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£75.50The Dream of Tiberius - David Campo
The Roman Emperor Tiberius was born in 42 BCE to Tiberius Claudius Nero and Livia Drusilla, both descendants of prestigious political families, at a time when Rome was undergoing significant political upheaval. Julius Caesar had begun a brutal civil war in 49 BCE to end Rome's rule as a Republic and consolidate his power as supreme ruler. Following Caeser's assassination in 44 BCE, Tiberius' father backed the forces wishing to return Rome to a Republic, but they were defeated by Caesarian loyalists led by Caeser's heir Octavian. As a result, Tiberius' early life was spent on the run and in political exile with his parents. In 27 BCE, Octavian would become the first Emporer of Rome and assume the name Augustus. Augustus forced Tiberius' parents to divorce and took Tiberius' mother as his new bride, separating the family and forcing Tiberius to live with his father. Upon his father's death, Tiberius went to live with his mother and Emporer Augustus, a situation Tiberius found extremely uncomfortable but one over which he had no control. Having been adopted by the Emperor, Tiberius assumed the military and political life thrust upon him. He proved to be an outstanding military and political leader, and with his marriage to Vipsania Agrippina his life took on a heretofore unknown stability. However, Augustus would intervene in Tiberius' life once more, forcing him to abandon his happy marriage and take Augustus' daughter Julia (Tiberius' step sister) as his new wife. This arrangement, while securing Tiberius' place as Augustus' heir and ensuring he would one day be Emperor of Rome, was disastrous. Julia's drunken licentiousness was a constant source of scandal and embarrassment for Tiberius (and her father, the Emperor) and she was eventually exiled by her father Augustus. Tiberius was named Emperor of Rome upon the death of Augustus in AD 14, assuming his position as the most powerful man on Earth. However, no matter how powerful he had become, Tiberius never felt as if he had ever had any control over his life, having been manipulated from childhood through adulthood by the whims of Augustus. As Emperor, he soon became disgusted with the political intrigue of the Roman Senate and by AD 26 left Rome and took up residence on the island of Capri, where he lived out the rest of his life. History does not regard Tiberius fondly and by all accounts towards the end of his reclusive life on Capri, he had become a miserable, sick and mentally unstable old man reveling in debauchery and cruelty. It is also informative to note that he was Emperor of Rome when Jesus of Nazareth was crucified, and while there is no indication that Tiberius was even aware of the existence of Jesus, as Emperor he was responsible for the appointment of Pontius Pilate as Governor of Judea. Even considering this, it is difficult to look on the life of the Emperor Tiberius and not feel some sympathy and pity. It's in this spirit that I composed "The Dream of Tiberius." I imagine the man sitting in thoughtful seclusion on the beautiful island of Capri imagining what his life might have happily been had not power been thrust upon him: husband, father and humble servant of the people.
