Results
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£84.99For Whom the Bell Tolls - Philip Sparke
For Whom the Bells Tolls was commissioned by the Irish Symphonic Wind Orchestra, who gave the premiere in their 10th anniversary concert, held in the Artane School of Music, Dublin, on the 31st August 2024.The commission was funded by money raised to provide a piece which commemorated friends and members of the orchestra who had recently passed away. This prompted the choice of title, taken from the famous poem by English writer John Donne (1572 - 1631), which reminds us that the death of anyone affects us all.The work opens with an enigmatic duet between oboe and clarinet. This is taken up by the full band and leads to the work's main theme, a lyrical chorale, which builds to a passionate climax. A central section, introduced by the English horn (cue clarinet), eventually leads back to a triumphal return of the chorale on full band. The mood subsides to introduce an echo of the opening material, which brings the work to a peaceful close.
Estimated dispatch 7-14 working days
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£72.99Memories of the Past - Satoshi Yagisawa
This beautiful chorale was commissioned by the Temasek Junior College Alumni Band from Singapore and is dedicated to its conductor, Mr. Lin Ah Leck, who sadly passed away in 2019. The music pays homage to Maestro Lin-sheng, as he was affectionately called by the band members. Mr. Lin, a devotee of Yagisawa's music, selected many of his works for their concerts.BRHaving visited Singapore many times, the composer has had the opportunity to listen to Mr. Lin and his band perform and was deeply moved by their expressive and warm performances, leading to him writing this chorale work about the 'eternal bond' between a teacher and his students. The world premiere of this piece in Singapore by the Temasek Junior College Alumni Band was titled Echoes of Temasek - In Memory of Meastro Lin-sheng. For this publication, it has been revised and retitled Memories of the Past.
Estimated dispatch 7-14 working days
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£159.99Resurrection - Kevin Houben
"Man wird mit Keulen zu Boden geschlagen und dann auf Engelsfittichen zu den hchsten Hhen gehoben." (Mahler over zijn 2de symfonie "Wederopstanding", Juli 1894)*"You are clubbed to the ground and then lifted to the highest heights on angels' wings"Commissioned by and dedicated to Concertband Maasmechelen (BE), conducted by Mark Prils.Kevin Houben was inspired for this work by Gustav Mahler's 2nd symphony, better known as the Resurrection symphony.The work can be regarded as a Ma(h)lerei of various compositional and spherical elements that refer to the Austrian composer but that appear in this composition in an embedded, contemporary way.As Mahler often drew his inspiration from nature, the opening of this piece brings nature right to the audience. The work starts with a solo for alto flute accompanied by a pedal note in four octaves with harmonic responses echoing the solo.From the start, Kevin Houben provides Mahler's material with a contemporary touch. He replaces the nature sounds that Mahler uses (perfect fourth) with tritone intervals. The off stage trumpet signals have been preserved but are provided with a new accompaniment. Gradually, throughout the work, the orchestra undergoes its own independent development. Mahler's musical signature remains recognizable, but Kevin Houben allows it - e.g. through the use of various timbres - to flourish in a more modern musical idiom, which characterizes numerous contemporary compositions for wind band (cfr. Where Angels Fly).The work comes to a grandiose end with a passage of the famous chorale from Mahler's 2nd symphony. The rich orchestration of this chorale gives the listener the illusion of the presence of a choir and organ without actually using them.In Resurrection, each instrument group comes into its own: in solo fragments, in transparent thematic passages or in splendid tuttis. Therefore, the work forms an interesting challenge for a wind band on several levels, both technically and melodically - the latter due to the long suspenseful melodic phrases that the musical structure requires.The piece is accessible to a wide audience and can be regarded as an enrichment for any concert programme. Resurrection takes the audience through various atmospheres and experiences: from stunning to chilling, from calming to delighting...Die Musik muss immer ein Sehnen enthalten, ein Sehnen ber die Dinge dieser Welt hinaus." (Gustav Mahler, 1860-1911)"Music must always involve a longing, a yearning beyond the things of this world."
