Results
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£89.99Preludio all' atto I - Giuseppe Verdi
Ernani (1844), Giuseppe Verdi's fifth opera, is based on the homonymous tragedy by Victor Hugo. Verdi's success with Ernani, as well as Nabucco and I lombardi alla prima crociata, can be ascribed to two distinct ideas: the melodic idea and the patriotic idea. The melodic idea is very important to move and touch the audience, while the patriotic idea is the source of enthusiasm and emotions. Approximately ten years elapse between two similar stories: the one of the outlaw Ernani and the one of Manrico, the troubadour. In the prelude to Act I, in only three minutes, Verdi has succeeded in skillfully concentrating the main elements of the entiredrama. One can clearly observe the themes of love, oath, and death.
Estimated dispatch 7-14 working days
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£191.50Favor and Treasure - LaBounty
Written for an icon in the band world, "Favor And Treasure" honors Col. John Bourgeois, Director Emeritus of the United States Marine Band, past president of the American Bandmasters Association, president of the John Philip Sousa Foundation, American vice president of the International Military Music Society, mentor and friend. "Favor And Treasure" is based on "John's Theme," a bold, original theme conveying inspirational imagery of excellence, artistry and duty congruous with Col. Bourgeois' distinguished career at the helm of the band to which President Thomas Jefferson gave the title "The President's Own." To honor Bourgeois' affinity for Cajun folk music, the old Cajun waltz, "J'ai Passe Devant Ta Porte" is also used, most prominently in the quasi-zydeco section of the work. Musicians and audience members of all ages will be assuredly affected by the spirit and essence of this extraordinary composition.
Estimated dispatch 7-14 working days
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£33.10Hunyadi Indul - Ferenc Erkel
The first performance of the opera "Hunyadi Lszl" by Ferenc Erkel (1810-1893) at the National Theater in Pest took place in times that foreboded the revolt of 1848. The rise of this stage work to Hungary's national opera and its ensuing immediate great success probably is due to the plot itself and the atmosphere prevailing in the country at that time. The great flute virtuoso and composer Franz Doppler (1821-1883) asked "Erkel to grant permission to write a march on the basis of motifs from this opera for my citizen's guards band, which he explicitly consented to ..." From the days of the revolution against Habsburg until today the "Hunyadi indul" ("March on Motifs of theOpera 'Hunyadi'") has remained to be popular throughout and therefore may rightly be addressed as a Hungarian national march.
Estimated dispatch 7-14 working days
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£149.40O Helga natt - Adolphe Charles Adam
O Holy Night is a very well-known Christmas carol. The origin of the carol is French beginning with the words: "Minuit! Chrtiens, c'est l'heure solennelle". It is about the birth of Jesus and was written in 1843 by a wine merchant and poet by the name of Placide Cappeau (1808 77). He turned to the composer Adolphe Adam (1803 56) and asked him to write a suitable melody. The result was brilliant and the carol was premiered in Cappeau's home town Roquemaure in 1847 by the opera singer Emily Laurey. Based on Cappeau's French text, the English version was written in 1855 by an American Unitarian (Calvinist) minister by the name of John Sullivan Dwight (1813 93). Adolphe Adamwas the son of the pianist and composer Louis Adam (1758 1848), who did not want his son to follow in his foot-steps as a musician. However, Adolphe wanted otherwise, and already at the age of 17 he was accepted to study at the music conservatoire in Paris. He was a student under Franois Adrien Bo eldieu and composed several comical operas that became successful. After the July-revolution 1830 Adam moved to London. He worked for a couple of years before returning to Paris, where he founded a new opera house in 1847, the Th tre national. After the revolution in 1848 it had to close and Adam was ruined, why he had to go back to composing. In 1856 he concluded the ballet Le Corsaire, which together with the ballet Giselle are his most performed works today.