Estimated dispatch 7-14 working days
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£274.99Symphony No. 2: States Of Mind, Opus 87 - Teo Aparicio-Barberán
I- Logos (reason)II- Pathos (emotion)III- Ethos (credibility)The ancient Greeks believed that music shaped the character of man. In Egyptian temples, music was an essential part of the magical rites to alter the course of nature or to treat illness.And today we know that sound can actually alter matter. The secret of music lies in harmony and mathematics, as many great musicians and experts have always known.One of the most important qualities of music is that it enables the listener to focushis attention inwards instead of on what is around him. It is indisputable that music can inspire emotion. Music leads us into a universe of emotions that are difficult to put into words. In short, music reaches into corners of our soul and thoughtsthat words cannot reach and makes it possible to more clearly describe these different States of mind.The composer of this symphony also believes that each "musical argument" must be constructed so that it will induce the desired reaction in thelistener.Music: more than wordsIn recent times, most orchestral symphonies have been based on a story, a text or something similar so that their composition must be structured accordingly.The intention of this work by Teo Aparicio-Barbern is quitedifferent. The composer describes the three elements of the argument as the only formal structure of the work. Since certain philosophers in world history were able to subdivide grammatical argument, why shouldnt that also be possible for the musicalargument?Since ancient times the power of the spoken word has captivated mankind. How can an argument move people and mobilise the masses? Where does the power of words come from today? The answer lays not so much in what people say but in how theysay it.Rhetoric is one of the oldest humanist disciplines in Western civilisation. Aristotle, in the 4th century BC, called it the art of persuasion. Indeed, the terms rhetoric and persuasion are mutually interchangeable.More than 2000 years agoAristotle structured his rhetoric according to the following three elements: the logos, the pathos and the ethos.Logos (words, reason) is the reasoning that gives freedom to the structure of the text by expressing what one wishes to say usingspecialist terms. With logos we create arguments to receive public approval and to defend our ideas.Pathos, the second element, refers to the effective use of public psychology. Pathos can be considered as the capacity to induce the desired emotionalresponse in the public, by creating an emotional connection with the public so that they accept our message.The third element, ethos (credibility), refers to the character of the speaker and is perhaps the most important of the three elements.Aristotle based his concept of ethos upon his belief that truth and justice will always have the upper hand over anger. He believed that what was true and good was easier to prove and was more persuasive.This second orchestral symphony from thecomposer from Enguera follows these three parameters of the argument according to Aristotle. Each movement tries to summon a different state of mind in the listener so that the message itself can be better understood and appreciated. Apart from thesethree general concepts the music is only structured, as Claude Debussy would say, in a "formative way".The first movement, logos, is based on a scherzo melody that undergoes various changes in rhythm and harmony. The arguments are presented by meansof conventional techniques of composition. The second movement, pathos, is characterised by suggestions of sound. It is subdivided into two large parts. The first part is based on a five seven sequence with five sounds that are repeated in differentenvironments, structures and dynamics. The second part, which is largely tonal, brings out more directly the emotional overtones that each argument must have. The third movement, ethos, is a faithful rendition of the composers personality. In thislast part, clear rhythmic sequences stand out, there are large dynamic contrasts and lots of tone variation. In addition, and this is quite in keeping with the composers earlier work, the harmony in States of Mind is handled in a manner that is bothoriginal and efficient, as a result of which Aparicio-Barberns message is well understood by the listener.This second symphony by Teo Aparicio-Barbern is devoted to "my dear Henrie Adams, a guiding light in this eternally dark musical world. Thankyou for everything."
Estimated dispatch 7-14 working days
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£349.99Gloriosa - Symphonic Poem for Band (Complete) - Yasuhide Ito
A new acquisition by Bravo Music, this fresh printing of the 1990 masterwork by Yasuhide Ito features a newly engraved score, improved parts, good availability and value. This stirring and powerful homage to early Christianity in Japan profoundly and eloquently states the case of cross-cultural conflict and resolution.I. OratioThe Gregorian chant "Gloriosa" begins with the words, "O gloriosa Domina excelsa super sidera que te creavit provide lactasti sacro ubere." The first movement Oratio opens with bells sounding the hymn's initial phrases. The movement as a whole evokes the fervent prayers and suffering of the Crypto-Christians.II. CantusIII. Dies FestusCommissioned in 1989 and premiered in 1990 by the Sasebo Band of the Maritime Self-Defense Force of Kyushu, southern Japan.Gloriosa is inspired by the songs of the Kakure-Kirishitan (Crypto-Christians) of Kyushu who continued to practice their faith surreptitiously after the ban of Christianity, which had been introduced to that southern region in the mid-16th century by Roman Catholic missionary Francisco Xavier. The worship brought with it a variety of western music.Though Christianity was proscribed in 1612 by authority of the Tokugawa Shogunate in Edo (today Tokyo), Kakure-Kirishitan continued advocating sermons and disguised songs. Melodies and lyrics such as Gregorian chant were obliged to be "Japanized". For example, the Latin word "Gloriosa" was changed to "Gururiyoza." This adaptation of liturgy for survival inspired Ito to write this piece in order to reveal and solve this unique cultural mystery.The composer explains:"Nagasaki district in Kyushu region continued to accept foreign culture even during the seclusion period, as Japan's only window to the outer world. After the proscription of Christianity, the faith was preserved and handed down in secret in the Nagasaki and Shimabara areas of Kyushu region. My interest was piqued by the way in which the Latin words of Gregorian chants were gradually `Japanized' during the 200 years of hidden practice of the Christian faith. That music forms the basis of Gloriosa."Gloriosa, fusing Gregorian chant and Japanese folk music, displays the most sophisticated counterpoint yet found in any Japanese composition for wind orchestra.
