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£435.40Goldberg 2012 - Svein H. Giske
The first time I heard Bach's Goldberg Variations was in the movie Silence of the lambs, in the early 1990s. I noticed the beautiful background music in one of the scenes, but at that time I didn't know what it was. A few years later, when I was studiying at the Grieg Academy, I got to know the entire piece. For me, this is a piece of music which I can listen to countless times. I think it sounds as fresh today as it did more than 15 years ago and it never ceases to inspire me. Both Bach's composition and Glenn Gould's famous 1955 recording (which was the first one I heard) still makes a great impression on me. Before Gould recorded it at age 22, it wasn't a highly ranked piece amongst pianists and Bach was by many viewed as a bit old-fashioned. The young Canadian turned all this around. He managed to portray Bach in a reformed way, producing fine nuances in phrasing and making the many layers in Bach's music more transparent than anyone before him. Thus he plunged both himself and Bach (back) onto the international music scene. When The Norwegian Band Federation (NMF) asked me to write the test piece for NM in 2012, it was only natural for me to use the Goldberg Variations as a starting point and inspiration for my work. Since I was a teenager at NMF's summer courses in the mid eighties I've always listened to many different styles of music. Growing up in Sunnmre with the Brazz Brothers as teachers and mentors, jazz-, pop/rock- and folk music were early on a natural part of my musical background. I also have my classical education from the Grieg Academy on trumpet. As the title of my piece implies, I've wanted to bring Bach to the present and put his music into various modern musical landscapes. I think you can bring about a special kind of energy when music from different genres are mixed and I've tried to do this by mixing Bach with artists and musical styles from the present. In Goldberg 2012, the music is often constructed by several layers, which in a way are living parallel musical lives. They are seemingly moving or floating freely, almost unaware of each other, but bound together by the same basic pulse. The rythms, however, are often notated on a different rythmic subdivision level than the usual 8th- or 16th note levels. By doing this, I hope to achieve transparent sounds that rythmically are perceived as more free and detached from each other. In large sections of the piece, pop/jazz is fusioned with elements from Bach. I guess you could have this little scene as a synopsis for the piece: picture a group of musicians meeting: some are classical performers, some are jazz. They start to improvise together, each in their own voice or musical dialect and I'm sort of in the middle, trying to write down what they are playing. This is what I feel much of Goldberg 2012 is about. The foundation of the piece, in addition to Bach and references from pop/jazz music, lies also in my own material. This material, basically two chords, is heard in it's purest form in the 1st movement. I use these chords to create scales, new chords and different motifs which contribute to blend together the different moods of the piece. It has not been my intention to copy Bach's form (theme and 30 variations), but rather to use the bits and pieces that I like the most as an inspiration for my own variations. The 1st movement, Aria 2, is for my 3rd son, Olav, who was born on the 21st of April 2011, and the 5th movement, From long ago, is dedicated to the memory of my father, Svein J. Giske, who passed away on the 6th of June 2011. -Svein H. Giske, January 2012-
Estimated dispatch 7-14 working days
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£159.99
Fantasia Per La Vita E La Morte - Bert Appermont
The mystique surrounding life and death formed the starting point of this composition. I wanted to write a work without a story, mixed up in a kind of musical quest for a new world of sound, original rhythm sequences, melodies filled with suspenseand distinct orchestral tones.The indirect cause was the birth of my first child which took place during this time, followed by the death of a close family member. At such a moment you experience just how close life and death are to each other, anddespite one being the antithesis of the other, they are incredibly similar. Both radical events are passages into new worlds and have great emotional impact. Moreover, the work was commissioned by "New Life", an orchestra that lost one of itsmusician in a plane crash, which also led me to believe that this approach would be appropriate.I would prefer not to comment on which passages in the composition concern life (birth) and which refer to death. It seems to me that it is moreinteresting to question traditional conceptions and leave it open for the listener. If you think that a passage is about birth, and this idea then shifts, it is this that raises fascinating questions, on both a musical and metaphysical level.Music isin an indirect but incredibly persuasive way in which to express the endless striving and seeking of mankind. Music can even touch eternity, as it were, and give us the feeling that we can transcend death. This endless search (and also longing) canbe heard throughout the work; as much in the sound fields and accent shifts in the first part as in the enormous tension curves and compelling themes of the second part. The semi-tone functions in this way as a guide or something to hold on to,running through the whole work and upon which much of the musical material is based. Traces of profound love resound with quiet simplicity in the slow section's melodious solos, after which the work contemplates life and death one last time, musesupon joy and sadness, on the possibilities and limitations of people and on the why of all things.I would like to dedicate this work to my dearest daughter Paulientje, to Meterke and to Johan de Jong of the "New Life" orchestra. May it fare themwell, here or in another dimension...
Estimated dispatch 7-14 working days
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£139.99Heartbeat of a City (Concert Band - Score and Parts) - Schwarz, Otto M.
