Results
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£142.90Cantina Band - John Williams
Cantina Band (or Mad About Me) was written by John Williams in 1977 for the film Star Wars (later Star Wars IV: A New Hope). Even with quite a bit of the Star Wars music being quite well known, Cantina Band is literally in a style of its own. In the Star Wars-universe this style is called jizz, Williams' take on the more well-known genre jazz. Williams was tasked by Star Wars-creator George Lucas to make music that sounded like several creatures in a future century finding some 1930's Benny Goodman swing band music ... and how they might attempt to interpret it and ended up with Cantina Band #1 and #2. Both numbers are played in the legendary scene taking place in Chalmun's Spaceport Cantina where Luke Skywalker and Obi-Wan Kenobi gets in a fight causing even the band to stop playing.The band, which goes by the name Figrin D'an and the Modal Nodes, comes from the planet Clak'dor VII and specializes in jizz and the nearby, slightly older style of jatz. Performers of this music often go by the name "jizz-wailers", and the Bith people from Clak'dor VII are especially well suited for jizz-wailing since they can hold every note as long as they want thanks to a unique respiratory system - something many perhaps would like to be able to do in the performance of this arrangement as well.The arrangement is relatively faithful to Williams' original version, but with a somewhat different ending. Although the woodwind section undoubtedly has the biggest technical challenges, an understanding of the musical style is the very key to making the arrangement sound good - and here all groups must work together. Playing lightly but quite articulated, and very precise, will be an absolute necessity to get the music drifting off all the way to Tatooine.In measure 113 there is a small improvised solo in either trombone or trumpet, but if you want the real authentic Cantina Band-sound this is of course done on a steel drum.
Estimated dispatch 7-14 working days
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£97.60Proven - Kevin Houben
'Proven' was composed by Kevin Houben on the occasion of the 100th anniversary of the Royal Wind Band 'De Volksvreugd'meaning ' People's Joy' in 2021.As its name suggests the musical band of the West Flemish village , municipality of Poperinge (B), had to bring joy againto the people. At that time there was still a striking industry of woodworkers, including that of slat splitters and hoop cutters.Moreover the cultivation of hops, necessary for the brewing of beer, remained important. Shortly after World War I theassociation was founded in the cellars of the brewer- mayor.Soon the joy was not only experienced by its listeners but also by its members. Already from its foundation onwards, thecandidate musicians flocked in and still nowadays 'De Volksvreugd' can take pride in having more than 100 members in itsyouth orchestra, having a drum band, an ambiance band and a wind band. Participation in tattoo and competitions ensuresan excellent musical level. Moreover musicians of all ages feel like family. For the previous 100 years 'De Volksvreugd' has'proven' to bring joy to the people and by the people. The chant 'Long live the Volksvreugd/ People's Joy' clearly provesits popularity.This energetic and festive composition has a very recognizable and powerful introduction, after which each musician ischallenged concerning technique, rhythm and ensemble playing. Also the magnificent melodic part, which Houben iswell-known for, is very melodious and intimate followed by a lyrical highlight to culminate into an energetic and rhythmicalfinal. Ideal for any concert!
Estimated dispatch 7-14 working days
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£99.99Overture con Spirito - Thomas Doss
This work was commissioned by the Musikverein Prechtal e. V. (Germany) for its 100th anniversary in the year of 2021. The composition opens with a powerful rhythmic motif, which soon develops into the main theme of this brisk overture. The unwavering, joyful melodies and a positive atmosphere give the work a high-spirited energy. The strong pulse has the music firmly in its grasp and only quietens gradually in a pensive middle movement that seems to emanate from another world. This atmospheric passage can evoke dreamy thoughts and a variety of visions. But then the liveliness of the previous motifs returns, to take us back to the vivacious here and now, full of optimism and determination for the hundred years to come. On to a wonderful future!
