Results
-
£84.99A Copland Portrait - David Conte
Originally commissioned by maestro Neal Gittleman, A Copland Portrait was premiered by the Dayton Philharmonic Orchestra in January 2000. In March of 2015, First Lieutenant Ryan Nowlin's transcription of this work for band was premiered by "The President's Own" United States Marine Band under the direction of Lieutenant Colonel Jason Fettig. ECS Publishing is proud to offer both the band and the orchestra version. Conte on the creation of this overture: "I set out quite consciously to evoke various aspects of Copland's work by combining and recombining them within the terms of my own musical personality. For example, the first theme of A Copland Portrait combines the character of a theme from The Red Pony with the rhythmic texture of the scherzo of the Third Symphony. While composing the piece I was conscious of drawing inspiration from many of Copland's works; a melodic shape here, a harmonic gesture there, until I arrived at something that felt fresh and new to me. A Copland Portrait is cast in a traditional Sonata-Allegro form. After a vigorous, syncopated orchestral tutti, the first theme is announced in the solo oboe, accompanied by a steady eighth-note ostinato. Playful interjections are stated in the flute and bassoon. The syncopated tutti returns; the first theme is stated again, this time in the low winds. This theme builds to a colorful climax, leading into a more dissonant transition section, which gradually slows and gives way to a lilting, more lyrical second theme in the clarinet. After some modest development of the second theme, a more plaintive theme stated in the muted trumpet brings the exposition to a close. A scherzando development section follows; the first four notes of the first theme are inverted and subjected to various contrapuntal treatments. This development section ends with a return of the opening syncopated motive, leading into a recapitulation of the first theme, this time in canon, and the second theme and closing theme, broadly sung. A brilliant toccata-style coda brings A Copland Portrait to a brisk conclusion."
Estimated dispatch 7-14 working days
-
£228.70Konsertouverture - Viktor Widqvist
This piece was composed in 1937 in the composer's later part of life. Here, Widqvist shows his broad competence as a composer by using both classic marching and late-romantic thematic elements with exciting harmonic twists. In addition, you can find a perfect fugue where the composer shows that he masters this advanced composition technique. One can imagine that Widqvist wanted to show off his entire repertoire of knowledge to take the lead in the unspoken competition with colleague and friend Sam Rydberg. Rydberg had several years earlier composed a concert overture with a similar form. However, this piece is simpler in its design and lacks the technical brilliance that Widqvist shows in his contrapuntal treatment and harmonious diversity.The concert overture was re-orchestrated in 1939 by the composer for symphony orchestra, and it is this version and the original score for a large military orchestra that form the basis for this edition. My aim has been to keep all of Widqvist's original intentions, but still make use of all the possibilities of the modern symphonic wind orchestra. The composer's own arrangements for symphony orchestra have been of great help in this work.- Niclas Blixt -
Estimated dispatch 7-14 working days
-
£274.99Symphony No. 2: States Of Mind, Opus 87 - Teo Aparicio-Barberán
I- Logos (reason)II- Pathos (emotion)III- Ethos (credibility)The ancient Greeks believed that music shaped the character of man. In Egyptian temples, music was an essential part of the magical rites to alter the course of nature or to treat illness.And today we know that sound can actually alter matter. The secret of music lies in harmony and mathematics, as many great musicians and experts have always known.One of the most important qualities of music is that it enables the listener to focushis attention inwards instead of on what is around him. It is indisputable that music can inspire emotion. Music leads us into a universe of emotions that are difficult to put into words. In short, music reaches into corners of our soul and thoughtsthat words cannot reach and makes it possible to more clearly describe these different States of mind.The composer of this symphony also believes that each "musical argument" must be constructed so that it will induce the desired reaction in thelistener.Music: more than wordsIn recent times, most orchestral symphonies have been based on a story, a text or something similar so that their composition must be structured accordingly.The intention of this work by Teo Aparicio-Barbern is quitedifferent. The composer describes the three elements of the argument as the only formal structure of the work. Since certain philosophers in world history were able to subdivide grammatical argument, why shouldnt that also be possible for the musicalargument?Since ancient times the power of the spoken word has captivated mankind. How can an argument move people and mobilise the masses? Where does the power of words come from today? The answer lays not so much in what people say but in how theysay it.Rhetoric is one of the oldest humanist disciplines in Western civilisation. Aristotle, in the 4th century BC, called it the art of persuasion. Indeed, the terms rhetoric