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Apophenia - Peter Meechan
"Apophenia is the experience of seeing patterns or connections in random or meaningless data."Apophenia is a trumpet concerto in three movements written for American trumpet virtuoso Rex Richardson. Each of the three movements features a different instrument; Movement 1 is for the Bb trumpet, the second is for flugel horn and trumpet, and the third is for trumpet and piccolo trumpet.Each of the three movements of Apophenia relate to the phenomenon of viewing Dark Side of the Rainbow - a name used to refer to the act of listening to the 1973 Pink Floyd album The Dark Side of the Moon whilst watching the 1939 film The Wizard of Oz, where moments where the film and the album appear to correspond with each other.Movement 1 is a fast a furious movement. Solo and ensemble interact at high tempo, swapping and creating new ideas, leading each other in new directions. Aside from the trumpet soloist, the kit player also acts as a quasi soloist.The second movement takes its musical inspiration from the Pink Floyd song Us and Them. It is during this segment of the film that some of the most amazing moments of connection happen.The final movement is a dance - and a tour de force for the soloist who begins on the Bb trumpet, before switching to the piccolo trumpet (or Eb trumpet) for the fast and furious finale. Many of the coincidences from Dark Side of the Rainbow relate to dancing, however, as long as a piece of music is the same tempo as the original, and the time signature is a regular one, this could be the case across most films. So the composer chose to write a dance that wouldn't synchronise to too many existing dance scenes!The soloist is free to improvise their own cadenza.Apophenia is dedicated to Rex Richardson.
Estimated dispatch 5-14 working days
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Devil's Duel - Peter Meechan
Devil's Duel takes its inspiration from the story of the infamous Niccolo Paganini whose virtuosity was astounding. He began playing the violin at age seven, and by the age of 13 had the reputation of being the leading Italian violinist of his time. People began to speculate about Paganini's great talent, and began to wonder about his gift. He became known as a "Hexensohn" or witch's brat.Paganini's demonic reputation became so widespread that his talent was often attributed to the belief that he had help from the devil. Later in life, Paganini would tour Europe, though rumours of supernatural guidance never ceased. He would give concerts, and often "duel" with other virtuosi - "winning" by improvising during the contest (or concert!) by adding octaves, thirds, and sixths, and often playing more notes in a second than thought humanly possible.Devils Duel uses the famous music of Paganini's Caprice no.24 as its musical material, and sees the euphonium soloist duelling with various instruments in the band with displays of virtuosity in the fast music, and cunning in the slow.Devil's Duel was commissioned by David Thornton, to whom this is dedicated. The premiere was given by David Thornton, Nicholas Childs, and the Black Dyke Band at Leeds Town Hall, 26 May 2006.
Estimated dispatch 5-14 working days
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Dreams Unseen - Peter Meechan
A number of traumatic global events over the past year have tested humanity. The global pandemic, racism, human rights issues, the discovery of thousands of unmarked Canadian Indigenous children's graves and climate change are testing humans' willingness to listen, hope and seek change. This three-movement work is a journey through silence, resistance and hope.Dreams Unseen begs the question, "Are we listening?"As people around the world endure and cope with significant loss, isolation, uncertainty and fear, Dreams Unseen contemplates the journey through uncertain times and is fraught with the complexities of today. As we continue to endure loss and uncertainty, we must have faith in resilience, goodwill and hope for a brighter future.Jacquie Dawson, August 2021Note from the composerWhen composing Dreams Unseen I was faced with a variety of decisions and complexities. Initially commissioned with the idea of conveying joy and hope as we emerged, or hoped to emerge, from a pandemic, too much happened around us in the world - locally, globally, and personally - that made the initial goal of the piece something that didn't represent so much that I saw.This made the selection of texts particularly difficult.As time passed, the texts originally selected became less and less appropriate to what I wanted to say, and, as the unmarked graves of murdered Indigenous children were uncovered throughout Canada on a daily basis, I felt compelled to move away from joy and the promise of hope to instead write about listening, to put hope in a more fragile, truthful context, to be grateful for those who never gave up, those who stood up in the face of all that was happening - the scientists, the leaders, people we've never met, people we know. It felt that the only way I could say all that I wanted to say as a composer was to write my own words.The first movement, In Silence, I ask us not to just hear, but to listen. It is only once we understand the truth that we can truly begin the process of reconciliation. The second movement, In Resistance, is my amazement at those who stood up in these times of adversity - specifically the scientists who saved our lives and those who continue to fight for what it right in the face of a seemingly impossible situation. I continue to believe that, because of those people, love will win, and lyrically I wanted to