Estimated dispatch 7-14 working days
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£139.99
Cobra - Jan Bosveld
Shortly after the Second World War, a combative movement of Danish, Belgian and Dutch artists chose the cobra snake - extremely dangerous yet considered sacred - as a symbol of their resistance to strict guideliness of form. The name "Cobra" also happens to contain the first letters of the cities Copenhagen, Brussels ans Amsterdam, from where most of the movement's members came. The Cobra movement, which existed from November 1948 until November 1951, can with some justicication be called the last major avant-garde movement of the 20th century.The source of inspiration for the composition Cobra comes from four paintings: "Obhobning" by the Dane Egill Jacobsen; "La jeune fille et lamort" by the Belgian Pierre Alechinsky; "Orgeldraaier" and "Le rythme joyeux de la ville" by the Dutch artists Karel Appel and Corneille. Obhobning means "pile-up", which is represented musically in the first part by a melodic and harmonic pilling up of perfect fourth's. The first part is also characterized by a rhythmic feeling, which the painting gives through its use of numerous black stripes. In the painting La jeune fille et la mort, Pierre Alechinsky places a young girl opposite Death. The second part features the constantly pulsating motion of live while a creeping, dark, melodic line develops. The tension between life and death is tangible as a battle reveals itself. In part three, one hears the Orgeldraaier by Karel Appel, as cheerful and playful as an organ grinder's music. The painting Le rythme joyeux de la ville by Corneille is busy and extremely dynamic, a perfect source of inspiration for a powerful, rhythmic ending to this composition.
Estimated dispatch 7-14 working days
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£149.99Moses and Ramses - Satoshi Yagisawa
This piece was commissioned by Matsudo Citizen Wind Orchestra for their 30th anniversary concert and premired by the band conducted by Kenichiro Hasunuma in July 2009. This piece is typical of Satoshi Yagisawa in that it depicts a magnificent spectacle. This one is set in ancient Egypt and is based on the story depicted in the famous film "The Ten Commandments" (1956, directed by Cecil B. DeMille). One day Moses, who was raised by the rich royal family, found out that he was originally Hebrew. The Hebrews had been forced to live as slaves. Ramses, the prince directly descended from the Pharaoh, envied Moses' strength and popularity. After internal argument Moses decides todeliver the Hebrew from the Pharaoh's tyranny and escape from Egypt with them.The music starts with brilliant royal fanfare and depicts magnificent architecture, the Hebrew people forced into hard labour, and the slaves escaping from the Pharaoh's tyranny. At the climax they are at crisis point, trapped by the sea. Moses waves his staff and the miracle happens; the sea parts and Hebrew people successfully escape. Following on from Perseus - A Hero's Quest in the Heavens, this work Moses and Ramses is another piece written in the dramatic style favoured by Satoshi Yagisawa.