Estimated dispatch 7-14 working days
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£139.99I Vespri Siciliani - Giuseppe Verdi
In 1854, Verdi was in Paris to compose I vespri siciliani (1855), a commission from the Theatre of the Opera. The composer soon became intolerant to the requests of the French "Grand Opra" as he considered them too restrictive and cunning. "I'll be very happy when I have finished I vespri siciliani. An opera at the Opra is as tiring as killing a bull. Five hours of music?...Hauf!" Verdi declared. Following the first performance, the French composer Hector Berlioz wrote in the "Journal des Dbats" an article that read "We have to admit that in I vespri siciliani, the penetrating intensity of the melodic expression, the sumptuous variety of theinstrumentation, the fullness, the poetical sonority of the whole, the warm vivacity that shines everywhere and the passionate strength, although slow in disclosing (a characteristic feature of Verdi's talent), give the entire work a mark of greatness, a sort of majestic sovereignty more underlined than in Verdi's previous theatre productions."
Estimated dispatch 7-14 working days
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£134.99Dublin Pictures - Marc Jeanbourquin
Ireland is a multi-faceted country that has developed a popular and distinctive musical culture. The first movement of Dublin Pictures reflects Irish festivals where there is dancing and traditional beer flowing. More tranquil in its feel, the second movement illustrates the landscape that can be seen from the Ha'penny Bridge, a bridge that crosses the River Liffey in Dublin. This movement highlights the wide range of the orchestra's sound colours as the musicians' voices combine with the wind and percussion to accompany the soloist. The lively and joyful rhythms of the last movement take the listener to Temple Bar, the famous tourist quarter of the city, well knownfor its vibrant nightlife. The music's energy and virtuosic motifs are in contrast to the previous movement and provide a spirited and festive finale.Marc Jeanbourquin wrote this piece in three movements for Azimuts Brass in 2011. He then arranged it for Concert, Fanfare or Brass Band
Estimated dispatch 7-14 working days
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£104.99Prelude and Polonaise - Nikolai Rimsky-Korsakov
Nikolai Rimsky-Korsakov (1844-1908) composed his opera The Night before Christmas in 1894-95. The premiere took place on December 10 1895 in St. Petersburg. The libretto to the opera came from Rimsky-Korsakov himself and is based on a tale by Nikolai Gogol, which some years earlier had already served as operatic material for Pjotr Tchaikovsky. The opera tells the story of Vakula, the blacksmith of a small Ukranian village. He is madly in love with Oxana who demands - as proof of his love - a most unusual Christmas present: the magnificent slippers of the Empress. Knowing full well that, in normal circumstances, he would never be able to fulfil Oxana's wish, Vakula seekssupernatural assistance and finds it in the shape of the devil, who comes up with a ploy to help him. The devil carries him on his back to St. Petersburg, where during a lavish reception at court Vakula finds an opportunity to present his request to the empress. The Empress actually agrees to Vakula's wish and hands over her slippers to him. Thereupon he returns to his own village. Here, in the meantime, he had been given up for dead, and Oxana had been plunged into great sorrow as she had come to realise that she also truly loved Vakula. In the end, however, all misunderstandings are resolved and all adversities overcome: Oxana receives her extravagant present, the lovers are united, and the church bells call the villagers to the Christmas service.The vibrant Polonaise is played in the 3rd act of the opera at the entrance of the Empress, whose appearance is anticipated in the prelude by the fanfare motives. The music paints a vivid picture of the party atmosphere and the marvellous dcor at the imperial court of St. Petersburg, which Rimsky-Korsakov conjures up in his opera and which can also be played outside of the Advent and Christmas season, for example as an opening piece to any festive concert.
Estimated dispatch 7-14 working days
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£169.99Olympica - Jan van der Roost
This "Grand Overture" was commissioned by the "Nagano Community Band" - Japan- on occasion of its jubilee in 1992 and is dedicated to the band's conductor, Ikuo Inagaki.The work is based upon three main themes, each symbolising a certain theme. The first part is characterized by its bright themes played mainly by the brass, accompanied by the woodwinds and festive percussion. This part symbolizes the jubilee which is the origin of the composition. This is followed by a bouncing allegro, in which each register of the band displays brilliant techniques. Especially the woodwinds come to the fore! This movement depicts the industriousness and enthousiasm shown by the members of the"Nagano Community Band" in the carrying out of their hobby. A third, main theme, is choral-like in character and is displayed both in the (soft) brass as well as in the warm medium register of the reeds. Here, nature's beaty in and around the city of Nagano is musically celebrated. Following a "chamber-music episode" (featuring the flute, oboe, clarinet, alto-saxophone and horn) the initial allegro re-occurs, weaving its way towards a grandiose finale, in which the two previous themes are once again apparent. Due to its very colourful scoring and the enormous diversity of musical thoughts and ideas, this composition is a fascinating and memorable piece, worthy a jubilee overture!