and persuasion are mutually interchangeable.More than 2000 years agoAristotle structured his rhetoric according to the following three elements: the logos, the pathos and the ethos.Logos (words, reason) is the reasoning that gives freedom to the structure of the text by expressing what one wishes to say usingspecialist terms. With logos we create arguments to receive public approval and to defend our ideas.Pathos, the second element, refers to the effective use of public psychology. Pathos can be considered as the capacity to induce the desired emotionalresponse in the public, by creating an emotional connection with the public so that they accept our message.The third element, ethos (credibility), refers to the character of the speaker and is perhaps the most important of the three elements.Aristotle based his concept of ethos upon his belief that truth and justice will always have the upper hand over anger. He believed that what was true and good was easier to prove and was more persuasive.This second orchestral symphony from thecomposer from Enguera follows these three parameters of the argument according to Aristotle. Each movement tries to summon a different state of mind in the listener so that the message itself can be better understood and appreciated. Apart from thesethree general concepts the music is only structured, as Claude Debussy would say, in a "formative way".The first movement, logos, is based on a scherzo melody that undergoes various changes in rhythm and harmony. The arguments are presented by meansof conventional techniques of composition. The second movement, pathos, is characterised by suggestions of sound. It is subdivided into two large parts. The first part is based on a five seven sequence with five sounds that are repeated in differentenvironments, structures and dynamics. The second part, which is largely tonal, brings out more directly the emotional overtones that each argument must have. The third movement, ethos, is a faithful rendition of the composers personality. In thislast part, clear rhythmic sequences stand out, there are large dynamic contrasts and lots of tone variation. In addition, and this is quite in keeping with the composers earlier work, the harmony in States of Mind is handled in a manner that is bothoriginal and efficient, as a result of which Aparicio-Barberns message is well understood by the listener.This second symphony by Teo Aparicio-Barbern is devoted to "my dear Henrie Adams, a guiding light in this eternally dark musical world. Thankyou for everything."
Estimated dispatch 7-14 working days
-
£264.99Pome Montagnard - Jan Van der Roost
Jan Van der Roost received the commission for this work from the 'Orchestre d'Harmonie du Val d'Aoste' and dedicated the composition to Lino Blanchod, the conductor of the orchestra. The first performance was on 26th January 1997 by the orchestra itself and under the direction of the composer. This extensive symphonic poem depicts the atmosphere and history of the autonomous French speaking region 'Val d'Aoste' in northern Italy, and is meant as a musical homage to the historical figure Cathrine de Challant.The opening of this piece describes the rugged nature of this region dominated by Mont Blanc, the roof of Europe. A brief, combative passage conjures up the numerous warsfought here through the ages, later expanding into a surprising 'Renaissance Dance' with an original and fitting recorder quartet. A broad, lyrical theme portrays the love that has always played an important role here. After recapturing several of the earlier themes, the piece closes with the renaissance dance, this time played by the brass. A spectacular finale brings this symphonic poem to a close.
Estimated dispatch 7-14 working days
-
£134.99Gulliver's Travels - Bert Appermont
The book Gullivers Travels (1726) by author Jonathan Swift formed the provocation for writing this composition. Even though this composition isnt a literal representation of the original story, a number of elements were still retained. The shipsdoctor Gulliver finds himself in 4 (fictive) areas, each with their own inhabitants and customs. Each part of this suite also received the name of one of these areas:I. Lilliput The enterprising Lilliputians are represented by a playful, common themein the first part.II. BrobdingnagIn the land of "Brobdingnag" Gulliver is carried off by gigantic giants, which you hear approaching with the sounds of the bassinstruments. The same theme is constantly repeated and quickened in order to increase thetension.III. LaputaLaputa is an island that floats in the air; its inhabitants are strange people with slanting heads. The dreamy, special atmosphere is especially well conveyed here.IV. The HouyhnhnmsFinally Gulliver finds himself in the land of theHouyhnhnms, where intelligent and noble horses rule over the primitive, undeveloped people (yahoos). The trumpets in the brilliant opening express the galloping horses; the gallant theme that follows (horns and trombones) symbolises the primitiveyahoos. The whole composition ends with a big finale.I intentionally tried to limit the degree of difficulty of Gullivers Travels. Despite this I think that this work can appeal to many orchestras due to the colourful orchestration (cues areprovided where needed), the simple and clear theme and the highly imaginative breeding ground of a beautiful story around which this composition is built."