Estimated dispatch 7-14 working days
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£159.60Sci-Fi Suite of Dances - Bernhard Bogisch
1. Harvest Dance - Phoeboia II Like many of the inhabited planets Phoebia II was first colonized by the survivors of a spaceship crash. There is no certainty as to where these survivors originated from. In the late 21st century many spaceship were launched manned by people who were looking for a new future, away from an over-populated Earth. Some succeeded, some managed to return, some were never heard of again. In 2311 a survey ship had to make an emergency landing on Phoebia II and they found a triving colony there. Although the early history of the colony is shrouded in antiquity, certain aspects of the language, as well as physical features, seem to point to a south-east European origin. The harvest dance, in the aspects of rhythm, melody and harmony has many things in common with the music of what once were the countries of Macedonia, Greece and Turkey, little of which has unfortunately, been left due to primitive recording methods of the period.2. Ritual Seduction Dance - Rugel VWhen first discovered Rugel V was already a very civilized planet populated by a humanoid race and governed by a class of superior females. The first settlers from Earth were held as slaves but gained freedom over the years. It is assumed that this happened because the Earth people were all male and considered very attractive by the native females in comparison with the aboriginal males. The Earth males were evidently very attractive to the native women, who on their part used all their womanly wiles to entice them. We all know that Rugel V is now a very advanced and totally integrated society. The people have not forgotten their roots, and these Ritual Seduction Dances are performed on a regular basis in commemoration of the original Grand Seduction. Musically speaking Romanian origin influenced by native characteristics is virtually certain.3. Attack Dance - Planet Khi't'onThis is the only dance in this suite that is purely native. The natives people know as Khi't'och are now very civilized, but initial contact was difficult due to the difference in physical make-up between the two peoples. Suffice it to say that in the early stages Earth people referred to the Khi't'och as 'mosquito people'. We still don't know very much about them, other then that they have a history of violence but are now quite peaceful although they love to relive their past in a stylised way, not unlike the Maories of the former New Zealand, whose fearsome tattoos were later only painted on. This Attack Dance is, at best, an imitation due to the lack native instruments, and it was a very happy occasion for this composer when, at a concert at the House of Culture on Khi't'on, the Khi't'och showed their appreciation by clicking their feeding tubes and emitting loud shouts.4. Wedding Dance and Prayer - Planet B'lGarThere is little doubt that the people of this planet originate in the former country of Bulgaria. Several examples of similar pieces featuring the quaint 11/8 time signature have been found in old archives and recordings. Russian influence is also noticeable in the prayer the style of which is reminiscent of that of the now extinct sect of Raskolniky.
Estimated dispatch 7-14 working days
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£106.99Lady Claus - Thierry Deleruyelle
The Christmas festive season is a time for sharing the most wonderful stories. There are few female characters in these tales. And yet, they do exist in many countries. In Italy, Mother Christmas is associated with the Befana; in Russia with Babushka; and with Lucia in Scandinavia, Frau Holle in Germany, Mari Lwyd in Wales, and Tante Arie in France. What these women have in common is that they too hand out presents to children.The music begins with a majestic introduction that draws us into the heart of the Christmas legends. The timpani and sleigh bells then launch into a fast, joyful, and dynamic section. Finally, the music softens. A Christmas chorale is first played by the brass section, then taken up by the woodwinds. The piece ends in a hushed atmosphere, as if all that remained was a Christmas tree twinkling in the darkness.Lady Claus was commissioned by the Montbliard Municipal Wind Band, conducted by Laurent Zemp, to mark its 150th anniversary. This work pays tribute to those legendary women who contribute to the beauty and magic of Christmas, not only by delivering presents but also by passing on the human values they embody.[
Estimated dispatch 7-14 working days
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£109.60Ancient Tales - Kevin Houben