Estimated dispatch 7-14 working days
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£209.99Dunamis - André Waignein
Major Yvon Ducene wanted a new lush and colourful composition for his Guides military band, with Andr Waignein as its composer. Early in 1979 the composer began his assignement and in October of the same year, the finished full score was on the music stands of this prestigious military band of the Belgian Army.The introduction (Grave) mirrors an atmosphere full of serenity in which the theme, played by the oboes and the English horn is predominant and immediately holds the listener spell-bound. It is taken up again as central element of the slow movement.The Allegro breaks away from the quiet passion of the introduction. Here, the band can really show its capabilities to thefull. Based on a very precise rythm, an idiom of sudden desperation and adversity develops which, fused with a crushing agression, culminates in a kind of eruption, soom calmed down by a Lento : peace and quiet has returned thanks to a melody by the horns and soon taken over by the clarinets. In the meantime, the saxophone - an instrument full of human emotion - express the main spatial dimension in contemporary psyche. Following a harmonic transition the brass-players take up the theme again in forte whilst the basses and the woodwinds interwine in technical arabesques.The movings of the mind and the heart get an audible and almost touchable shape in the ensuing Allegro, a movement characterized by a rhythmic dialogue in which the whole orchestra participates and where the exposition contains a wealth of sound and technical contrasts. The Lento finally uses the central theme of the slow movement again, with some occasional references to the two allegros. The last page is of unprecedented grandeur. All the instruments display their most beautiful sound which were named by Jacques Ferschotte, when speaking about Honneger, "harmonies d'intensits" harmonies of the unmeasurable.
Estimated dispatch 7-14 working days
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£102.99Townscape - Bald Wyntin
Townscape was composed for the centenary of the St. Cecilia concertband from Oudenburg, a town which also inspired the composer throughout this work. The first part depicts a train slowly approaching from afar and then vanishing into the distance again. This is rendered by a sort of repetitive pulse in the music. This is followed by some serious action with jet skis on the Sinnesael lake. Their spectacular twists and turns are transformed into an exuberant theme and a middle section with several changes of time signature. After that comes a restful, lyrical Nocturne, a musical painting of the mill at night. The work concludes with a lively finale that is an ode to dailylife in Oudenburg, a place where people take initiative and there is plenty to see and do.
Estimated dispatch 7-14 working days
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£72.99Nature's Way - Gunther Schuller
From the composer: Nature's Way for intermediate level band was commissioned by BandQuest, a project initiated by the American Composers Forum. Their mission is for major composers of national reputation to write works of high quality that take into consideration the (still comparatively limited) levels of musical development--both technical and conceptual--typical of such ensembles. I eagerly accepted the commission and the challenges implied thereby--that is, to reign in my creative imagination to some extent and limit the technical/conceptual demands to a more moderate level than is to be found in my previous compositions for band. Nonetheless, since the process of rehearsing, studying and performing a work created specifically for the school student market is--and must be, in my view--primarily educational, it was very clear to me that my work would (and should) challenge the players at least to their top levels, and even a little beyond that. Thus Nature's Way in no way represents a compromise of my personal style, nor my long held concepts of form, continuity, texture, and instrumentation. I have known for a long time that young, inquisitive minds are eager to learn from new experiences, from previously never encountered challenges, that is to say, to be pushed--gently--to rise above their present levels of achievement. That's what education is all about. BandQuest, an exciting series of new music and accompanying curricula for band, is a program published by the American Composers Forum. The series was started as a response to feedback from music educators that there is a pressing need for new, fresh band music. The heart of this program is new works written by a diverse group of leading American composers who have created challenging pieces that are a true departure from standard middle school repertoire. Every BandQuest project includes a residency component in which the composer works collaboratively with a middle school as they create their new piece. Many BandQuest pieces are accompanied by an interdisciplinary curriculum designed to assist students as they learn the music and to integrate each piece with non-music studies. Visit www.bandquest.org to learn more about this innovative series, and email [email protected] to request a free downloadable audio catalog.
