabitants away. The music clearly reveals the marching army and you can hear the walls falling down with a tremendous noise. However, there is quite some artistic freedom in the actual story.A majestic and grand melody subsequently evokes the triumphant emotions that emerged as the fortified city fell (part 3).Following a personal and romantic interpretation, the scene ultimately ends in a typical Jewish feast (part 4) whereby the virtuosity of melodies played by the woodwinds and the passionate rhythms refer to traditional Jewish music. All themes are repeated in this last part in various forms, often simultaneous and in duelling counterpoint. The piece ends with fragments from the main theme of part 1 in major: peace and quiet return at last.
Estimated dispatch 7-14 working days
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£76.40Postcard from Beijing - Dirk Brossé
Sir Dirk Bross, music director at the Philadelphia Chamber Orchestra, is a versatile composer of orchestral and symphonic repertoire, chamber music, film & musical. His compositions are performed worldwide by the most prominent orchestras and soloists. About the new series of 10 "Musical Postcards" for wind band, Dirk says the following: "Composing is a commitment; it is my life's mission. For me composing means creating a vacuum around myself and allowing myself to be submerged by impressions. It is a continual struggle between fantasy and reality, between dream and reality. Out of chaos of sounds and emotions I try to order my thoughts by juggling shreds of melodies, original chords, striking sound colours and alternating rhythms. Melody, harmony, rhythm and sound colours are finally balanced to generate a harmonious universe. This series of ten 'Musical Postcards' are a reflection of my travels, thoughts, discoveries and musical career so far, which has brought me around the globe. I look forward to you joining me on this voyage of discovery..."
Estimated dispatch 7-14 working days
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£174.99The Legend of Flathead Lake - Carl Wittrock
In Scotland, the monster of Loch Ness is a hot issue, but the American state of Montana enjoys a comparable phenomenon going by the name of Montana Nessie. In the western part of this remote state lies Flathead Lake: a lake of 45 kilometres /38miles in lenght and 24 kilometres /15 miles breath. At several places, its depth exeeds 100 metres.Nessies discovery takes us back to the year 1889, when captain James Kerr aboard the passengership U.S.Grant was startled by a ship unknown to himsuddenly approaching his vessel across Flathead Lake. However, it turned out not to be a ship but an undefinable animal of immense size.From that moment onwards, life would never be the same again in and around Flathead Lake.The composer wasinspired by the story, and summarized the events into a symphonic poem, but from a surprising angle:that of the monster. The exiting opening allows us to follow the monster in its natural surroundings.The fast follow-up movement depictsMontana Nessie trotting and frolicking about the Montana woods and prairies.From its abode, it thorougly enjoys everything around it. This period abruptly ends in a short climax (Chimes). The solo for cor anglais marks a new period in themonsters life.The presence of people has a paralizing effect and the apprehensive atmosphere of the slow movement may be felt profoundly.The monster observes and mildly teases the ship. Abhor sounds force the ship to a withdrawal.The movingmusical continuation depicts the triumphant monster dancing an ironic waltz. The monsters fear and anger at the intrusion of his freedom run through the piece like continuous threads, and develop into the works final theme.
Estimated dispatch 7-14 working days
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£53.50Aztalan (City of Mystery) - Michael Sweeney
The ancient city of Aztalan existed around a thousand years ago in southern Wisconsin, but disappeared mysteriously by around A.D. 1300. Through careful use of tone clusters, haunting melodies and creative percussion effects, thisvery easy work for band portrays a sense of mystery and drama. Dur: 2:45 (Grade 1-1/2)
Estimated dispatch 7-14 working days
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£159.20
Chasing the Mystery - Kevin Houben
Commissioned by KU Leuven on the occasion of the 600th anniversary of KU Leuven.Chasing the MysteryKevin HoubenDedicated to the Wind Orchestra Universitair Harmonieorkest (UHO) of KU Leuven.Chasing the Mystery is the final movement of the triptych Beyond the Horizon of Thought.On the occasion of KU Leuven's 600th anniversary in 2025, the university commissioned Kevin Houben to compose a new work tailored to the Universitair Symfonisch Orkest, the Universitair Harmonieorkest and the Leuvens Universitair Koor. Maud Vanhauwaert, writer-in-residence during the 2023-2024 academic year, provided a poetic libretto.With Beyond the Horizon of Thought, Kevin Houben created not only a unique anniversary composition for more than 250 student musicians. The composition also conveys a universal message that perfectly reflects the spirit of the celebrating university: keep searching, keep developing yourself and keep hoping - even in turbulent times.From a compositional perspective, the work is built around themes and motifs with a clear symbolism. Kevin Houben explains: "I use a technique in which letters are converted into musical notes - a method also used by great masters such as Bach, Bartk and Shostakovich. This musical signature forms the basis of the melodic structure. In this way, 'KUL600' is represented by the notes D - G - E - F (re - sol - mi - fa)."The composition is conceived as a triptych: three movements that flow seamlessly into one another and are performed by different orchestral formations, yet together form a single whole. The work opens with the symphony orchestra, where the thematic 'KUL600' cells are introduced and explored. In this movement, Awakening the Wonder, several highlights establish a musical connection with the following movements.In the second movement, The Urge of Search, the choir sings a cappella to the poem Het is het by Maud Vanhauwaert, in which she reflects on the tireless quest for knowledge that has characterized the university for 600 years. Classical Gregorian techniques and traditional voice leading enter into dialogue with contemporary techniques, as the singers alternately whisper, call out and proclaim.Finally, the wind orchestra introduces the third movement, Chasing the Mystery. With a searching and anticipatory character, the orchestra presents the thematic cells in soloistic fashion, based on the main melody of the choral movement. References once again appear to the rhythmic 'KUL600' cells, which ultimately culminate in a grand apotheosis. A solitary soprano saxophone opens the finale with the 'KUL600' theme in its most intimate and meditative form. The expanded choir then joins the orchestra for an impressive final chord, musically preparing KU Leuven for the next 600 years.Beyond the Horizon of Thought premiered on Wednesday 23 and Thursday 24 April 2025 at LUCA Campus Lemmens, and was also performed on 9 May 2025 at Concertgebouw Brugge on the occasion of the 600th anniversary of KU Leuven. More than 250 musicians from the Universitair Symfonisch Orkest (USO) conducted by Edmond Saveniers, the Leuvens Universitair Koor (LUK) conducted by Kevin Hendrickx, and the Universitair Harmonieorkest (UHO) conducted by Erwin Scheltjens shared the stage.Cover illustration design: Grotezk Studio.
Estimated dispatch 7-14 working days
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