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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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£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
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£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
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£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
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£148.99Nepotism (Movement II from Symphony No.1, The Borgias) (Concert Band - Score and Parts) - Schwarz, Otto M.
A sinister legend hangs over the Borgia family, a legend of corruption, abuse of power, orgies, sex and murder. These rumours proliferated especially during the papacy of Alexander VI, a descendant of the family, who was even called the Antichrist. On his death, contemporary witnesses reported that the devil himself prowled around the death chamber and a black dog run along the corridors of the Vatican as his emissary. One might say that this Borgia pope, who ruled together with his family with the greatest brutality, became demonised. Unscrupulousness, poison-toting, incest and other malice are to this day the hallmarks of this pontiffNepotism: Rodrigo Borgia was elected Pope on 11 August 1492. From the very start, the new pope was prepared to use any means to eliminate his opponents, either through the infamous Borgia poison or by excommunication and execution. His son Cesare, who wanted little to do with the church, was appointed cardinal against his will. Alessandro Farnese, broth of Giulia Farnese, the Pope's mistress, also became a cardinal. Numerous Spaniards were brought into the country and were appointed to ecclesiastical posts. This infuriated the opponents of Alexander VI. The Dominican Girolamo Savonarola from Florence demanded the removal of the Pope. He was tortured and banned. Giuliano della Rovere wanted to convene councils to depose the Pope, which Alexander managed to prevent through artful political manoeuvrings. Through great brutality, brilliant political skill and power games, this pope was able to achieve his goal of leaving for his children a great legacy. Alexander VI constantly changed his allies and always acted unscrupulously to improve his financial situation and expand his sphere of influence. At the centre of the second movement of this work is the medieval hymn Dies Irae (Day of Wrath), which acts as a warning in the background condemning the Pope's actions.Duration: 9.15
Estimated dispatch 7-14 working days
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£163.99The Pied Piper of Hamelin (Concert Band - Score and Parts) - Schwarz, Otto M.
Stories, sagas and legends--who among us don't know them? Always delivered with a tinge of brutality, these cautionary tales are a legacy of moral education from times past: inquisitive children alone in the forest are generally eaten by a witch; the 'Soup-Kasper' of Hoffmann's Struwwelpeter dies from starvation rather than eating his soup; anyone letting in strangers usually gets devoured; anyone who plays with matches gets burned; and thumb-suckers get their thumbs cut off. The list of unfortunate demises is almost endless.In the tale of The Pied Piper of Hamelin, parents lose their children through greed, ridicule, scorn and a failure to appreciate art. There is still a street in the town of Hamelin in which neither drumming nor playing has not been allowed since 130 children disappeared into a mountain, never to be seen again. This composition by Otto M. Schwarz opens with exactly this scene, taking us back to the year 1284. As in many towns at the time, Hamelin in Germany suffered with hygiene problems--rats and mice began to multiply rapidly, and the town was overrun with the plague. There appeared a man dressed in colourful clothes who promised the locals to free them from this burden. They agreed and settled on a fee. Then the man pulled out a pipe and began to play. When the rats and mice heard this, they followed him. He led the animals into the Weser River, where they all drowned. Back in town, the people refused to pay him. They didn't recognise this man's skills and knowledge and were only prepared to pay for simple labour. A pact with the devil was made, which led to the Pied Piper leaving the town in a furious rage. One Sunday, when many people were at church, he returned, took out his flute and began to play. The town's children were so enchanted by his playing that they followed him. He led them out of the town and disappeared with them forever into a mountain forever. Of all the children, only two survived--however one was mute, and one was blind. In the street from which the children left Hamelin, music may no longer be played in memory of this event. The work may be performed in two different versions: 1. Purely instrumental (without narrator)--the GPs (pauses) must be kept short 2. With narrator--he speaks in the GPs but not during the music.Duration: 14.15
Estimated dispatch 7-14 working days
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£309.99Ninth Symphony (Concert Band - Score and Parts) - Barnes, James
Premiered on 21 September, 2018 in Lawrence, Kansas by The University of Kansas Wind Ensemble (Dr. Paul Popiel, conducting), James Barnes' Ninth Symphony was composed between January and late June of that same year. This large work was commissioned by a consortium of twenty-one college bands, community bands, professional bands and individuals to help mark the 70th birthday of the composer (b. 1949). It is an expansive forty-minute work in four movements, of which the composer writes, "This is my last symphony...this work represents a compendium of all that I have learned during the fifty years of composing and scoring for this wonderful new medium: the modern wind band." The first movement, subtitled Elegy, is based around G minor. It is the longest movement of the symphony. Tragic and despondent in character, it is cast in sonata-allegro form. The second movement is entitled Scherzo. Barnes claims that "I have always wanted to write a waltz," and that is how this movement is cast, in a modified rondo form in D minor. In contrast to the mood of the first movement, the scherzo is a delightful posy of expansive melody, splashy color, humor and rhythm. The third movement, which is in a modified tertiary form, is entitled Night Music. In contrast to the scherzo, this movement begins with a mysterious incantation, first displayed by solo Alto Flute. The music becomes even darker and more mysterious, while overall the movement effectively expresses an "otherworldly" mood, ending with a solo soprano offstage which suddenly emerges, eerily singing a modified version of the opening incantation. Cast in sonata-allegro form, the fourth movement is most definitely a rousing Finale, beginning with a brilliant fanfare and undergoing several mood transformations before emerging into the final coda, ending the symphony with an energetic splash of color. Duration: 40.00
