Results
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£74.99Three Colonial Moments - Rick Kirby
Depicting three contrasting and intriguing settings from early American lore, Rick Kirby masterfully brings these images to life in a suite for band. The first movement tells the legend of The Phantom Drummer with unique orchestrationaleffects. The second movement, The Ladys Lament, mourns the loss of loved ones in the Revolutionary War, and the suite concludes with the lively dance Virginia Two-Step. Rich in stylistic and tonal variety, this is an appealing work forconcert or festival use.
Estimated dispatch 7-14 working days
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£69.99
George Washington Suite - Mike Hannickel
History! Introduce a bit of good old early-Americana to your audiences this year. GEORGE WASHINGTON SUITE is made up of three tunes known to have been composed for (or about) George and Martha Washington in their own time. Probably the best known of the three is the first movement, WASHINGTON'S GRAND MARCH, which is believed to have been written by Francis Hopkinson. He was one of the signers of the Declaration of Independence. The second movement has the delightful title "Fancy Menuit with figure Dance by Two young Ladies in the presance of Mrs. Washington in 1792. Phila." sic (The quaint original spellings and capitalizations are preserved here for historical interest.) A fife-and-drum style arrangement of the BRANDYWINE QUICKSTEP completes this early American triptych.The stately and moderate tempos that fit the music of this era so well also ensure that the arrangements remain accessible to young bands. Add some good old early-American spirit to your upcoming performance with GEORGE WASHINGTON SUITE!
Estimated dispatch 7-14 working days
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£137.99Strathcarron - Philip Sparke
Strathcarron is a movement from Philip Sparke's Hymn of the Highlands, in which each movement reflects a different location in the beautiful Scottish highlands. Stratcarron, named after a village at the head of Loch Carron, near the Isle of Skye, takes the form of a sword dance which alternates between fast and slow tempi.
Estimated dispatch 7-14 working days
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£264.99
Diferencias on an Old Spanish Song - Yasuhide Ito
I am immensely happy that my Gloriosa, symphonic poem for band (1990), has been performed by so many bands in the last thirty years.During this period, the growth of the internet has made it much easier to access information.When I composed Gloriosa, I only had limited information about the period when Christianity and Western music was first introduced to Japan, and had to rely a lot on my imagination.However, nowadays, it is easy to obtain various source materials and to read interesting studies on the music of the past.In recent years, the music of Luis de Narvez (born ca.1500 - died between 1555-1560), Spanish composer and vihuela player, has become increasingly known, and several CDs of his music are now available.Narvez composed the earliest-known set of diferencias, a forerunner of the variation form. One of his works is Seys diferencias sobre el himno "O gloriosa domina" [Six diferencias on the hymn "O gloriosa domina"] (1538), based on the Spanish Marian hymn, and it was this melody I used in the first movement of my Gloriosa.Western music has been my musical roots since childhood, and throughout my career as a composer, it has continued to fascinate me. One could say that this has provided the inspiration for Diferencias on an Old Spanish Song, my own take on the diferencias form.Actually, such music from the early sixteenth century could sound fresh to our modern ears. So I decided to quote the melody from Narvez's Sey diferencias at the beginning and end of the piece, in order that people can get the feel for the period.The main section (bars 42-390) is formed of 13 diferencias, similar to the first movement of the Gloriosa.In the middle section, which begins after the eighth diferencia(from bar 187), one should be totally absorbed in the tranquility and the beauty of the music. Although it's in the style of a sarabande, it should be taken slower and played as pianissimo as possible.This is followed by folk-style dance music. (As only standard percussion instruments are used, try to be creative with tonal colours and sense of rhythm).The structure of the work is simple, but be aware of the connection between the sections when constructing the whole.Also, think about the tonality. Overall, the work is in F minor. The main section is basically in D minor, but from bar 102, it modulates to A flat minor and G minor, and then in the middle section it suddenly switches to A flat major (which is the furthest key from D minor, and the relative major of F minor). From bar 219, it modulates to F minor and then to C minor, then back to F minor by way of A minor.N.B. The Oboe II part can be substituted by the English Horn (as indicated in the parts). One can choose according to the player's skills or preference.Recent new compositions for wind band are often full of rhythm, dynamism, and tonal colour, and compositional techniques and orchestration have also evolved greatly. Yet on the other hand, they tend to feature fewer melodic or