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£267.99Suite From Hymn of the Highlands - Philip Sparke
Complete score and full set of parts for Philip Sparke's Suite From Hymn To The Highlands for Wind Band. Suite from Hymn of the Highlands draws three expressive musical pictures of the Scottish highlands. The first movement, Ardross Castle, features solo passages for clarinet and bassoon and features a fascinating bagpipe melody. The second movement, Alladale, is a saxophone trio with an accompaniment featuring the percussion section. The final movement, Dundonnell, features two highly contrasting melodies, a wild presto and the bagpipe melody first heard in the first movement.
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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£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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£89.99Minerva - Jan Van der Roost
Minerva by Jan Van der Roost was composed on the commission of the German "Musikverein Braunshausen" on the occasion of the 75th anniversary of the orchestra. The composition, first performed on September 17, 1999, is not a street march but a concert march, just like Mercury and Arsenal. The use and variation of different rhythmic patterns gives the first part of this march a distinctly dynamic character. Two main themes are presented in several instrumental combinations. The theme from the trio, on the other hand, is characterized by a broad melodic approach using large intervals. This theme, wreathed by high woodwinds, is heard one more time after a contrasting newpart, but now in a somewhat slower tempo. The counterpoint in this part refers to the first part of the march. The brilliant ending suits a festive anniversary march!
Estimated dispatch 7-14 working days
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£49.50Base-six - Laura Estes
A bold and dynamic piece for the beginning band's first concert from composer Laura Estes. Drawing from her many years of teaching beginners, Laura has crafted a piece that students will love and their parents will not believe how great they sound at their very first concert. The title is derived from the use of only the first six notes of the Bb scale, clever!
Estimated dispatch 7-14 working days
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£140.80
Summer Dances - Adam Gorb
'Summer Dances' is a joyful work in three short movements celebrating my favourite season where people are happiest outdoors. Each movement is a celebration the first movement 'Summer Day' celebrates the open air, with a bold and arrogant melody in 10/8 time, whose rhythm dominates the movement. The next movement 'Summer Night' could be described as a 'Beach Habanera' led by a sensuous trumpet melody. The movement ends with an ambiguous harmonic build-up, which is resolved at the start of the finale 'Summer Party' with a folk like theme that is passed round the ensemble, building up, (with suggestions of the first movement theme) to a riotous and festive ending. Summer Dances was commissioned by HAFABRA Music, Louis Martinus in collaboration with Biblioservice Gelderland/Music department MUI, Arhnhem, the Netherlands. Regarding interpretation suggestions: Movement 1) Lively but not too fast very much a piece for the full ensemble, up until the final six bars when things become more subtle and intimate maybe sunset.... Movement 2) Very laid back and sexy. The movement should be thought of as a wonderfully promising 'first date' or 'wedding night', with great possibilities with the unresolved chord at the end of the movement.... Movement 3) As fast as is comfortably possible. The start should be delicate and chamber music like, but increase in general excitement, particularly from figure 31. Something should be saved up for a true fortissimo at 34.
Estimated dispatch 7-14 working days
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£309.99Symphony No. 9, Op. 160 - James Barnes
Premiered on September 21, 2018 in Lawrence, Kansas by the University of Kansas Wind Ensemble (Dr. Paul Popiel, conducting), James Barnes' Ninth Symphony was composed between January and late June of that same year. This large work was commissioned by a consortium of twenty-one college bands, community bands, professional bands and individuals to help mark the 70th birthday of the composer (b. 1949). It is an expansive forty-minute work in four movements, of which the composer writes, This is my last symphony... this work represents a compendium of all that I have learned during the fifty years of composing and scoring for this wonderful new medium: the modern wind band. The first movement, subtitled Elegy, is based around G minor. It is the longest movement of the symphony. Tragic and despondent in character, it is cast in sonata-allegro form. The second movement is entitled Scherzo. Barnes claims that I have always wanted to write a waltz, and that is how this movement is cast, in a modified rondo form in D minor. In contrast to the mood of the first movement, the scherzo is a delightful posy of expansive melody, splashy color, humor and rhythm. The third movement, which is in a modified tertiary form, is entitled Night Music. In contrast to the scherzo, this movement begins with a mysterious incantation, first displayed by solo Alto flute. The music becomes even darker and more mysterious, while overall the movement effectively expresses an otherworldly mood, ending with a solo soprano offstage which suddenly emerges, eerily singing a modified version of the opening incantation. Cast in sonata-allegro form, the fourth movement is most definitely a rousing Finale, beginning with a brilliant fanfare and undergoing several mood transformations before emerging into the final coda, ending the symphony with an energetic splash of color.
Estimated dispatch 7-14 working days
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£79.95
A Psalm of Praise - Score and Parts - James Curnow
Program NotesOriginally conceived as a brass band tone poem, A Psalm of Praise gained huge popularity when it was first published in 1980. When it first appeared in print, the work was widely performed by Salvation Army bands around the world. It is full of interest and presents plenty of what for many bands will be realistically achievable levels of musical and technical challenge.As with much Salvation Army music, it was inspired by words from scripture, specifically from Psalm 100. Musically, it is based on the well-known hymn tune Praise My Soul the King of Heaven, with motifs and fragments of the tune appearing throughout the work in various guises alongside the original thematic material.James Curnow's skillfully economic use of melodic and rhythmic ideas is demonstrated to perfection in this work, which will be rewarding to rehearse in detail and perform and will provide a useful addition to concert repertoire.
Estimated dispatch 7-14 working days
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£15.95
A Psalm of Praise - Score only - James Curnow
Program NotesOriginally conceived as a brass band tone poem, A Psalm of Praise gained huge popularity when it was first published in 1980. When it first appeared in print, the work was widely performed by Salvation Army bands around the world. It is full of interest and presents plenty of what for many bands will be realistically achievable levels of musical and technical challenge.As with much Salvation Army music, it was inspired by words from scripture, specifically from Psalm 100. Musically, it is based on the well-known hymn tune Praise My Soul the King of Heaven, with motifs and fragments of the tune appearing throughout the work in various guises alongside the original thematic material.James Curnow's skillfully economic use of melodic and rhythmic ideas is demonstrated to perfection in this work, which will be rewarding to rehearse in detail and perform and will provide a useful addition to concert repertoire.
Estimated dispatch 7-14 working days
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£124.95
Sinfonietta - Score and Parts - Rob Wiffin
Program NotesSinfonietta is a challenging, extended work for symphonic wind band. It is in three movements: Dance with the Devil, A Glimpse of Paradise and Reyes Magos. The first two movements are a transition from dark to light; Dance with the Devil is aggressive and occasionally macabre whereas A Glimpse of Paradise is serene. The first and final parts of the second movement were originally written for a sequence in the Royal Military Tattoo 2000, played under the John Magee poem High Flight – ‘Oh I have slipped the surly bonds of Earth...Put out my hand, and touched the face of God’ - with videos of eagle owls in flight dramatically projected onto the buildings of Horse Guards in Whitehall, London.The last movement, Reyes Magos, is the joyous fiesta of the Three Kings. I wrote Sinfonietta while living in Spain and there January 6th, rather than Christmas Day, is the main day of present-giving, marking the Epiphany, the arrival of the Kings from the Orient at the Nativity.Sinfonietta is technically and expressively demanding but is written within the realms of tonal language.
Estimated dispatch 7-14 working days
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