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£99.99Salutation - Philip Sparke
Salutation was commissioned by Japanese conductor and broadcaster, Yutaka Nishida, a dear friend of the composer Philip Sparke. Salutation follows fairly conventional march form. A short fanfare introduces the main theme, played by clarinets and saxophones. A bridge passage, mainly in the brass, heralds a change of key and a legato second subject, again played initially by the clarinets, which leads to the conventional trio theme, which is then repeated by the full band. Sections of the second subject lead back to the home key and a return of the main theme, embellished with woodwinds.
Estimated dispatch 7-14 working days
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£134.99
Recalls - Ben Haemhouts
Recalls obviously refers to memories. This piece of music is in fact a series of flashbacks, however, it does not highlight the actual memories of specific thoughts, people or events.The composition evolves around the late Frans Steurs, who for manyyears was the inspirational artist behind the brass band that is currently commissioning this work. The main theme of the work is based on the name STEURS". E = mi, U = do, R = re and S = "si" which is Dutch for the note "ti". This idea forms themusical theme for the entire composition and different variations are used throughout. The structure of the work is based on the concept of a story which father Steurs is telling his two daughters, who play the flute and the clarinet. Each part ofthe work has a story-like character:1. Introduction: following a short ominous intro, the main theme is presented for the first time.2. The Story: father Steurs has both his daughters on his knee and he tells them stories from the old days. Trumpetsand trombones play variations of the theme. The story gets very exciting (accelerande, poco a poco agitato) until the tale takes a dramatic turn when the father tells an exciting story at the time of the Second World War. He tells of being hunteddown by the occupying army and these adventurous episodes are related to us musically in part3. Danger, with its skilful references to "vor dem Sturm" from "Eine Alpensinfonie" by Richard Strauss.4. called Fugitives, is about how he fled in the nightfrom the enemy and this is reflected in the bass tones of a new theme. The aggression of the war is illustrated from bar 117 onwards, by a harsh brass section. The main theme is repeated once again and this time up-tempo. The second theme is broughtonce again from bar 149 onwards.5. Dialogues, depicts the conversations between the two daughters and their father. Father speaks (bar 155); the daughters answer (bar 164 - flute, bar 166 - clarinet); bar 178: father answers with the tune of the maintheme to the two daughters. The discussions gradually intensify but ultimately end in peace in the last part called Conclusion.The piece of music "Recalls" is a free interpretation by the composer who consulted the letters between the two daughtersof Steurs and their father and in this respect it is not really music for a programme."
Estimated dispatch 7-14 working days
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£109.99
Musica Festiva - Menno Bosgra
This 3-part work begins with a martial and heroic theme where the brass and drums play an important role. A second melodic theme contrasts with the first, although elements of the first theme remain clearly present and they in turn provide a link to the second, calmer movement which is introduced with a splendid solo on the saxophone. You can hear fragments of the first part here too.In the third part, the small drum begins to play the background theme and is followed by a grand group of brass instruments playing a heavy concert march which, after an increase of tempo, gradually ends in a grand finale which refers once again to the initial theme.
Estimated dispatch 7-14 working days
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£79.99
Scherzo from Symphony No. 5 - Dmitri Shostakovich
The second movement of Shostakovich's masterful and subversive Fifth Symphony, written as his career as a composer in communist Russia teetered in the balance, could suggest a barely literate composer from the Bureau of Artists coming to the great Shostakovich to demonstrate, through a most grotesque dance, how simple it is to compose great music under the Soviet System. This transcription of the Scherzo movement was produced by Mark Rogers, who also transcribed the complete symphony. In the transcription of the complete work, all of the music remains in the original key, while in this publication, the second movement is transposed down a whole tone to G minor. Other than the transposition and the removal of some of the more rarely found instruments (E flat clarinet, contrabassoon and harp), the music is intact, and represents the composer's intentions in every way. Conductors who choose to perform this piece will introduce their players to this important voice in Twentieth Century music and bring major issues about political life and its impact on creative life to their students in the most relevant fashion.
Estimated dispatch 7-14 working days
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£129.99Aquarium - Johan de Meij
The Suite 'Aquarium' is Johan de Meij's third composition for symphonic band and features six tropical fishes, each of them represented by a motif, and surfacing as such in several guises. The composition consists of three movements of which the second and third merge uninterruptedly into each other. I) Allegretto grazioso (Neon Tetra, Electric Eel and Angelfish) II) Andante / Adagio (Sea Horse and Zebrafish) III) Finale: Allegro giocoso (Guppy & Co.) The Neon Tetra motif functions as a kind of 'Leitmotiv' and descibes the beautifully coloured, frisky fish: A number of variants have been derived from this theme and will also appear in the other movements.The Electric Eel in fact is not represented by a motif, but by a rhythm based on the restless electric pulses made audible in some aquaria. The Angel fish is represented by elegant cluster chords. In the second movement the Sea Horse emerges out of the water vegetation and starts a dialogue with the Zebrafish, which is represented by one melodic phrase in unison, getting more and more threatening by added parallel fifths and octaves. Simultaneously with the Sea Horse motif the Neon Tetra theme emerges, this time in 3/4 time and in Eb minor. The third movement starts with only two instruments (trumpet and xylophone), but as it is often the case with Guppies their number rapidly increases. Piccolo and Alto Saxophone introduce the Guppy Theme followed by several instrumental combinations. Every theme from the first movement 'swims by' once more, after which the principal motif leads us to a brilliant ending.
