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£109.99Tribute to Dixie - Gilbert Tinner
This scintillating work was written as a tribute to the jazz musicians of the New Orleans, Dixieland and Chicago styles of the 20s and 30s. It consists of an opening swing section in true Dixieland style, followed by a sleazy blues section. Ideally the band should be divided so there is a separate Dixieland band consisting of trumpet, clarinet, alto or tenor saxophone, trombone, banjo (optional) and tuba or double bass. Although the Dixieland band are mostly accompanied by the remainder of the concert band the accompanying players also get the chance to shine as every now and again they take over the musical themes.
Estimated dispatch 7-14 working days
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£137.99Starflash - Otto M. Schwarz
Starflash describes a celestial phenomenon that the composer witnessed in the summer of 2005 gazing at the night sky over the Greek island of Kos. He saw two shooting stars coming from different directions, approaching each other and burning up. This piece begins with a fanfare representing the vastness of space, followed by the flight of the shooting stars. Characteristic Greek dance elements are interwoven with themes in the style of film music. In the middle section, a bolero with an oriental flair sets in, symbolizing the close mainland of Turkey with the lights shining at night. Thanks to its unconventional rhythms and catchy melodies, Starflash is an easily accessiblemusical description of a personal experience in a modern symphonic style.
Estimated dispatch 7-14 working days
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£89.99Hotel California - Don Henley
The meaning of the Eagles song Hotel California has been the subject of much debate since it's release in 1976 and has seen many different interpretations over the years. The band however indicated that that the song is about excess and materialism. This fantastic arrangement will be instantly recognised by all.
Estimated dispatch 7-14 working days
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£69.99Hippo Hop - Kevin Houben
Hippo Hop is a fun piece for young and old alike. Hippo the hippopotamus is in the mood for a dance, but can he actually do it? "The proof of the pudding is in the eating!" he says to himself as he strides over the African plains.The other animals look on admiringly as Hippo tries a little jump: hip, hop... It's going so well! A stirring melody line is played throughout the entire concert band, with every part playable yet challenging.
Estimated dispatch 7-14 working days
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£76.99Maid of Orleans
In 1981 the group OMD (Orchestral Manoeuvres in the Dark) managed to turn the ancient legend of Joan of Arc into a modern electro-pop song-and thus leave a landmark in the landscape of pop themselves. The solemn melody over the steady drums in 4/4time creates an almost hypnotic effect that will charm anyone who hears this wind band arrangement.
Estimated dispatch 7-14 working days
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£78.99North Bay Vistas - Robert W. Smith
Composer Robert W. Smith's journey to the San Francisco Bay Area inspired this musical panorama. Beginning with an intriguing fanfare statement representing the unforgettable skyline of San Francisco and the unique images of the Golden Gate and Bay Bridges, our journey begins north over the waters of the bay. Sailing across the water, we are treated to magnificent vistas including both the city and the surrounding mountains. An early morning sunrise looking down on the vineyards of Sonoma was the inspiration for the center of the piece. The early morning mist combined with light and shadow creates a very peaceful scene that is not soon forgotten. The piece concludes with the return to the city providing a new perspective of this truly unique American landscape.
Estimated dispatch 7-14 working days
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£109.99Motown Story
Motown is much more than a record company. From its humble beginnings in 1959, it has become a sound, a style, a whole movement. Founder Berry Gordy, Jr. had no idea what lay ahead over the following decades as he began producing records with the likes of The Jackson 5, Marvin Gaye, Diana Ross, Stevie Wonder, Lionel Richie, and many others. Motown Story is a tribute to the unique Motown-sound and contains optional parts for piano/keyboard and the electric or bass guitar. This medley features: ABC (The Jackson 5), Stop in the Name of Love (The Supremes), I Heard It through the Grapevine (Marvin Gaye) and Dancing in the Street (Martha Reeves & The Vandellas).
