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£134.99
The Enemy God and the Dance of the Spirits - Sergei Prokofiev
The Russian ballet director Sergei Diaghilev commissioned many composers to write music for the theatre. This was what caused Serge Prokofiev to compose the four part Scytische Suite (also known as Ala and Lolli) in 1916, from which The Enemy God and the Dance of the Spirits can be heard on this CD. This suite is one of Prokofiev's first works, and received negative criticism following its first performance on account of its being "uncivilised". Prokofiev himself wrote after this first performance ". . . The timpani player beat the skin of the timpani to tatters, and the whole orchestra voiced a protest. A cellist complained that he only put up with the violence, createdby the blaring brass, on account of his sick wife and three children . . .".
Estimated dispatch 7-14 working days
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£89.99Preludio all' atto II - Giuseppe Verdi
For the first draft of the libretto of Un ballo in maschera (1859), Giuseppe Verdi drew his inspiration from the grand-opra Gustave III by Auber, an opera performed for the first time in Paris in 1833 that depicted the assassination of the King of Sweden. However, censorship, first in Naples and then in Rome, intervened and imposed heavy modifications. Perhaps because it was too demanding, Verdi showed no intransigence with the requests coming from Naples and refused to alter the libretto. On the other hand, he yielded to the requests of the Roman authorities and agreed to change the site of the action and the identity of the protagonists. Consequently, the scene movedfrom Stockholm to Boston and King Gustav became the Count of Warwick, Governor of Massachusetts.The prelude to the second act is very short and introduces the scene at the place where the scaffold stands. In only a few measures, Verdi skillfully succeeds in condensing the interior restlessness of the protagonists, alongside a prayer of hope.
Estimated dispatch 7-14 working days
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£52.70Swedish Rhapsody - Alfven-Faith
Hugo Alfven was a Swedish violinist (pupil of Csar Thomson in Brussels), conductor and composer who was musical director at the Uppsala University for thirty years. He composed five symphonies, choral works and three Swedish Rhapsodies of which the first 'Midsommarvarka' (Midsummer's watch) from 1904 is the most famous. Alfvn was a great conductor and conducted in 1954 the first Swedish stereo recording session which also included his famous Swedish Rhapsody, the popular version of the main theme of his first Swedish Rhapsody.
Estimated dispatch 7-14 working days
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£286.40Fifth Symphony - Alfred Reed
This work was commissioned by the Senzoku Gakuen College of Music in Tokyo in celebration of its 70th anniversary in 1994. However, in view of the invitation by WASBE (World Association of Symphonic Bands and Ensembles) for its Wind Orchestra to perform at the 7th annual convention of this association, to be held in Hamamatsu, Japan, in the summer of 1995, it was decided to premiere the music at that time instead of the anniversary year itself. The symphony is in three movements, with an introduction marked 'Moderately and sustained' leading to the first movement proper, a driving 'Allegro assai' whose main thematic material is first heard in the timpani and mallet percussion. The second movement, from which the symphony drives its sub-title, is an extended treatment of one of the oldest and most beloved Japanese folk songs 'Sakura' ('Cherry Blossoms'), a long-breathed elegiac melody taken as the basis for a free variation development through all the individual sections of the orchestra. The third movement is a brilliant rondo form (Allegro Molto, con fuoco) in which some elements of the preceding two movements are incorporated to bring the entire work to a breath-taking conclusion in a final burst of virtuoso performance from every instrument in the ensemble. The 'Fifth Symphony (Sakura)' was first performed on July 26th 1995, by the Senzoku Gakuen Symphonic Wind Orchestra under the direction of the composer, at the 7th WASBE Conference in Hamamatsu, Japan.
Estimated dispatch 7-14 working days
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£35.50Triglav - Julius Fucik
Julius Fuc k (1872-1916) appreciated life in Sarajevo. First compositions were written, which soon made him become one of the leading representatives of his profession in Austria-Hungary. Among those works also figured his elaborate piece "Austria's Glory and Honor", which unfortunately remains kind of ill-fated up to now. Yet another area of activities, where Fu k was able to demonstrate his talents was to stage the symphony concerts introduced by him in Sarajevo. Late in fall of the year 1900 Fuc k's time had come, when the regiment deployed from Sarajevo to Budapest. He lived in that metropolis on the Danube for the next some ten years, and during that period most of hisworks were composed. At that time his popularity also grew from day to day. The first performances of his works met with general interest, and not only numerous officers most of them were friends of Fuc k attended these events, they rather were attractions for all ranks of the society. It should also not be overlooked that music publishers were anxious to secure almost each one of his works for their publishing company, and most of them were printed immediately after their premieres. In 1899 the "Laban March" was written as his Opus 44. It was dedicated to Major General Rudolf Laban of Vralje, commander of the 3d Mountain Brigade which was stationed in Nevesinje. The title of the march then changed to "Eiserne Brigade" ("Iron Brigade") until it finally became known as "Danubia". It was first printed as late as 1933 by Bohuslav Leopold (Edition Continental). Leopold was a musician in Fuc k's regimental band, and later a successful publisher. He succeeded in securing the best of Fuc k's works for his company. Sketches of "Triglav" date back to 1903. The title alludes to the highest mountain of the province of Slovenia, and this was probably an apt means in the eyes of the composer to demonstrate his "Slavonic patriotism".