Estimated dispatch 7-14 working days
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£176.50Masquerade - Philip Sparke
MASQUERADE was commissioned by Stadtmusik Willisau from Switzerland (Reto Gdel, conductor) to celebrate their 175th anniversary in 2003 and first performed by them in November that year. 1. OvertureThe first movement opens with a fanfare-like figure, featuring the brass, before the main them is introduced over staccato chords. After a short, syncopated interlude a legato theme is introduced in the tenor register and material is developed until the music slows temporarily. The opening theme returns and the 'tenor' tune is taken up by the whole band until the opening fanfare returns to close the movement. 2. ElegyThe slow movement opens intensely with a bare two-part theme, whichleads to a passionate chorale-style melody. A second theme is introduced and leads to a climax, a return of the chorale theme and a pianissimo repeat which again leads to a full-band climax. The two-part theme returns quietly to create a peaceful close. 3 InterludeA short movement which changes the mood to introduce:- 4 FinaleThree violent chords preface a lively syncopated opening theme. The trumpets introduce a second idea, which is treated fugally, and this in turn leads to the main melodic idea of the movement, over staccato chords. A contrasting subject is then introduced in the middle of the band, followed by echoes of the first movement fanfare. The opening theme returns and material is revisited until the opening fanfare returns in full to end the work triumphantly.
Estimated dispatch 7-14 working days
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£168.50Manhattan - Philip Sparke
Version for Concert BandManhattan was commissioned by the United States Army Band for their solo cornet player Woodrow English and first performed by them in Carnegie Hall, New York, in November 2003. The two-movement work demonstrates both the lyrical and technical abilities of this outstanding player. The 'theme' is a weekend in New York and the opening bluesy movement, Saturday Serenade, describes the city on a Saturday night. While writing the second movement, Sunday Scherzo, the composer pictured an early morning jog in Central Park. This vivaciously rhythmic second movement ends with an even quicker coda bringing the work to a brilliant close. Eachmovement can also be played individually when a shorter solo is required.
Estimated dispatch 7-14 working days
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£91.99Exultation - Philip Sparke
Exultation is a short and energetic concert opener that is similar to a palindrome. A fanfare opens the work, juxtaposing 3/4 and 6/8, reminiscent of Latin-American music.The main theme is first heard on the euphonium, horns and saxophones which is very bluesy. The contrasting second theme is short and spikey and played by the bass instruments of the band. A lyric melody emerges as the rest of the orchestra joins in.The second theme reappears which leads back to the 'blues' melody, which leads back to the opening fanfare. Palindromic!
Estimated dispatch 7-14 working days
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£289.99Divertimento - Oliver Waespi
This grand work contains four contrasting movements. The first movement, Prelude, takes the form of an overture: it raises the curtains and marks the beginning of the piece. The brilliant motifs of the opening are contrasted by a calmer and more lyrical central section, after which the triumphant opening returns for the movement's end. The second movement, Meditation, explores the intimate sounds of the oboe, as well as those of the flute and French horn, backed by a rich orchestral accompaniment. The third movement presents a more upbeat Procession, but not a Procession of the Nobles, as written by Rimsky-Korsakov. Quite the opposite, Procession resembles a "second line"procession from New Orleans, whose up-beat rhythms invite everyone to dance in the streets rather than the measured pacing of a march. Divertimento ends with a Hoedown, the tradition American folk dance idiom, when the band has the opportunity for both vivacity and virtuosity and may play as fast as it can. It is important to play all four movements with precision, clarity and, most importantly, enthusiasm.
Estimated dispatch 7-14 working days
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£109.99
The Bermuda Mystery - Wouter Lenaerts
The rather static character of the first part is built up of only 1 bar, which consists of a sequence of two extended triads above a pedal note (B-flat). The main motive, derived from these triads, is introduced by the horns giving a threatening initial atmosphere. This is abruptly taken over by the clarinet and the oboe, after which violence erupts.In contrast to the mysterious character of the first section, the second part shows a more resigned atmosphere with long drawn out phrases. These are constantly interupted by references to the initial material and develop into a dramatic climax. The main motif reappears for a final time on the trumpet, which, under theinfluence of the second theme, takes on a more resigned character as it gradually fades into silence.
Estimated dispatch 7-14 working days
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