expressive elements. Since this work is the test piece for WMC Kerkrade 2022, I had to think about what "tests" or "challenges" to set, and I decided to compose something that doesn't involve a lot of technical display, but requires beautiful sounds and harmonies, and above all, musical expressivity. I didn't put many expression markings in the score, because I wanted the performers to think about how best to express this music. If it is played merely as notated, it's not going to sound very interesting.Christianity was introduced to Japan in the mid-16th century, but it was subsequently banned and Japan entered a period of national isolation, which meant that there was hardly any international exchange for two hundred years. As a result, the Christian hymns that were introduced prior to the isolation became almost unrecognizable over the centuries. This was the theme I explored in my Gloriosa thirty years ago.Now, in 2021, the whole world has been forced to "isolate" due to the Covid-19 pandemic. In such times, it seems pertinent that I've written a work using this melody again. I sincerely hope that people will be able to gather in Kerkrade in 2022.(English Translation:Nahoko Gotoh)
Estimated dispatch 7-14 working days
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£79.99Serpent Sea - Robert Buckley
The fourth movement of Robert Buckley's grandly cinematic suite describing impressions of the seas of the moon, Serpent Sea is animated, exuberant and somewhat over-the-top. It was inspired by the idea of two huge winged serpentsrising out of the waves and frolicking together in a wild, barbaric dance. The pair do, however, show a more graceful side every once in a while - represented by an exotic theme that starts in the clarinet and flute. The movementends with a wild flurry as the serpents vanish back into the sea. Dur: 3:50
Estimated dispatch 7-14 working days
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£139.99Country Scenes - Hans Aerts
Country Scenes takes us back to the early English settlements on the American east coast. The opening section, Daybreak, depicts daybreak in a small village where people go about their daily business. In the second movement, Procession, we hear a stately and elaborate funeral march that symbolises the intertwining of religion with everyday life. The closing section, Village Dance, which is written in rondo form, brings the lively atmosphere of a village festival to life.
Estimated dispatch 7-14 working days
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£68.99
Celtic Fantasy - Keiichi Kurokawa
"Celtic" is a widely used term. Its history and culture expands to modern day Spain, Portugal, and North America.However, in this piece, I have based my music on the typical "Celtic" areas of Ireland and Scotland.The Bagpipe drone at the beginning reappears several times.After the introduction, the music transitions to an Irish Reel, The Wind That Shakes The Barley. Reel is a fast tempo dance, often in 4/4 or 2/2 time.Next is the Scottish folksong Auld Lang Syne, known as "Hotaru no Hikari" in Japan.The third movement is called Scotland the Brave. It is often performed by military bagpipe ensembles. Once air is blown into the bag, there is a constant reservoir of sound for Great Highland Bagpipes.A Part (advanced) is a grade 2.5-3 in American grading system. B Part (beginner) is 1-1.5.B Part is accessible for elementary school and junior high school beginning band students in Japan. However, the drone-sounding sections require a certain technique to hold the sound steady.It is my sincere desire that beginning musicians understand the importance of fundamentals through performing good music.Keiichi Kurokawa
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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£252.50Gopak - Eric Ewazen
Gopak is the first movement of a set of Symphonic Dances written for the Hofstra Unibersity Wind Ensemble, directed by Peter Boonshaft, who commissioned and premiered the work in 2009. Gopak is a tribute to my Polish and Ukrainian roots. My father used to dance traditional Ukrainian dances including the Gopak, and some of my earliest musical memories include the joyful, energetic, and rhythmic feel of those wonderful folk dances.Gopak has a strong feeling of two beats, is accented quite heavily, and is energetic from beginning to end. The melodies are completely original, but the lively feel of the music calls to my mind the energy of the Gopak, notes composer Eric Ewazen.
Estimated dispatch 7-14 working days
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£121.00Tock - Kenneth Froelich
Tock is a single movement work for concert band that uses percussion and asymmetrical rhythms to mimic the "tocking" of a broken clock. The repetition of melodies and of motive fragments are used to establish a regular pulse; however, while this pulse is steady, it is not even. A five-four time signature, a syncopated bass line and irregular phrases are all used to offset the central beat of the music. Much like the clock, the end result is a dance that seems consistent but is in fact "broken." Its a work that is both fascinating and creative, excellent cutting-edge writing for upper-level ensembles.
Estimated dispatch 7-14 working days
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