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£134.99Continental Overture - Johan de Meij
The Continental Overture was commissioned by the California Band Directors Association [CBDA] and was premiered on February 23rd 1997 at the 40th annual CBDA Conference in Bakersfield [CA] by the California All State Symphonic Band, conducted by the composer. It is a short, dynamic work full of energy and spirit, with a melodic middle section and a spectacular ending. The composer does not try to hide his continental roots: several influences by some of the great European composers can be recognised.
Estimated dispatch 7-14 working days
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£102.99
The King's March - Søren Hyldgaard
This lively new work, expertly arranged by Johan de Meij, is taken from the soundtrack of the recently released animated film Till Eulenspiegel. In writing the music for the film the composer, Sren Hyldgaard, said: "Writing music for an animated adventure romp like Till Eulenspiegel is about as much fun as I can imagine having as a composer.While extremely challenging on the timing and hitting-the-action side, the furious universe of the animated adventure genre is as much an inspiration as it is an obstacle." The King's March from Till Eulenspiegel captures the high spirits of the film itself with the arrival of the extravagant entourage containing the royal carriage with all itsPomp and Circumstance.
Estimated dispatch 7-14 working days
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£79.99To a Wild Rose - Edward MacDowell
Edward MacDowell can be regarded as the first great American composer, although he disliked the idea of being classified as any sort of musical nationalist. He composed a large number of orchestral works but it is the charming and unpretentious suite of musical miniatures, Woodland Sketches, that has survived as his best-known work, with To a Wild Rose being the most popular. Philip Sparke has expertly arranged this simple work for concert band.
Estimated dispatch 7-14 working days
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£106.99Ten Chorale Preludes - Max Reger
During his short lifetime Max Reger (1873-1916) was a prolific composer with many of his best known works being composed for organ. The ten chorale preludes in this selection are from his set of Thirty Short Chorale Preludes Op.135a composed as short voluntaries for liturgical use rather than for recitals in these arrangements Philip Sparke has kept this in mind and each prelude can be performed with minimal instrumentation for those occasions where a small band is needed. They also make great pieces for band warm-ups or studies in intonation, sound and balance.
Estimated dispatch 7-14 working days
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£149.99Out of the Darkness, into the Light - Philip Sparke
Out of the Darkness, Into the Light is about optimism. All of us experience disappointments in our lives, such failed relationships or the loss of loved ones, but the indomitability of the human spirit allows us to overcome such set backs and get through the darker moments. For some, faith and religion may be the answer, but this piece is more about the internal strength that we can all call upon.Opening in sombre mood, the first phase of the work symbolises the doubts we all have about ourselves and our lives. The opening phrase on solo clarinet appears throughout the piece and could be seen as the central idea of the work, the human spirit itself. The faster, centralsection is about the struggle to overcome the pain we experience and at bar 88 the moment of catharsis occurs. This signals a change of mood and from then on, the clarinet motif is transformed into a feeling of joy and optimism. We have entered the light.
Estimated dispatch 7-14 working days
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£168.50Manhattan - Philip Sparke
Version for Concert BandManhattan was commissioned by the United States Army Band for their solo cornet player Woodrow English and first performed by them in Carnegie Hall, New York, in November 2003. The two-movement work demonstrates both the lyrical and technical abilities of this outstanding player. The 'theme' is a weekend in New York and the opening bluesy movement, Saturday Serenade, describes the city on a Saturday night. While writing the second movement, Sunday Scherzo, the composer pictured an early morning jog in Central Park. This vivaciously rhythmic second movement ends with an even quicker coda bringing the work to a brilliant close. Eachmovement can also be played individually when a shorter solo is required.
Estimated dispatch 7-14 working days
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£99.99Veni Immanuel
The Advent hymn we all know today as O Come, O Come, Immanuel was arranged in its modern form by Thomas Helmore and published in Hymnal Noted in 1856. Both the words and melody, however, predate this version by centuries.The tune, Veni Immanuel, is taken from a 15th century processional of French Franciscan nuns, part of the setting for the funeral hymn Libera Me. This arrangement aims to expand on the power and mystery of the original tune and will be most effective if the solo trumpet at the start and end of the piece can be placed away from the band, maybe at the back of the auditorium.
Estimated dispatch 7-14 working days
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£79.99The Painted Desert - Philip Sparke
The south-western US state of Arizona has more than its fair share of stunning landscapes, natural phenomena and National Monuments. Best known is the Grand Canyon, but there are also numerous deserts, a petrified forest, extinct volcanoes and the huge Sunset Crater. Not surprisingly, it has featured as the backdrop to many Western movies.The Painted Desert is a narrow, crescent-shaped arc about 160 miles long which begins near the Grand Canyon and varies in width from 10 to 35 miles. It is largely void of vegetation and years of erosion by wind and rain have exposed sedimentary layers of rock up to 250 million years old. Chemical differences in the various layers result in aneffect not unlike a multicoloured layer cake with contrasting hues of red, orange and pink, blue, grey and lavender creating a silent and barren landscape which looks like it has been hand-painted. As with much of the planet's stunning landscapes all the observer can do is stand and stare.
Estimated dispatch 7-14 working days
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£79.99Land of Hope and Glory - Edward Elgar
Elgar's five Pomp and Circumstance Marches were written between 1901 and 1930 with number 1 undoubtedly being the most popular of the five. King Edward VII told Elgar that the tune would 'go round the world' if words were fitted to it. Elgar took the hint and included it (with slight rhythmic changes) in his Coronation Ode of 1902, with words by A. C. Benson. Thus was born Land of Hope and Glory which is now, of course, an integral part of the annual Last Night of the Proms, when the audience (with varying degrees of success!) sing the words along to the original march. Now your concert band can enjoy all the pomp and ceremony of the proms with this arrangement by Philip Sparke.
Estimated dispatch 7-14 working days
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£69.99Soft-shoe Shuffle - Philip Sparke
Dating from the first decades of the 20th century and originating in vaudeville and the music hall, the soft-shoe shuffle was danced by tap dancers, wearing soft-shoes instead of their normal tap shoes. In this usually comic dance, the shoes were rubbed on the surface of the stage producing a characteristic 'swish'. Soft-shoe Shuffle can be made into a percussion feature by bringing the sandpaper blocks to the front of the stage - with added choreography, if required! A wonderful piece of musical humour for your concerts.
Estimated dispatch 7-14 working days
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