Estimated dispatch 7-14 working days
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£149.99Moretus - Bart Picqueur
Jan Moretus (1543-1610) was a book printer and publisher in his native city of Antwerp. He worked as assistant to his father-in-law, the renowned master printer and publisher Christoffel Plantijn. After Plantijn's death in 1589 Moretus took over the business.The composition Moretus consists of four parts that draw on the remarkable personality of Jan Moretus aswell as the printing business. In both the titles of the movements and the thematic structure we can see a certain symmetry: a playful allusion to the process of printing.Part 1, A Celebrated Gentleman, describes the illustrious figure of Moretus in a festive chorale. In the second part, ExpressiveImpressions, the printing press itself is brought to life in repeated motifs - despite the industrial, mechanical nature of the process, the product always has an artistic and cultural dimension. In the third part, Impressive Expression, the wind band is invited (or challenged), to intone the slow theme with a poignant expressiveness. Part 4, A Gentle Celebration, is a celebratory finale with a fresh theme.
Estimated dispatch 7-14 working days
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£184.99
Rubicon - Bert Appermont
The Rubicon is a river in Northern Italy which Julius Caesar crossed with his army in 49 BC in defiance of the leaders of Rome, who feared his power. A civil war against rival Pompey ensued, which culminated in Caesar seizing power as the absoluteruler of Rome. The phrase "crossing the Rubicon" therefore refers to any person committing himself irrevocably to a risky, decisive and irrevocable of course of action.The work consists of three parts that deal with this important moment in history.Part 1 (Meditation) symbolises Caesars request to the Gods to assist him in his difficult choice. In a slow introduction we hear the melancholy and beseeching sounds of the duduk (alternatively, this part can be played by a soprano saxophone)and of the soprano solo singer over the bourdon accompaniment. The soprano solo singer then sings "dona tibi pacem" (give him rest) in a melodious and probing theme.In Part 2 (Battle of Pharsalus) trumpets and trombones resound alternately ina stately Roman fanfare, producing a stereophonic effect. This develops into a martial theme in which Caesars impressive army goes to battle against the army of rival Pompey. While the theme of Caesars army fades away, Pompeys theme emerges as anaive dance in six-eight time. His army is definitely in the majority and it believes it can easily defeat the enemy. Suddenly trumpets and trombones clash on two sides of the orchestra: Caesars army advances and attacks. A fierce battle ensues inwhich the two themes are played alternately as well as simultaneously. Thanks to his shrewd battle tactics, Caesar manages to win this legendary battle after all: his theme resounds ever louder in trumpets and horns until everything dies out andchanges into a kind of reconciliation between the soldiers of the two armies. The melancholy "dona tibi pacem" from part 1 now serves as a reconciliation theme.Caesar is now the sole ruler of the New Roman Empire, which would be destined to leave itsmark on our Western civilisation to this day. The third part is a sparkling succession of dance music (Dance) with many Greek and Roman elements in which Caesars victory is praised and celebrated. It is common knowledge that the culture(arts, gods, etc.) of the Romans drew heavily on Greek culture. I have therefore used an authentic Greek theme (the Seikolos song) several times in this part (bar 17 in the euphonium, bar 60 in the base section, bar 68 in the sopranosaxophone) to suggest the music of that era and to evoke the right atmosphere. After a gradual increase in tempo in the entire orchestra, the opening melody gloriously resounds once more, surrounded by virtuoso dance music. The work ends withbombastic brass fanfares in which Caesars theme triumphs once more.NOTE FOR THE CONDUCTOR:The Armenian duduk and the monochord that are used in the introduction give a special tone to the music, but could be substituted (soprano saxophone instead ofthe duduk) or left out (monochord). The soprano solo is also doubled within the orchestra and could therefore also be left out if necessary, although it does provide the work with an extra dimension. The male voices in the introduction and the finalecould possibly be replaced with a synthesizer with choral setting.As a visual and acoustic element in part 2, the trumpets, the e-flat cornet, the small drum and trombones can be stood up and placed at two sides of the orchestra (bar 80).Seen fromthe point of view of the conductor, put the trumpets, the e-flat cornet and the small drum in the left section and the trombones in the right section of the orchestra. This also helps to create a visual contrast between the two themes of the secondpart. The players can be seated again at bar 97 or bar 121. The soprano soloist can be placed in or in front of the orchestra, depending on what gives the best result. For the conclusion of the work the soprano solo can be sung from afar (from thewings) to create additional atmosphere.This work was composed especially for the "St Joseph" brass band from Pey/Echt (Belgium) with conductor Mark Prils.
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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