Estimated dispatch 7-14 working days
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£149.99Columbus - Rob Goorhuis
Christopher Columbus was born in Genoa in 1451. His father was a wool merchant. Originally he seemed destined to follow in his father's footsteps, and thus sailed the oceans to countries as far apart as Iceland and Guinea. In 1476 his ship was sunk during a battle off the coast of Portugal. Columbus saved his own life by swimming to shore. In 1484 he conceived the idea of sailing to the Indies via a westward sea route, but it was only in 1492 that he was able to realize this plan. On this first voyage he was in command of three ships: the flag-ship, called the Santa Maria, the Pinta, and the Ni?a. From Spain Columbus sailed via the Canary Islands to the Bahamas, whichhe sighted on October 12th 1492. Without being aware of it Columbus discovered the 'New World' he thought he had landed in the eastern part of Asia. The motif from Dvok's 9th Symphony 'Aus der neuen Welt' forms a little counterfeit history at this point in the composition. After this first voyage Columbus was to undertake another three long voyages to America. These voyages were certainly not entirely devoid of misfortune. More than once he was faced with shipwreck, mutiny and the destruction of settlements he had founded. After Columbus had left for Spain from Rio Belen in 1503, he beached his ships on the coast of Jamaica. The crew were marooned there and it was only after a year that Columbus succeeded in saving his men and sailing back to Spain with them. In the music the misunderstanding about which continent Columbus discovered in his lifetime resounds, for does this part in the composition not contain Asiatic motifs? Poor Columbus! In 1506 the famous explorer died in Valladolid.
Estimated dispatch 7-14 working days
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£179.99Outback - Thomas Doss
This work was commissioned by the "-sterreichische Blasmusikjugend" (Austrian Brass Band Association - Young Musicians).The Aboriginal indigenous people of Australia are among the oldest surviving human cultures. The arrival of the Europeans markedtheir decline and endangered their existence. The many secrets the Aborigines hold served as inspiration for this work. Aboriginal SpiritOver many centuries, the Aboriginal people have cultivated a unique ability to live in harmony with theworld around them. Maintaining the delicate balance between their trinity - nature, man, and creation - is an important factor for bliss and happiness.Primeval Sound and Dreamtime The tens of thousands-year-old stories from the era calledDreamtime - the Aborigines' creation myth - play an important role in not only their beliefs, but their everyday lives and laws as well. Ancestral worship and various other rituals and ceremonies are still held in high regard to this veryday.Running HunterThe Aborigines are extremely skilful hunters and are able to run for extended periods of time when chasing their prey. Hunting weapons, such as the boomerang, exemplify their abilities.Uluru (Red Rock)Uluru, also knownas Ayers Rock, is a natural sandstone "inselberg" rising 348m above Australia's plains, and is one of the country's most recognisable icons. Uluru is also a sacred place for the local Aborigines. Its history stretches back to Dreamtime, although itdid not exist in its current state at that time.Encounter with the White MenUnfortunately, the "White Men" did not realize the significance and importance of the Aborigines and their culture until the end of the 20th century. Before then, theywere unaware that the Aborigines were quite possibly one of the oldest known cultures on earth, with a seamless history stretching back to creation itself; Dreamtime. BushfireFire has been present on the Australian continent for millions ofyears. Many of the indigenous flora and fauna have needed to adapt to fire, and evolution has led to unique solutions for survival. Over time, a complex symbiotic relationship has grown between life and the continually returning bushfire.
Estimated dispatch 7-14 working days
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