A city is founded, it has a heart that beats. But visible achievements such as buildings and infrastructure merely bear witness to what its true heart is made of, the people who have lived, and still live, in the city. The pulse of the city, brought to life by its heartbeat, changes over time. Who hasn't seen those time-lapse images showing twinkling lines of car lights as people make their way to work, while others stand at traffic lights, only moving as if at the push of a button? These are like life flowing in the veins, driven by a strong heart. Leonardo da Vinci had already imagined the rivers as the blood vessels of the Earth. In any city, though, it's not the rivers but the movement and activities of the people who live there. The heart doesn't always beat steadily, however, but its rhythm can be influenced by joy, fear, and many other things. Every city has its own pulse. This is also true of the university city of Marburg, where people from over 100 nations now live together in a cosmopolitan and tolerant community. This work describes the city from its founding in 1222, and the charity of Saint Elizabeth, all the way to the present day.Duration: 9.15
Estimated dispatch 7-14 working days
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£27.95Light Music (Concert Band - Score only) - Wiffin, Rob
The title Light Music alludes to different things. Most of the music in the suite is light in nature, and is in the inherently British tradition of 'light music' - original pieces which are often descriptive but essentially melodic. In another sense the music depicts various aspects of light itself. The title itself is a trick of the light!The first movement, Lightscape, portrays shifting patterns and types of light, highlighting some details and obscuring others. It is sometimes vibrant, dancing and full of movement, and sometimes tranquil.The second movement, At the going down of the sun, considers the light of the sun as it sets. Because of the nature of his career, the composer has written a fair amount of ceremonial music and this movement is close to that genre once again. There is, in the title, a reference to the familiar Remembrance line 'At the going down of the sun and in the morning we will remember them' from the poem For the Fallen by Robert Laurence Binyon (1869-1943) written in September 1914, a few weeks after the outbreak of the First World War. While the music is not a setting of these words - or in any way referential - there is an echo of the words 'We will remember them'.The suite finishes with Set Alight which starts off with a few combustible bars as the flame catches and then the fire is under way.Duration: 11.30
Estimated dispatch 7-14 working days
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£137.95
Light Music (Concert Band - Score and Parts) - Wiffin, Rob
The title Light Music alludes to different things. Most of the music in the suite is light in nature, and is in the inherently British tradition of 'light music' - original pieces which are often descriptive but essentially melodic. In another sense the music depicts various aspects of light itself. The title itself is a trick of the light!The first movement, Lightscape, portrays shifting patterns and types of light, highlighting some details and obscuring others. It is sometimes vibrant, dancing and full of movement, and sometimes tranquil.The second movement, At the going down of the sun, considers the light of the sun as it sets. Because of the nature of his career, the composer has written a fair amount of ceremonial music and this movement is close to that genre once again. There is, in the title, a reference to the familiar Remembrance line 'At the going down of the sun and in the morning we will remember them' from the poem For the Fallen by Robert Laurence Binyon (1869-1943) written in September 1914, a few weeks after the outbreak of the First World War. While the music is not a setting of these words - or in any way referential - there is an echo of the words 'We will remember them'.The suite finishes with Set Alight which starts off with a few combustible bars as the flame catches and then the fire is under way.Duration: 11.30
Estimated dispatch 7-14 working days
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£64.99Woodwinds Of Mass Destruction - Conaway
Ready for some musical "shock and awe?" Play on words aside, this is an excellent way to feature your entire woodwind section in a way that doesn't ignore the rest of the band. A brief, ominous march soon gives way to a raucous display of fast trills and flourishes that show off what these instruments can do (even the bass woodwinds). Highly effective for all serious and light concert environments!