pay homage to that; The Beatles "In My Life" and Dr. King's "I Have A Dream" speech are both referenced.The final movement, In Hope, also takes existing words as an inspiration. The Rodgers and Hammerstein song "You'll Never Walk Alone" has been a song so close to my heart throughout my life, in the good times and difficult times alike. None of these times have been more difficult than losing a friend during the pandemic. His fight with cancer was driven by hope. A wonderful musician and human, he would also turn to "You'll Never Walk Alone" - so I chose this final movement to pay homage to the song, to my dearly missed friend, and to the idea that hope - for a better future, for a win against an almost unstoppable disease, for those whose voice is so often not heard to be listened to, and that Dr. King's words will come true - is everything.Pete Meechan, August 2021With funds from:Desautels Faculty of Music at the University of Manitoba - Jacquie Dawson, Director of BandsUniversity of Kansas - Paul Popiel, Director of BandsAnd the following commissioning partners:Arizona State University - Jason Caslor, Director of BandsGeorgia State University - Robert Ambrose, Director of BandsMarietta College - Nils Landsberg, Director of BandsNew Mexico State University - Michael Mapp, Director of BandsOregon State University - Erik Leung, Director of BandsThe Desert Winds - Charles Maguire, Artistic DirectorUniversity of Colorado Boulder - Donald McKinney, Director of BandsUniversity of Missouri - Brian Silvey, Director of Bands, and Amy Knopps, Associate Director of BandsUniversity of North Florida - Erin Bodnar, Director of BandsUniversity of Texas - Jerry Junkin, Director of BandsUniversity of Toronto - Gillian Mackay, Director of Winds ConductingValdosta State University - Ben Harper, Director of BandsWright State University - Shelley Jagow, Director of Bands
Estimated dispatch 5-14 working days
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Epitaph (for Hillsborough) - Peter Meechan
Epitaph (for Hillsborough) was written on the 20th anniversary of the Hillsborough stadium disaster, April 15 1989, in memory of the 96 victims. All of the victims were fans of Liverpool Football Club, the club I have supported since I was a young child.The disaster unfolded in front of the BBC television cameras, and due to the importance of the match (FA Cup semi final), millions, including myself, witnessed it first hand, leaving a lasting impression in the public psyche.Several features of the piece were determined by the tragedy. The length of the piece, 6 and a half minutes, represents the minutes of the game that were played that day (The match was abandoned after 6 minutes), and the final thirty seconds of the work, where the band gently applaud, is a reference to the first match played after the tragedy, a European Cup semi final between AC Milan and Real Madrid.After 6 minutes, the referee blew his whistle and all the players stood still where they were, both sets of fans applauded in memory of the perished, and the fans of AC Milan began singing You'll Never Walk Alone, the anthem of Liverpool Football Club.The work also features 96 strikes of the tubular bells, in memory of each person who lost their life.Epitaph is dedicated to the 96 people who died that day, and to their families whose fight for justice is an inspiration to all.
Estimated dispatch 5-14 working days
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Fire in the Sky - Peter Meechan
Fire in the Sky takes its inspiration from the stunning town of Montreux in Switzerland. I was commissioned to write the work 5 days before I visited this Montreux and was at work forming ideas for the piece as I arrived on the shore of Lake Geneva and its amazing views of the Alps.Whilst the scenery is without doubt some of the most incredible views I have ever witnessed, it was the history of the town that set Fire in the Sky in motion. Whilst there, it occurred to me that many of my musical heroes had lived or performed there, and three of them in particular had a strong connection with the town. Miles Davis, Igor Stravinsky and Freddie Mercury graced Montreux - the large convention centre, where the famous summer jazz festival is held, named its two halls after Davis and Stravinsky, and there is a quite breathtaking statue of Mercury in the town too.Each musician also commemorates an anniversary in 2011, the year of the premiere of Fire in the Sky; it is 40 years since the death of Stravinsky and both Miles Davis and Freddie Mercury died in 1991, making it 20 years since their deaths. So it seemed fitting to write a piece that in some way acknowledges them, and is a kind of personal "thanks" for all they have given, and continue to give, me.The title comes from the famous Deep Purple song, Smoke on the Water - whose second line is "Fire in the Sky" and is a reference to the night the town's casino was set alight by a Frank Zappa fan. The piece tries to recreate the atmosphere of that night, paint a picture of fire in the sky (and smoke on the water) and also uses small "nuggets" of the music of my three greatest musical heroes, Miles Davis, Freddie Mercury and Igor Stravinsky.
Estimated dispatch 5-14 working days
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Lament (from Macbeth) - Peter Meechan
Macbeth was commissioned by the Scottish Brass Band Association for the 2007 Scottish Open Championship, and takes its' inspiration from the Shakespeare play of the same name.The Lament is the central, emotional core to the work. Although the play tells of Macbeth not feeling the pain of his wife's death, this lament ponders not only her death, but the tale as a whole.
