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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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£339.99Symphony No. 4 - Johan de Meij
This symphony was inspired by a selection of 19th century German poetry: three poems from Friedrich Rckerts' Kindertotenlieder (Songs on the Death of Children) and three poems by Heinrich Heine and Hugo von Hofmannsthal which, in the secondmovment of this impressive work, introduce themes of death, rebirth and hope.
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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£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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£66.95Quest of the Magi - Brian Beck
The Quest of the Magi was one of the working titles for John Henry Hopkins Jr.'s famous carol, "We Three Kings." Written in 1857 for a Christmas pageant in New York City, "We Three Kings" tells the tale of the Magis' journey to find a newly born king in a faraway land and the precious gifts they brought with them. This piece focuses more on the journey of "following yonder star." Traveling across many countries in the first century was a perilous task, full of danger, thievery, and possible death, not to mention these men were traveling with some of the most precious and expensive cargo one could possess. This piece chronicles the magi acquiring myrrh, frankincense, and gold for their journey. Each treasure is represented by its own motif and woven into Hopkins' original carol. (2:45)
Estimated dispatch 7-14 working days
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£127.30Music for Halloween 2 - Roar Minde Fagerli
Music for Halloween 2 is three simple pieces who describes spooky and scary characters we all know from halloween.In The first movement you meet some ghosts. The second movement describes death dancing a waltz. The third movement describes a huge scary monster.Make your own halloween-show combining this with Music for Halloween 1. Make up scary stories to tell before you play a movement. Maby someone can dress up and perform something dramatic while the music is playing.
Estimated dispatch 7-14 working days
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£122.00Ouvertre in Es-Dur - Stephan Jaeggi
As part of the year 2023, dedicated to Swiss composers, the Swiss Wind Band Association has commissioned Gauthier Dupertuis to write a new orchestration of the Overture in E-flat major by Stephan Jaeggi. Indeed, an update of the instrumentation was necessary for the interpretation of this work with modern orchestras.Therefore, the orchestration that Gauthier Dupertuis proposes and which he wanted to be faithful to the original while meeting current standards, will allow today's orchestras to performthis piece of classical-romantic inspiration.Stephan Jaeggi was a Swiss composer and conductor who was born into a large family in Fulenbach (Canton of Solothurn) in 1903. He began playing the clarinet at the age of 13, then studied music at the Basel Conservatory and attended his military training with the Swiss Army Band. Thereafter, he became the conductor of several wind orchestras. In this role, and also that of a composer, Stephan Jaeggi went on to achieve great success. His early death in 1957 put a premature end to Stephan Jaeggi's creative life. All the more reason why his work lives on with unbroken power to this day.
Estimated dispatch 7-14 working days
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£78.00Coronation March - Giacomo Meyerbeer
Giacomo Meyerbeer (1791-1864) was a German opera composer of Jewish origins, who has been described as perhaps the most successful stage composer of the nineteenth century. From 1831 until his death, he remained a dominating figure in the world of opera. His contemporary Hector Berlioz summed up his public career claiming that he 'has not only the luck of being talented, but the talent to be lucky'. His works made him the most frequently performed composer at the world's leading opera houses in the nineteenth century. Giacomo Meyerbeer composed his opera Le Prophte in 1849. In this opera a coronation is preceded by a splendid march. Although the opera itself is rarely performed, the Coronation March has gained a place in the concert repertoire.Franco Cesarini's arrangement for concert band of the Coronation March stands out for its skillful instrumentation which underlines the powerful sounds of this classic concert march.
Estimated dispatch 7-14 working days
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£138.00The Saints And the Royal - Eric Swiggers
The Saints and the Royal was composed on behalf of Royal brass band St. Willibrord Heeswijk on the occasion of its 200th anniversary in 2023.When the marching band was founded in 1823, it was given the name "Harmonie Sint Cecilia," referring to Saint Cecilia, the patron saint of music. Around 1904, the name was changed to 'Kerkelijke fanfare Willibrord', strongly emphasizing the connection with the church in Heeswijk, of which Saint Willibrord is the patron saint. In 1973, at its 150th anniversary, the band received the predicate 'royal'. From that time on one speaks of the Royal brass band Saint Willibrord.The composition musically depicts both Saints Saint Cecilia and Saint Willibrord and the jubilee royal brass band. Although one of the oldest musical societies in the Netherlands, this fanfare is alive and kicking and will celebrate its 200th anniversary in 2023. The composition therefore opens festively and energetically. The alto saxophone plays a recitative, the Gregorian "Cantantibus organis Caecilia virgo in corde suo soli domino decantabat" from the vespers of the feast day of Saint Caecilia, the patron saint of music. This is taken over by the full wood and soft brass group. After a brief, playful interlude, this chant is played by the full orchestra, like an organ, larded with circumambulations.St. Willibord was born in England but made the crossing to the Netherlands in 690 to preach the gospel as a missionary. This was far from harmless and he faced frequent uprisings. After his death he was buried in Echternach in Luxembourg. In this place he is commemorated to this day with the annual "Spring Procession" or "Dance Procession". This procession of Echternach went as follows until 1947: 3 steps forward, 2 steps backward. Hence we hear this procession back in a 5/8 measure: 3 + 2.After this procession, the Gregorian vesper of Sint Caecilia sounds one more time, leading the composition to a reprise of the opening: The jubilee Royal Fanfare Sint Willibord Heeswijk.
Estimated dispatch 7-14 working days
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£149.40Storsltt - Øystein Olsen Vadsten
"Storsltt" or in English "Grand Nordic Tune" is one of many original pieces written by composer ystein Olsen Vadsten. "Sltt" is a general term for music played to traditional Norwegian dances."Grand Nordic Tune" was a commissioned work for the Rlingen Musikklag's 70-year anniversary concert in 2022, where the piece was premiered. They wanted something a little pompous, and preferably something in the style of Nordic folk music, which the composer is known for. The title in Norwegian then was obvious, "Storsltt", which in Norwegian has a double meaning, both a big tune and, in a double meaning, pompous or magnificent.As usual, the starting point is a traditional Nordic dance form, and this time the choice fell on the distinctive Swedish "polska", which is played in . The dance, despite its name, reportedly has no connection to Poland, but is entirely of Scandinavian origin. It has been danced for centuries, and has also been called the devil's dance, because it had a hypnotizing effect on people, so that they could not stop, but danced themselves to death. Hence people thought that it must have been the devil who caused it.Traditionally, there is a lot of repetition in this type of music, which contributes to this hypnotic effect.
Estimated dispatch 7-14 working days
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