Estimated dispatch 7-14 working days
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£75.00Sherwood Folk (Concert Band - Score and Parts) - Anderson, Keiron
This piece was written for the Nottingham Wind Ensemble to celebrate 30 years of music making. The piece describes a party or celebration deep in Sherwood Forest with the legendary Robin Hood, Maid Marian and the Merry Men. The word "Merry" in those days meant following an outlaw or a leader rather than the way we use it today. The music invites us into the forest with a gentle modal oboe solo which is joined by other instruments as it proceeds to the party. Various melodic episodes introduce elements of folk and dance music from the whole of the British Isles before the music concludes with a recapitulation of the opening bars. The score is written in such a way as to allow bands with fewer resources to play the piece successfully, whilst ensuring a full wind orchestra orchestration is included. Duration: 4.00
Estimated dispatch 7-14 working days
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£164.95Euphonium Concerto (Concert Band - Score and Parts) - Ellerby, Martin
This Euphonium Concerto was written between late 1994 and early 1995 in response to a commission from Steven Mead to whom the work is dedicated. It is cast in four movements and lasts a little over 22 mins:I. Fantasy: After the briefest of introductions, the solo euphonium enters with the key melodic phrase of the movement in a fast 'Tempo I'. This idea is developed up to the point where a slower 'Tempo II' breaks the argument - here the mood is reflective but it is only to be a brief interruption as 'Tempo I' returns very quickly. The opening material is then subjected to further transformation with 'Tempo II' making occasional returns en route, the distances between the contrasting tempi becoming ever closer, and the movement closes in a rather soft though definite manner.II. Capriccio: This relatively short presto movement forms a bridge between the first movement and the work's slow movement. The majority of the band parts are bright and muted with the percussion players enhancing the texture with contributions from xylophone, glockenspiel and vibraphone. Again the initial solo euphonium phrase provides the basis for almost all the movement's material. This is extremely virtuosic for the soloist and band alike and makes great play of the rhythmic possibilities of combining simple and compound music either in close proximity or together.III. Rhapsody (for Luis): A Lento movement, sitting between two different but essentially rapid ones, this provides the work's emotional core exploiting the soloist's cantabile qualities in an almost seamless fashion. Again, as will all the work's movements, the initial idea paves the way for subsequent development, eventually culminating in a passionate climax; thereafter it winds down with an affectionate backward glance towards the close of the the slow movement of the Euphonium Concerto of Joseph Horovitz, whose mark had been made indelibly on the euphonium repertoire. This movement is dedicated to Luis Maldonado who set the full score of the brass version before his untimely death.IV. Diversions: The work's variation finale is cast in 3/4 throughout though the barline is often a guideline and was seen by the composer as a challenge of metrical restraint! There is an obvious jazz feel to this movement (both rhythmically and harmonically) with a swaggering ritornello theme first announced by the solo euphonium. Thereafter follows a series of interludes and 'adjusted' returns of the main theme. A lyrical idea is allowed to enter but the underlying momentum is ever present. The band also contributes to the interludes and eventually the tempo increases towards a 'wild' and absolute conclusion.Duration: 22.30Recorded on QPRM143D Dreamscapes, Royal Northern College of Music Wind Orchestra
Estimated dispatch 7-14 working days
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£32.95
Euphonium Concerto (Concert Band - Score only) - Ellerby, Martin
This Euphonium Concerto was written between late 1994 and early 1995 in response to a commission from Steven Mead to whom the work is dedicated. It is cast in four movements and lasts a little over 22 mins:I. Fantasy: After the briefest of introductions, the solo euphonium enters with the key melodic phrase of the movement in a fast 'Tempo I'. This idea is developed up to the point where a slower 'Tempo II' breaks the argument - here the mood is reflective but it is only to be a brief interruption as 'Tempo I' returns very quickly. The opening material is then subjected to further transformation with 'Tempo II' making occasional returns en route, the distances between the contrasting tempi becoming ever closer, and the movement closes in a rather soft though definite manner.II. Capriccio: This relatively short presto movement forms a bridge between the first movement and the work's slow movement. The majority of the band parts are bright and muted with the percussion players enhancing the texture with contributions from xylophone, glockenspiel and vibraphone. Again the initial solo euphonium phrase provides the basis for almost all the movement's material. This is extremely virtuosic for the soloist and band alike and makes great play of the rhythmic possibilities of combining simple and compound music either in close proximity or together.III. Rhapsody (for Luis): A Lento movement, sitting between two different but essentially rapid ones, this provides the work's emotional core exploiting the soloist's cantabile qualities in an almost seamless fashion. Again, as will all the work's movements, the initial idea paves the way for subsequent development, eventually culminating in a passionate climax; thereafter it winds down with an affectionate backward glance towards the close of the the slow movement of the Euphonium Concerto of Joseph Horovitz, whose mark had been made indelibly on the euphonium repertoire. This movement is dedicated to Luis Maldonado who set the full score of the brass version before his untimely death.IV. Diversions: The work's variation finale is cast in 3/4 throughout though the barline is often a guideline and was seen by the composer as a challenge of metrical restraint! There is an obvious jazz feel to this movement (both rhythmically and harmonically) with a swaggering ritornello theme first announced by the solo euphonium. Thereafter follows a series of interludes and 'adjusted' returns of the main theme. A lyrical idea is allowed to enter but the underlying momentum is ever present. The band also contributes to the interludes and eventually the tempo increases towards a 'wild' and absolute conclusion.Duration: 22.30Recorded on QPRM143D Dreamscapes, Royal Northern College of Music Wind Orchestra
Estimated dispatch 7-14 working days
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£57.50Sketches on an Olde English Song - Timothy Johnson
The lilting joy of a compound triple meter piece is a great way to add contrast to your concert. "Sketches on an Olde English Song" keeps that wonderful 6/8 momentum rolling along nicely. As bands start moving intomore challenging pieces, it's important that the musicians develop facility with 6/8 and 9/8 time. This arrangement is a great way to take your group to the next level. Dur: 4:30
Estimated dispatch 7-14 working days
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