Estimated dispatch 5-14 working days
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Land of the Living Skies - Peter Meechan
From the composer:"Commissioned by tuba virtuoso Patrick Sheridan, Land of the Living Skies is inspired by the love of photography shared by both Patrick and I.After moving from the UK to Saskatchewan, Canada, there were many changes, but perhaps the most striking of all were the skyscapes that my new home produced; stunning sunsets, incredible views of the Milky Way, amazing moonlit landscapes, and - of course - the Northern Lights.This piece was the last I wrote before moving away from Saskatchewan and. given that the Province calls itself the "Land of the Living Skies", it seemed only fitting to name the work after its amazing skies that had provided a lifetime's worth of inspiration.The piece is dedicated to Patrick Sheridan, an amazing tubist, musician, educator and friend."Pete Meechan, January 2018
Estimated dispatch 5-14 working days
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Taking the Fifth - Peter Meechan
Written during the Covid-19 pandemic, originally as an adaptable chart, Taking the Fifth takes its title from both the primary interval of the work as well as from a general British expression that when something is outrageous, remarkable, or the worse of its kind that it "takes the biscuit".Given that the piece was written during the Covid-19, and that even more unpredictable news that followed every day during the pandemic, it seemed an apt title!Upbeat, occasionally dark, but always with drive and a sense of fun, Taking the Fifth was the piece that got my creative juices flowing again, having initially found myself pretty lost for inspiration during the early stages of pandemic.Taking the Fifth is dedicated to my dear friend, Robert Ambrose.Peter Meechan 2021Anthony Reimer, Calgary, CanadaBenedictine College - Tom Davoren, Director of BandsBrandon University - Wendy Zander McCallum, Conductor, Symphonic BandBrooklyn Wind Symphony - Jeff W. Ball, Artistic Director & ConductorDordt University - Onsby C. Rose, Director of Instrumental StudiesGeorgia State University - Robert Ambrose, Director of BandsGlobal Bandroom Podcast - Keith Kelly, HostKansas State University - Frank Tracz, Director of BandsUniversity of Kansas - Matthew Smith, Associate Director of BandsUniversity of Regina - Brent Ghiglione, Director of BandsWinona State University - Melanie Brooks, Director of Bands
Estimated dispatch 5-14 working days
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Through Clouds and Sunshine - Peter Meechan
Commissioned by Major Matthew Clark and the Royal Canadian Air Force Band in celebration of their 75th anniversary, Through Clouds and Sunshine draws on flight as an inspiration.The piece is based on a hymn by Canadian Richard Campbell, The Airman's Prayer. On first hearing of the hymn I felt a sense of nostalgia - The Airman's Prayer is reminiscent of so many hymns I remember singing in school assemblies (attending Church of England schools until the age of 12 provided plenty of opportunity to learn a great many hymns!).The hymn is used throughout all three movements in various treatments; at times it is utilized as a harmonic basis for the work, and at other times the melody is taken (in fragments or as a whole) to provide a journey through the piece as a whole.The first movement, Power, is an imagining of brave pilots taking to the glorious skies before encountering enemy fighters - driven by adrenaline, Power takes the listener through many emotions and thoughts: fear, excitement, energy, victory.The second movement, Air, sets the hymn in a number of ways. Featuring an offstage euphonium, the work begins with voices from the heavens, before the ensemble nostalgically holds on to each note in the second verse. A more straightforward, and perhaps poignant, setting for a brass choir follows, before a return to the offstage euphonium for a final sounding of the hymn.The finale movement, Space, is a moto perpetuo tour-de-force for the whole ensemble. Drawing on the hymn, the movement is underpinned by fast moving 16th notes in the winds and percussion whilst the brass play fragments of the hymn over the top of the driven ostinato.The work was commissioned by, and dedicated to, Major Matthew Clark and the Royal Canadian Air Force Band (Winnipeg, Canada).Peter Meechan 2023
Estimated dispatch 5-14 working days
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£70.00
Ides March (Score & Parts) - Derek Bermel
Ides March was commissioned by William Brine in 1990, Bermel's first commission. Brine requested that the work be a march suitable for performance at both a wedding and a funeral. Although originally titled Brine's March, when the composer learned that the march was to receive its premiere on 15 March, he changed the title to Ides March in a umorous nod to the Shakespearean admonition 'Beware the Ides of March'; in his youthful view a sentiment appropriate for either a wedding or a funeral. However, a line from Cole Porter was the inspiration behind the major key to minor key interplay of the work: 'What could be any finer? But how strange the change from major to minor, every time we say goodbye', a line that captured the composer's attempt to write a march that did justice to both the melancholy and triumphant.
In stock: Estimated delivery 1-3 days
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