Estimated dispatch 7-14 working days
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£164.99Three Washington Statues (Concert Band - Score and Parts) - Sparke, Philip
Three Washington Statues was commissioned by the United States Army Band "Pershing's Own", led by Colonel Thomas H. Palmatier. Washington D.C. contains some of the world's most iconic monuments, memorials and statues. Philip Sparke has chosen three of these as the inspiration for this piece: 'The Lincoln Memorial' in the form of a Greek Doric temple in which the composer depicts the grandeur of this monument; 'The Martin Luther King, Jr. Memorial' on which steps the iconic speech 'I have a dream' was given - the music is both reverential as well as powerful referring to Martin Luther Kings' speech; and the 'Encore' statue in memory of the world famous African-American composer, pianist and bandleader Duke Ellington. In this final movement, Philip Sparke catches the virtuosic, energetic and unique dynamism of Ellington's' music. Three Washington Statues was commissioned by the United States Army Band "Pershing's Own", led by Colonel Thomas H. Palmatier. Washington D.C. contains some of the world's most iconic monuments, memorials and statues. Philip Sparke has chosen three of these as the inspiration for this piece: 'The Lincoln Memorial' in the form of a Greek Doric temple in which the composer depicts the grandeur of this monument; 'The Martin Luther King, Jr. Memorial' on which steps the iconic speech 'I have a dream' was given - the music is both reverential as well as powerful referring to Martin Luther Kings' speech; and the 'Encore' statue in memory of the world famous African-American composer, pianist and bandleader Duke Ellington. In this final movement, Philip Sparke catches the virtuosic, energetic and unique dynamism of Ellington's' music.Duration: 8:45
Estimated dispatch 7-14 working days
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£164.95Elgar Variations (Concert Band - Score and Parts) - Ellerby, Martin
The year 2007 marked the 150th anniversary of the birth of the British composer Sir Edward Elgar (1857-1934) and as such I thought it an appropriate moment to write something in tribute to this event. There are quite a few enigmas about this piece and they are all intentional! First and foremost is that the variations are not constructed on any of Elgar's actual themes. Rather I have written a sequence of contrasting sections (all played without a break) on the essence and character of his musical style. I have also written this work with bands, the soloists within, conductors and, not least, their audience firmly in mind. The language is essentially tonal and the test musical rather than overtly technical. There are no tempo indications other than suggested metronome marks. I have deliberately kept things to a minimum as the true test here is to find the style and interpret that aspect over the whole structure. Whereas the faster sections are more or less self explanatory the slower parts require deliberate rubato and much feeling. This is for the conductors to discover and I encourage them to do so. Adjudicators should be fully aware that I sanction this aspect but it requires an insight and understanding to successfully execute so 'any old thing' will not suffice! The 'variation' commencing at rehearsal letter P is the emotional core of the piece and requires a passionate but not saccharine approach to pacing and sensuality. The cadenza type material is built into the process rather than being a separate sequence of entities. There are many allusions to the music of Elgar here without recourse to blatant pastiche - if it is thought of as a series of songs and dances this may help. The final comment is the dedication, after one of Elgar's own but subtly adjusted: to my friend pictured within - never to be revealed - now there's an enigma!- Martin EllerbyDuration: 14.00Recorded on Polyphonic QPRM155D Scenes from Childhood (Great British Music for Wind Band Vol.15), Royal Northern College of Music Wind Orchestra
Estimated dispatch 7-14 working days
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£32.95Elgar Variations (Concert Band - Score only) - Ellerby, Martin
The year 2007 marked the 150th anniversary of the birth of the British composer Sir Edward Elgar (1857-1934) and as such I thought it an appropriate moment to write something in tribute to this event. There are quite a few enigmas about this piece and they are all intentional! First and foremost is that the variations are not constructed on any of Elgar's actual themes. Rather I have written a sequence of contrasting sections (all played without a break) on the essence and character of his musical style. I have also written this work with bands, the soloists within, conductors and, not least, their audience firmly in mind. The language is essentially tonal and the test musical rather than overtly technical. There are no tempo indications other than suggested metronome marks. I have deliberately kept things to a minimum as the true test here is to find the style and interpret that aspect over the whole structure. Whereas the faster sections are more or less self explanatory the slower parts require deliberate rubato and much feeling. This is for the conductors to discover and I encourage them to do so. Adjudicators should be fully aware that I sanction this aspect but it requires an insight and understanding to successfully execute so 'any old thing' will not suffice! The 'variation' commencing at rehearsal letter P is the emotional core of the piece and requires a passionate but not saccharine approach to pacing and sensuality. The cadenza type material is built into the process rather than being a separate sequence of entities. There are many allusions to the music of Elgar here without recourse to blatant pastiche - if it is thought of as a series of songs and dances this may help. The final comment is the dedication, after one of Elgar's own but subtly adjusted: to my friend pictured within - never to be revealed - now there's an enigma!- Martin EllerbyDuration: 14.00Recorded on Polyphonic QPRM155D Scenes from Childhood (Great British Music for Wind Band Vol.15), Royal Northern College of Music Wind Orchestra
Estimated dispatch 7-14 working days
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