Estimated dispatch 7-14 working days
-
£211.80Karneval i Paris - Johan S. Svendsen
Johan Svendsen (1840-1911) composed "Carnival in Paris" in 1872, inspired by the energy and vibrancy of the Parisian carnival celebrations. The piece showcases a variety of moods and orchestral colours, ranging from jubilant and playful sections to more lyrical and elegant passages. It is a lively and colourful work that reflects Svendsen's skill in orchestration and his ability to capture vivid, festive atmospheres in music. In "Carnival in Paris", his Nordic musical roots meet the cosmopolitan influences he encountered while living and working in major European cities. The work has become one of Svendsen's most popular and is frequently performed in concert halls and festivals. About My Transcriptions for Wind Bands Ever since I started playing the clarinet at 8 or 9 years old in the school band "Blveisene" in my hometown of Gjvik, playing transcriptions of orchestral music has been a natural part of the repertoire. In regional bands, Norway's National Youth Band, and during my 10 years in a Military band, I played many such transcriptions. These transcriptions often included handwritten parts, masterfully crafted by colleagues in a time when music notation software didn't exist. Similarly, the scores were often incomplete, typically featuring just a solo clarinet part and condensed score in Bb. The transcriptions also contained parts for instruments like the Eb cornet and multiple tenor horns, but no saxophones, which made them less suitable for modern wind bands. The rise of many skilled Concert Bands and the increasing demands for scores and accessibility made me realize that someone needed to preserve this tradition. The reason I've transcribed these works is to ensure that you can play or conduct a repertoire that I believe has a rightful place in Norwegian Wind Band tradition. These transcriptions are my contribution to preserving some of the unique works in Norwegian music literature. Creating a transcription is a complex task, and I believe the score of "Carnival in Paris" is one of the most intricate I've undertaken. The first part of the process involves entering the entire orchestral score into music notation software. This is time-consuming and requires meticulous work. The next step is to check several editions to see if there are any discrepancies. Mistakes are often found in orchestral material, which can lead to further errors in the transcription. After that, I listen to many different recordings while following along with the score, paying attention to how different conductors emphasize balance and timbre. Gradually, I begin to note down passages I believe will work well for wind bands. One particular challenge in this piece is that the woodwinds and strings operate in the same register. In the original, the tonal difference between the strings and winds helps to clarify the individual musical lines. In the transcription, I've tried to address this by separating the lines, for example through octave adjustments, and highlighting them without compromising other aspects. I've also used some mallet percussion to broaden the tonal palette. There are countless decisions to be made to create a product that will hopefully allow future generations of wind band musicians to play this repertoire. - Stig Nordhagen -
Estimated dispatch 7-14 working days
-
£79.99Chorale for Peace - Thierry Deleruyelle
Chorale for Peace is a song of hope and peace for humanity. In commissioning this work, the wind band of Le Portel (France) wanted to pay tribute to the victims of 8 September 1943, when around 100 Allied planes dropped more than 5,000 bombs on the town of Boulogne and the surrounding area. In fact, this operation was nothing more than a diversion to make the enemy believe that a landing was imminent in the north of France. This music is slow, an adagio commemorating the human sacrifice of this operation. But more broadly, the composer also wanted to express his support for the peoples who, even today, suffer oppression. This set includes an optional choir part that offers the possibility of making an even deeper impression on the listener.
