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£209.99Diamond Concerto - Philip Sparke
Diamond Concerto was commissioned by Musikverein Mrschied from Germany - Dr. Eric Grandjean, conductor - for a special concert featuring Steven Mead as guest soloist. Together they gave the world premiere on 28th April 2012 in the town theatre of Idar-Oberstein.The commission is a highlight in the 30-year friendship between composer and soloist, which has included many mutual CD projects and concerts and, now, a concerto. Sparke had Steven Mead's special euphonium sound in his head throughout the composition process and made free use of the variety of styles which the world-renowned virtuoso has made his own during his highly successful solo career.The village ofMrschied lies to the west of Frankfurt am Main in the area known as the German Road of Precious Stones, which is famous for its thriving gem industry. Because of this it was decided to give the commission a local connection by choosing the title, Diamond Concerto. Each of the three movements is named after a famous diamond:1 EARTH STARis rather stern in mood, opening with a free fantasy for the soloist over a static chord from the band. This leads to an Allegro Moderato in minor mode where small motives are gradually repeated and developed by both band and soloist.2 OCEAN DREAMuses a varied quote from the composer's Music for Battle Creek, including a melting slow melody that was originally written with Steven Mead in mind.3 BLUE HEARTwas written, at Steven Mead's suggestion, in bebop style and takes the form of a jazz waltz. The quasi-improvisatory central section features a call-and-response passage for the soloist and upper woodwinds.Soloist: Difficulty 6Diamond Concerto is available for euphonium and piano (AMP 374-401) as well as for euphonium and brass band (AMP 354-030).
Estimated dispatch 7-14 working days
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£168.50Harlequin - Philip Sparke
Harlequin was commissioned by, and is dedicated to, euphonium virtuoso David Childs. The piece takes as its inspiration the happy and sad masks which symbolise the Commedia dell?Arte (which features Harlequin as one of its main characters) and comprises two movements, a slow modal ballad followed by a frenetic faster movement. A fantastic showpiece for euphonium and band.
Estimated dispatch 7-14 working days
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£164.99Moving Heaven and Earth - Philip Sparke
Moving Heaven and Earth consists of a theme and 4 variations; although the theme is original it contains a phrase heavily influenced by a 14-bar passage from the Libera Me in Faur's Requiem. It is a sequence that the composer finds harmonically compelling and, although it is never quoted directly, it appears in altered form in the theme and each of the variations. In the original, the passage is set to the words: Quando cli movendi sunt et terra (When the heavens and the earth shall be moved) which gave inspiration for the title.
Estimated dispatch 7-14 working days
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£134.99Hunting Tower - Ottorino Respighi
Not much is known about the origin of Huntingtower, except for the fact that this ballad was composed in 1931 by the Italian composer Ottorino Respighi (1879-1936), commissioned by Edwin Franko Goldman and the American Bandmaster Association, and was premiered on 17 April 1932 at a concert in memory of John Philip Sousa in Washington D.C. It is not even certain whether Respighi arranged the work himself, or left this to someone else. Huntingtower is the name of a castle in Scotland, where Respighi spent some time. It is possible that this ballad contains his musical impressions of his stay there. The orchestration on this CD, made by Franco Cesarini in 1987, is an adaptation ofthe work to the demands of the contemporary concert band.
Estimated dispatch 7-14 working days
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£87.99In the Bleak Mid-Winter - Gustav Holst
Christina Rossetti wrote the words to this famous Christmas carol in 1872 in response to a request from the magazine Scribner's Monthly for a Christmas poem. They were set to music by Gustav Holst (1874-1934) for inclusion in the first edition (1906) of The English Hymnal, edited by his life-long friend, Ralph Vaughan Williams. Philip Sparke has carefully arranged the beautiful melody into this delightful version for concert band. A must for any Christmas concert.
Estimated dispatch 7-14 working days
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£91.99The Centurion - Philip Sparke
Lively and upbeat in nature, The Centurion follows the conventional British march format. It is not technically demanding yet a successful performance will need skill and commitment from every player in the band. The Centurion will make an ideal opening piece for any indoor or outdoor concert and will be a popular item with both players and audiences alike.
Estimated dispatch 7-14 working days
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£69.99A London Intrada - Philip Sparke
London is one of the largest, busiest and most vibrant of capital cities and hosts millions of visitors from around the world every year, who come to enjoy its many attractions and rich history. From the daily Changing of the Guard at Buckingham Palace to the annual Trooping the Colour, which celebrates the Queen's official birthday, ceremony plays an important part in London life and symbolises the city for many tourists. A London Intrada celebrates this love of 'Pomp and Circumstance'.
Estimated dispatch 7-14 working days
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£106.99A Huntingdon Celebration - Philip Sparke
This short and lively overture will make a fantastic opening piece for any concert. It begins with the fanfare-like main theme played by the Clarinets and Saxophones, which is taken up by the whole band. Following a slower central chorale the original tempo returns and the opening fanfares re-appear to bring the piece to a triumphal end.
Estimated dispatch 7-14 working days
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£79.99A Christmas Herald - Philip Sparke
Designed to open a Christmas concert, A Christmas Herald starts with a fanfare that introduces a lyrical theme, which eventually turns out to be a descant to Hark, the Herald Angels Sing, which is subsequently introduced by trombones and euphoniums. The famous carol then gradually transforms back into the fanfare, which closes the work as it began.
Estimated dispatch 7-14 working days
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£106.99Dance of the Whale - Philip Sparke
Dance of the Whale was commissioned by the Spanish music foundation, Musica et Orbi, at the instigation of its president, Frank De Vuyst. It is part of a unique project which involved nine composers each writing a short movement, describing ananimal of the composers' choice, to form a suite called Bestiarium. A consortium of bands around the world helped to fund the project and the world premiere of the suite took place in March 2013 in Medell n, Colombia. Dance of the Whaleuses the tenor instruments of the band to describe a lazy and graceful dance by a blue whale and is dedicated to endangered species around the world.
Estimated dispatch 7-14 working days
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