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£154.99The Power of the Megatsunami - Carl Wittrock
The word 'tsunami' is of Japanese origin. When you look it up in a dictionary, you will find that it means 'a great sea wave produced by submarine earth movement or volcanic eruption'. A megatsunami is the superlative of this awesome expression of power that nature can create, and has catastrophic consequences. When Carl Wittrock completed this composition not many such big earth movements had occurred, but since then we have become all too familiar with the disastrous consequences which a tsunami may have. On the 26th of December 2004 a heavy seaquake took place near the Indonesian island of Sumatra. Tidal waves 10 meters in height ravaged the coastal regions ofmany countries for miles around. The tsunami took the lives of thousands of people and destroyed many villages and towns. There are more areas which run the risk of being struck by a tsunami, such as the island of La Palma, one of the Canary Islands. This island is based on oceanic crust at a fracture zone and as such is one of nature's time bombs. The consequences of a natural calamity like a megatsunami are immense. In the case of La Palma, the tidal wave will move in the direction of South America, where it may reach 50 km inland, destroying everything on its way. In his composition Wittrock describes an ordinary day which will have an unexpected ending. Right from the beginning there seems to be something in the air, the music creating an oppressive atmosphere of impending disaster. Themes are interrupted, broken off suddenly, followed by silence, suggesting the calm before the storm. Suddenly a short climax (glissandi in the trombone part) indicates the seaquake, and the megatsunami is a fact. Hereafter follows a turbulent passage symbolising the huge rolling waves. After nature's force has spent itself, resignation sets in and the composition ends with a majestic ode to nature.
Estimated dispatch 7-14 working days
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£286.40Poeme du Feu - Ida Gotkovsky
Major Albert Fasce, head of the musical department of the French Army, wrote about Pome du Feu:The Pome du Feu by Madame Ida Gotkovski is probably one of the original compostitions for symphonic band which has been most successful in recent years. I have had to conduct this work at concerts with different orchestras, and in particular at Budapest, and each performance was greeted by enthusiastic ovations. Moreover, it is quite rare in contemporary music to achieve, at the same time, the satisfaction of the musicians and success with the public. This is significant. This magnificent work is written remakably for wind instruments. There is no major technical difficulty, but the character of this work calls for meticulous placing and a certain orchestral glow. There is a "key" to be found in the first movement, which is in some way the rhythmic genesis of the work. The metronome marking of the first movement should be absolutely respected, and proper interpretation of the accents and the articulations are imperative. The fortissimi and rallentandi should not be exaggerated. As far as the little "trick" is concerned, this lies in the execution of the double crochets which should be considered in two ways: the first, a rhythmical one for those which arise from the rhythmic genesis, and the second more melodic for those arising in passages.Finally, to unseal the rhythmic origin of the double crochets, it is necessary to proceed by recurrence, starting from the four double crochets of the finale.These four double crochets must be executed very rhythmically in the different times. For the first, they arise:1: from the second bar of the first movement2: from the bar three bars before A for the second3: from the bar from G to the fourth time for the third.These double crochets must be played rhythmcally, while diminishing, however, those three bars before A.All this is of great importance, otherwise the whole execution will be in contradition with the spirit and the rhythmic inspiration of the work. Moreover, this beautiful work could very well support a ballet.As Head of Broadcast Music I must express all our gratitude to Madame Gotkovski for her contribution to constituting a real repertoire for wind ensemble. This articular and sometimes unappreceated band possesses unsuspected riches. This magnificent work is now in the repertoire of Musique de l'Air de France.
Estimated dispatch 7-14 working days
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£84.99Bread and Games - William Vean
'Panem et Circenses', Bread and Games were essential for keeping the citizens of ancient Rome in check. While the bread was meant for the poorest among the Romans, the Games were Popular Pastime Number One for everybody.There were different kinds of games, such as chariot races (especially popular with female spectators), or wild-beast fights, where lions, tigers, bulls or bears were set on one another or even on human beings. Most popular, however, were the Gladiator fights. In 'Bread and Games' William Vean depicts one of the many fights in the antique Colosseum. 1. Entrance of the Gladiators: By powerful bugle-calls the attention of the peoplewas asked for, after which the Gladiators entered the Arena at the sound of heroic marching-music.2.Swordfight: We can hear that the fights were not mere child's play in this part.On the contrary, they were a matter of life and death and were fought accordingly.3.Mercy of the Emperor: Sometimes a wounded gladiator could be fortunate, depending on the mercy of the audience. Waving one's handkerchief meant mercy, a turned-down thumb meant no pardon. The Emperor had the right to take the final decision, but he usually complied with the wish of the majority of the public. 4.Lap of Honour: Gladiators were mainly selected among slaves, convicted criminals, or prisoners of war. Consequently, winning was very important, as it would mean fame, honour and sometimes even wealth. A lap of honour, therefore, was the winner's due reward.