Estimated dispatch 7-14 working days
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£138.00San Pedro de Alcntara - Valdemar Gomes
The Spanish war galleon with 64 cannons, built in Cuba between 1770 and 1771 for an English shipowner in the service of the King of Spain left Peru for Cadiz in 1784 with a huge cargo of copper, gold, silver and other valuables on board. There were also more than 400 people on board, including passengers, crew and Inca prisoners after a revolt. The Atlantic crossing went smoothly, passing Portugal to take advantage of favourable winds. The shipwreck off Peniche was the result of human error, apparently due to French maps with dramatic errors in the position of the islands of Berlengas and neighbouring islets. On 2 February 1786, the sea was calm and the night clear, but they hit the rock formation Papoa and the hull immediately broke in two. The bottom sank quickly, while the deck remained afloat for some time. 128 people lost their lives, including many Indians who were trapped in the basement. This shipwreck is considered one of the most important in maritime history.What the composer wants to convey, and what can be felt as one listens, is first of all the sound of power, of hope, of the glory of conquest, of the splendour of wealth. This is followed by the perception of the maritime environment, the harmony with the softness of the ocean, the gliding of the hull in the foam of the sea on sunny, blue days. But along with this tranquillity, you soon hear a rhythmic chain that makes you feel a representation of the hustle and bustle, of the busy crew, of the hard work of a sailor, of the desperation of an exotic people imprisoned in a dark, damp cellar. A distinct rhythm that reminds us of the "salero" of Andalusia, with its Arab influences and its people, the soothing of the resignation of others who are forced to submit. Then we clearly hear a crescendo that makes us imagine the agony of the collision that precedes the shipwreck. The breaking of the hull, the water flooding everything, the despair, the clash of bodies on the rocks, the tragedy to come. Before the "grand finale", in which the return of musical softness reminds us that the story is over. The supremacy of nature over human greed. The waves, though gentle, sweep the wreckage, the lives and the treasures of the New World to the bottom of the sea.
Estimated dispatch 7-14 working days
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£149.40S ta mitt hjerte - Moldestad
This is a tune by Sigrid Moldestad (b. 1972), a Norwegian folk artist. She has based it on a warm and beautiful poem by Danish author Tove Ditlefsen. A text for and about love. Sigrid Moldestad won the "Spellemannsprisen" (the Norwegian equivalent to Grammy) in 2005 as a part of the group Gamaltnymalt. She won the price two years later, this time as solo artist for the record album Taus. Both times in the Folk Music category. So Take My Heart was released in 2012 as a part of the album Himlen har sove bort mrkret.
Estimated dispatch 7-14 working days
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£154.60Den store dagen - Benny Borg
This beautiful song contains a huge contrast between the hopeful and the disappointing. A mother has her birthday and is waiting her children to celebrate it. Each verse starts optimistically, but the short chorus is characterized by the disappointment, that everyone calls, and cannot come. This has been tried recreated musically, mostly in the last two choruses, as it dawns on her that she will not receive a visit. It's a beautiful tune, but with a serious message that it's easy to take someone for granted.One of the elements the musicians came up with after rehearsal, was that they really liked the change between the ballad parts with even eights and the swing parts. This also gives the piece a sense of "parlando" character, which tells a story, and is therefore important to focus. It is not quite simple, as the melody also in those parts with even eights has some triplet rhythms. Therefore, this is a topic you can work on.Regarding instrumentation, Flugelhorn, Alto Saxophone and Euphonium have important roles, in addition to the rest of the first parts in the Band. The arrangement is written so you are not depending on "special" instruments. Important details are also often duplicated so you can use the arrangement for a smaller Wind Band.It is also possible to use a vocal soloist, but then you must soften the instruments that holds the melody.
Estimated dispatch 7-14 working days
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£104.99
Wingin' It! - Gilbert Tinner
Wingin' It! is an entertaining concert piece. It makesespecially high demands on the rhythmic qualities ofthe band and requires exact articulation and phrasingaccording to the composer's instructions. After abrilliant opening, a catchy theme crystallizes whileall sections take turns to come to the forefront.Based on this theme, a swing in the classic big bandstyle, a peaceful Bossa (in which the woodwindsdominate) and a section with typical rock and funkrhythms follow. The two-step feeling closes thecircle to lead to the grand finale. This compositionfeatures all the essential elements of a contest pieceand provides a particular challenge in the understandingand execution ofpopular styles. It alsooffers all the facets that make a work attractive forthe audience as well as the musicians.
Estimated dispatch 7-14 working days
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