Ancient Tales Commissioned by Fanfare Ellona Ell (NL) in honor of their centennial anniversary 2023 Ancient Tales was written by composer Kevin Houben in honour of the 100th anniversary of Fanfare Ellona, an authentic village association from Ell that values fun and fellowship. The piece is a musical representation of some of the legends and sagas that took place in and around the rural village of Ell, which probably owes its name to the many alder trees that defined the landscape around the 15th century. The somewhat mysterious opening of this work refers to the story of the sunken church in the Weerbroekskuil, where, according to the legend, bells are heard ringing on Christmas night and spirits in the form of lights are seen flying above the swamp. Presented here is the chorale that Houben composed for this work, which is woven like a thread throughout the composition in the form of melodic cells and motivic developments. Subsequently, the work continues with cheerful, energetic passages that are alternated with lyrical and more quiet sections. With some surprising melodic twists and metrical variations, Houben gives a nod to the turbulent history the citizens of Ell knew at the time of the 80-year war when the peasant country was plagued by marauding soldiers and gangs of thugs. By building the Ellerschans the people of Ell showed their resilience, to which the composer refers by constantly returning to cheerful and danceable themes which, thanks to the refreshing choice of metre, give the whole a cheerful character. Ancient Tales is a charming and energetic composition that triggers the enjoyment of playing of many orchestra members and will appeal to a wide audience. Moreover, the work offers every group of instruments sufficient challenge, making it suitable as a competition piece. Hence, Ancient Times was selected by Vlamo as compulsory test piece for the VLOF 2024.
Estimated dispatch 7-14 working days
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£189.99Bassoon Concerto - Carl Maria von Weber
This work by Carl Maria von Weber and the BASSOON CONCERTO by W. A. Mozart are the two concertos most often played in the bassoon repertory. The late William Waterhouse asserted: The bassoon concerto by Weber ranks second only to that of Mozart in importance. The concertos by Mozart and Weber were in the repertoire used for the famous playing exams at the Paris Conservatoire, along with newly commissioned works by French composers. This transcription of the Weber for bassoon and small wind band has been completed by R. Mark Rogers.
Estimated dispatch 7-14 working days
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£193.20CASTRVM - Lionel Beltrán-Cecilia
CASTRVM is a symphonic episode inspired by four of the main civilizations that have coexisted over time in Ulldecona's Castle. With its melodies and sound effects, the composer tries to transport the listener through a trip to four uninterrupted movements, from the beginnings of this small settlement, creating a natural atmosphere recreated by the voice and the singing of birds to take us into the history with the first inhabitants, the Iberians, giving strength to the introduction of the composition, to move on to the time of the Andalusians, which with a melody in the form of a dance marked by percussion will transport us to take a walk in the surroundings of its circular tower. Next, and with strength, we arrive at the medieval and Christian period, marked in the score by the brass instruments, in this fragment we find moments that take us into the church of "Santa Mara de los ngeles", with melodies that evoke resonance and pomposity, continuing until we find the immense square tower, symbol of the fortress and homage, finally used as a prison and arsenal of those times. Then, there is a small slow march that will move us to some measures of strong stridency to finish with the whole section of low brass having its great moment of prominence, down to we reach the last part, Qna, a name that is recited during the musical piece and one of the names given in the past to the area that could be seen from the castle, where the change of location of the new town is recreated leaving the castle site, but always looking at it with respect and admiration as at the beginning of what is now the current Ulldecona, in this part, the composer plays a bit with a very well-known and significant melody for the inhabitants of Ulldecona, the "Jota Vieja", first making a reflex effect of all its melody and then only with the first six notes of this one, which builds a bridge until reaching the march and, later, the grand finale of this symphonic episode. The work was commissioned by Ulldecona Town Council and the Ulldecona Music Band, led by its conductor Joan Nadal i Girona, to commemorate the 800th anniversary of the donation of the Town Charter of Ulldecona "the old" (1222-2022), as part of the PATRIMONIUM 20.22 programme, "La Banda (Sonora) del Castell" (The soundtrack of the Castle).CASTRVM consists of: I.Iberians: stone and ironII.AndalusiansIII.The square tower: fortress and homageIV.Qna
Estimated dispatch 7-14 working days
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