Estimated dispatch 7-14 working days
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£72.99Jovian Farewell - Michael Sweeney
Jovian Farewell is a carefully paced memorial work, with the title referring to the planet Jupiter and the music incorporating the famous chorale by Gustav Holst. The familiar melody is hinted at early, then developed through a series of layers and phases with building intensity. The full chorale emerges near the end, then tapers peacefully to a tender close. Dur: ca. 3:50
Estimated dispatch 7-14 working days
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£118.99North Hills Fantasy - Philip Sparke
North Hills Fantasy was commissioned by the North Hills High School Bands, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania (director: Len Lavelle) as part of a commissioning programme that has run since 1965 - the longest of its kind in the USA. The work opens with a reflective, unaccompanied solo for alto saxophone which develops into a chorale for horns and saxes. This is taken up by the trumpets and subsides to a change of key and mood, with highly decorated folk-like solos for clarinet, bassoon and saxes. These solos build to a climax for full band, which heralds a triumphant return of the horn chorale, accompanied by florid woodwind figuration. But the mood soon winds down; fragments of earlier melodies return calmly to peacefully close the work.
Estimated dispatch 7-14 working days
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£109.60When the lights go down - Kevin Houben
Kevin Houben created with When the Lights Go Down, a wonderful chorale that can be a moment of reflection in any concert program.The resigned, magnificent melodies at the beginning of this composition slowly build up to a highlight with an increasing orchestration. The piece starts with a suggestive Adagio Meditativo, after which the main theme is immediately announced. A central bridge section takes the listener along through the different spheres at which the melodic and rhythmic drums embellish the chorale melodies. Thematic elements from the introduction brings the piece to a quiet and peaceful end.The sheer simplicity with which this work is written, makes it a resplendent, magnificent concert piece. 'When the Lights Go Down', refers to a moment when time stand still for a while, stillness within and around yourself.
Estimated dispatch 7-14 working days
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£137.99A Bluegrass Overture - Philip Sparke
A Bluegrass Overture was commissioned by Gabriel Wooley and funded by a grant from Leslie and Cathy Anderson for the Central Kentucky Concert Band to celebrate their 40th anniversary in 2016.This energetic overture opens with an introduction loosely based on 'bluegrass' chords before a slower, legato chorale appears in the clarinets and flutes. This is short-lived and soon a new mood is introduced, based on a repeated-note accompaniment. This leads to the main theme, heavily syncopated with bluesy inflections.A central section features a cantabile melody, which changes key frequently, before the main theme reappears, leading toa triumphal presentation of the earlier chorale melody.
Estimated dispatch 7-14 working days
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£94.99A New Beginning - Satoshi Yagisawa
A New Beginning begins with a beautiful and sensitive chorale shaping the musical ideas. This chorale builds up to a fast and rhythmical setting, creating a vivid and spectacular feel, with lots of percussion. The instrumentation is versatile and colourful, which makes the piece very pleasant to play and work on for each instrumental group within the band. The music slows down again in the finale, but in a maestoso style. This leads onto a dramatic and impressive ending!
Estimated dispatch 7-14 working days
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£64.99
Two Bach Christmas Classics - Johann Sebastian Bach
Two timeless Christmas favorites by J.S.Bach are gloriously arranged for the Concert Band and ready for your interpretation. BREAK FORTH, O BEAUTEOUS, HEAVENLY LIGHT and JESU, JOY OF MAN'S DESIRING comprise the two contrasting movements (a Chorale and a Ballad). You know how valuable chorale style playing can be for the band's tone quality, breath support, intonation, and phrasing. With thorough cueing throughout the arrangement, TWO BACH CHRISTMAS CLASSICS will work beautifully even if your group has instrumentation problems. Christmas music does not ordinarily leap to mind as a choice for spring festival use, but you may wish to consider it in this case. Great music isgreat music any time of the year! Magnificent!
Estimated dispatch 7-14 working days
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£104.99
Partita Piccola - Henk van Belcum
As the title suggests, this work is a partita: it consists of a number of variations on a chorale melody. The partita has been popular for centuries, especially when it comes to organ music. Henk van Belcum, who is active in the choir world, chose for his Partita Piccola the German hymn Wunderbarer Knig as a starting point. Partita Piccola consists of four variations and a choral setting. After a majestic opening fanfare, the second variation follows, based on a canon by Pachelbel. Hndel's Sarabande is the basis of the third variation. Next comes the chorale setting, after which the work ends festively with a dance that has been written in the form of a courante. PartitaPiccola is an asset for church services and for concert platforms.
Estimated dispatch 7-14 working days