Estimated dispatch 7-14 working days
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£122.50After Mozart
Lszl Dubrovay's work, written in 2006, on the 250th anniversary of Mozart's birth, is a salute of a 21st-century composer to one of the greatest geniuses in the history of music. The composer builds his original ideas on one of the best-known melodies of The Marriage of Figaro (Figaro's aria: ''Non pi? andrai, farfallone amoroso''). The series of variations on the theme of the aria is created by the involvement of special instruments, and by fully harnessing their technical abilities, while Dubrovay's hallmark of a perfect balance and peculiar compositional tone is realised on an exceptionally large orchestra. The work is suited to illustrate the potentials of crossovers between different periods in the history of music, but it can also be played at a festive, thematic concert.
Estimated dispatch 7-14 working days
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£244.00Stratoscape - Gauthier Dupertuis
Stratoscape, by Swiss composer Gauthier Dupertuis, is a colorful and contrasting work for wind orchestra, depicting the view of our earth as seen from the stratosphere. This voyage into the sky is pictural, but also metaphorical, as it is also about distancing from our world. br>The work is divided into five sections:I Ignition!, II Broadness & The Big Blue, III Stars Shining from Down to Above, IV Destructive Forces, V One and Only HomeFive contrasting movements, starting with Ignition in which Gauthier Dupertuis tries to musically convey the majesty of our planet seeing if from the atmosphere, ending with One and Only Hope, as the title say, a message of hope. In between three movements that depict the broadness of the landscapes of our planet (second movement), the fragility of our earth at night with only the stars shining (third movement). But also sheer reality in the fourth movement when the composer translates into music the damage caused to our planet by us human beings. Stratoscape: a fantastic view of Planet Earth!
Estimated dispatch 7-14 working days
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£159.99The Miner's Saga - Otto M. Schwarz
This programmatic piece is about a simple miner by the name of Gottlieb Bumler and his pact with the devil. In the program note one can follow each step of the story so you can almost hear the events as if they were happening in front of you! This cinematic piece is full of sound effects, great brass sequences, solid percussion and virtuosic winds. An ideal piece for a thematic concert, or a challenging choice for a contest. This programmatic piece is about a simple miner by the name of Gottlieb Bumler and his pact with the devil. In the program note one can follow each step of the story so you can almost hear the events as if they were happening in front of you! Thiscinematic piece is full of sound effects, great brass sequences, solid percussion and virtuosic winds. An ideal piece for a thematic concert, or a challenging choice for a contest.
Estimated dispatch 7-14 working days
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£169.99Leonardo - Otto M. Schwarz
Leonardo by Otto M. Schwarz is an 11-minute work for Concert Band based on the life and work of Leonardo da Vinci.Born in Italy in 1452, da Vinci was a polymath of the Renaissance period whose interests included astronomy, philosophy, science and mathematics as well as the visual arts. He is considered one of the greatest painters of all time - who does not know of his famous 'Mona Lisa' or 'The Last Supper'?Inspired by da Vinci's notebooks, or codices, this composition takes the listener on a journey through the artist's incredible career. Through his music, Schwarz brings da Vinci back to life. The listener will beable to sense the passion, and the urge for innovation that set da Vinci apart as one of the most remarkable thinkers of the 16th century.This set includes a score and parts.
Estimated dispatch 7-14 working days
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£593.99Symphony No. 2 - Views of Edo - Franco Cesarini
Edo is the ancient name for the city of Tokyo. Inspired by a series of woodcuts by the artist Utagawa Hiroshige (1797-1858) entitled 'One Hundred Famous Views of Edo', Cesarini's symphony is based upon a few traditional Japanese melodies. The composition is divided into five movements in arch form: a structure in which the individual sections are arranged symmetrically around a centre. Each movement takes its title from a print from the 'One Hundred Views'.
Estimated dispatch 7-14 working days
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£85.00Sir Roger de Coverley - Frank Bridge
Frank Bridge (1879 - 1941) was one of the leading English composers of his time. In October 1922 he adapted his popular string quartet Sir Roger de Coverley for full symphony orchestra and Sir Henry Wood agreed, at the last minute, to include it in the last night of the Queen's Hall Promenade Concerts at the end of that month.This elaborate and colourful orchestral version has never been widely performed, but has now been brilliantly transcribed by Alastair Wheeler to provide a miniature dance poem for grade 5 level concert band.Bridge's lively treatment of one of England's most famous traditional dance melodies willmake a fitting end to any concert, with the strains of Auld Lang Syne introduced by Bridge as a nod towards Sir Roger de Coverley's traditional function as the final dance of a Christmas Ball, as it was in Old Mr. Fezziwig's party in Dickens' A Christmas Carol.
Estimated dispatch 7-14 working days
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£84.99Apollo 11 - Otto M. Schwarz
Who doesn't know the iconic words "That's one small step for man, one giant leap for mankind", spoken by the famous astronaut Neil Armstrong - the man that took the first step on the moon. This inspiring work from Otto M. Schwarz lets you re-experience this event step by step, starting from the countdown until the actual landing on the moon. A stunning musical flashback to the historical event of 1969, which will make you feel as if you are in the space shuttle Apollo 11 yourself!
Estimated dispatch 7-14 working days
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