Estimated dispatch 7-14 working days
-
£159.99Resurrection - Kevin Houben
"Man wird mit Keulen zu Boden geschlagen und dann auf Engelsfittichen zu den hchsten Hhen gehoben." (Mahler over zijn 2de symfonie "Wederopstanding", Juli 1894)*"You are clubbed to the ground and then lifted to the highest heights on angels' wings"Commissioned by and dedicated to Concertband Maasmechelen (BE), conducted by Mark Prils.Kevin Houben was inspired for this work by Gustav Mahler's 2nd symphony, better known as the Resurrection symphony.The work can be regarded as a Ma(h)lerei of various compositional and spherical elements that refer to the Austrian composer but that appear in this composition in an embedded, contemporary way.As Mahler often drew his inspiration from nature, the opening of this piece brings nature right to the audience. The work starts with a solo for alto flute accompanied by a pedal note in four octaves with harmonic responses echoing the solo.From the start, Kevin Houben provides Mahler's material with a contemporary touch. He replaces the nature sounds that Mahler uses (perfect fourth) with tritone intervals. The off stage trumpet signals have been preserved but are provided with a new accompaniment. Gradually, throughout the work, the orchestra undergoes its own independent development. Mahler's musical signature remains recognizable, but Kevin Houben allows it - e.g. through the use of various timbres - to flourish in a more modern musical idiom, which characterizes numerous contemporary compositions for wind band (cfr. Where Angels Fly).The work comes to a grandiose end with a passage of the famous chorale from Mahler's 2nd symphony. The rich orchestration of this chorale gives the listener the illusion of the presence of a choir and organ without actually using them.In Resurrection, each instrument group comes into its own: in solo fragments, in transparent thematic passages or in splendid tuttis. Therefore, the work forms an interesting challenge for a wind band on several levels, both technically and melodically - the latter due to the long suspenseful melodic phrases that the musical structure requires.The piece is accessible to a wide audience and can be regarded as an enrichment for any concert programme. Resurrection takes the audience through various atmospheres and experiences: from stunning to chilling, from calming to delighting...Die Musik muss immer ein Sehnen enthalten, ein Sehnen ber die Dinge dieser Welt hinaus." (Gustav Mahler, 1860-1911)"Music must always involve a longing, a yearning beyond the things of this world."
Estimated dispatch 7-14 working days
-
£193.20CASTRVM - Lionel Beltrán-Cecilia
CASTRVM is a symphonic episode inspired by four of the main civilizations that have coexisted over time in Ulldecona's Castle. With its melodies and sound effects, the composer tries to transport the listener through a trip to four uninterrupted movements, from the beginnings of this small settlement, creating a natural atmosphere recreated by the voice and the singing of birds to take us into the history with the first inhabitants, the Iberians, giving strength to the introduction of the composition, to move on to the time of the Andalusians, which with a melody in the form of a dance marked by percussion will transport us to take a walk in the surroundings of its circular tower. Next, and with strength, we arrive at the medieval and Christian period, marked in the score by the brass instruments, in this fragment we find moments that take us into the church of "Santa Mara de los ngeles", with melodies that evoke resonance and pomposity, continuing until we find the immense square tower, symbol of the fortress and homage, finally used as a prison and arsenal of those times. Then, there is a small slow march that will move us to some measures of strong stridency to finish with the whole section of low brass having its great moment of prominence, down to we reach the last part, Qna, a name that is recited during the musical piece and one of the names given in the past to the area that could be seen from the castle, where the change of location of the new town is recreated leaving the castle site, but always looking at it with respect and admiration as at the beginning of what is now the current Ulldecona, in this part, the composer plays a bit with a very well-known and significant melody for the inhabitants of Ulldecona, the "Jota Vieja", first making a reflex effect of all its melody and then only with the first six notes of this one, which builds a bridge until reaching the march and, later, the grand finale of this symphonic episode. The work was commissioned by Ulldecona Town Council and the Ulldecona Music Band, led by its conductor Joan Nadal i Girona, to commemorate the 800th anniversary of the donation of the Town Charter of Ulldecona "the old" (1222-2022), as part of the PATRIMONIUM 20.22 programme, "La Banda (Sonora) del Castell" (The soundtrack of the Castle).CASTRVM consists of: I.Iberians: stone and ironII.AndalusiansIII.The square tower: fortress and homageIV.Qna
Estimated dispatch 7-14 working days
-
£87.40It All Starts Here - Geert Schrijvers
This composition was commissioned by the city of Breda and the organisers of La Vuelta. When I tried to capture the essence of riding a grand tour, I thought of three important things: Strength, Courage and Perseverance. And this applies not only to sport, but to all major challenges in life. Everything starts - and ends - with this. All this formed the basis for the dual title of this work: It All Starts Here - Strength, Courage, Perceverance
Estimated dispatch 7-14 working days
View Music