Estimated dispatch 7-14 working days
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£60.50The Steel Mill - Rob Grice
Programmatic in nature, this work depicts the opening of the first operational steel mill in the United States. Carefully written so it can be performed in the first year of instruction, it uses only the first notes learned in most beginning band methods. Young players will be able to have the experience of performing a mature-sounding composition with reasonable technical demands and fun special effects.
Estimated dispatch 7-14 working days
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£110.99
T-Bone Concerto, Part II - Medium - Johan de Meij
The T-Bone Concerto was Johan de Meij's first composition for solo instrument and symphonic band. It consists of three movements called respectively 'Rare', 'Medium' and 'Well Done'. In addition to the solo trombone, an important role has been allotted to a kind of chamber music ensemble within the band. This group introduces new thematic material and accompanies the soloist, thus creating a delightful transparant accompaniment. The ensemble consists of a double wind quintet (2 flutes, 2 oboes, 2 clarinets, 2 french horns and 2 bassoons) plus a cor anglais and a double bass. Part II is written in the A-B-A form and allow the soloist to display both the technical and the lyricalcharacteristics of the instrument. Part III at first develops into a kind of neo-baroque style using the thematic material of the first and second movement, and finally leads to a triumphant finale and a virtuoso conclusion.
Estimated dispatch 7-14 working days
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£110.99T-Bone Concerto, Part III - Well Done - Johan de Meij
The T-Bone Concerto was Johan de Meij's first composition for solo instrument and symphonic band. It consists of three movements called respectively 'Rare', 'Medium' and 'Well Done'. In addition to the solo trombone, an important role has been allotted to a kind of chamber music ensemble within the band. This group introduces new thematic material and accompanies the soloist, thus creating a delightful transparant accompaniment. The ensemble consists of a double wind quintet (2 flutes, 2 oboes, 2 clarinets, 2 french horns and 2 bassoons) plus a cor anglais and a double bass. Part III at first develops into a kind of neo-baroque style using the thematic material of the first andsecond movement, and finally leads to a triumphant finale and a virtuoso conclusion.
Estimated dispatch 7-14 working days
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£340.99T-Bone Concerto (Complete Edition) - Johan de Meij
The T-Bone Concerto was Johan de Meij's first composition for solo instrument and symphonic band. It consists of three movements called respectively 'Rare', 'Medium' and 'Well Done'. In addition to the solo trombone, an important role has been allotted to a kind of chamber music ensemble within the band. This group introduces new thematic material and accompanies the soloist, thus creating a delightful transparant accompaniment. The ensemble consists of a double wind quintet (2 flutes, 2 oboes, 2 clarinets, 2 french horns and 2 bassoons) plus a cor anglais and a double bass. Parts I and II are written in the A-B-A form and allow the soloist to display both the technical and thelyrical characteristics of the instrument. Part III at first develops into a kind of neo-baroque style using the thematic material of the first and second movement, and finally leads to a triumphant finale and a virtuoso conclusion.
Estimated dispatch 7-14 working days
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£176.50Masquerade - Philip Sparke
MASQUERADE was commissioned by Stadtmusik Willisau from Switzerland (Reto Gdel, conductor) to celebrate their 175th anniversary in 2003 and first performed by them in November that year. 1. OvertureThe first movement opens with a fanfare-like figure, featuring the brass, before the main them is introduced over staccato chords. After a short, syncopated interlude a legato theme is introduced in the tenor register and material is developed until the music slows temporarily. The opening theme returns and the 'tenor' tune is taken up by the whole band until the opening fanfare returns to close the movement. 2. ElegyThe slow movement opens intensely with a bare two-part theme, whichleads to a passionate chorale-style melody. A second theme is introduced and leads to a climax, a return of the chorale theme and a pianissimo repeat which again leads to a full-band climax. The two-part theme returns quietly to create a peaceful close. 3 InterludeA short movement which changes the mood to introduce:- 4 FinaleThree violent chords preface a lively syncopated opening theme. The trumpets introduce a second idea, which is treated fugally, and this in turn leads to the main melodic idea of the movement, over staccato chords. A contrasting subject is then introduced in the middle of the band, followed by echoes of the first movement fanfare. The opening theme returns and material is revisited until the opening fanfare returns in full to end the work triumphantly.
Estimated dispatch 7-14 working days
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