Results
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£37.95Roman Trilogy (Prestige Concert Band - Score only) - Ellerby, Martin
This work falls into three movements, all concerned with the subject of the Italian capital city of Rome, rather like previous tributes to other European citites in Paris Sketches, Venetian Spells and The Cries of London. The emphasis is on atmosphere and drama, be they respectful or joyful! It is acknowledged that Ottorino Respighi has influenced this work though his own eternal Rome tributes are not challenged here, rather saluted and celebrated.The three movements are: 1. Collosea di Romaan evergrowing march mood, builds in intensity and density as we approach the mighty Colosseum, the amphitehatre of Classical Rome, where deadly spectacles were once played out. We should not forget that countless thousands died here whilst even more laughed in the name of entertainment: their memory is reflected in the coda. In its unique way this icon of Rome is one of the most tragic historical places.2. Capella Sistinathe Sistine Chapel of the Vatican City is observed in a series of chorales and interludes. The visitor can look 360o around and be presented with a series of Biblical representations and commentaries. The music attempts to reflect these contrasting panels whilst ultimately bowing to the glory of this magnificent artistic creation. The coda is enigmatic, inconclusive - a single viewing cannot reveal all the mysteries and beauties within. 3. Fonatani di Trevitime for laughter and fun! The Trevi Fountain is one of Rome's finest and visually overboard locations! This is indicated as a Burletta: 'a la dolce vita' which means 'the sweet life'. This burletta (meaning 'little joke') makes use of tarantella and saltarello rhythms and features a pair of tambourines which are associated with these forms. La Dolce Vita was also a film by the renowned Italian director Federico Fellini featuring a memorable scene in the Trevi with a wet Enita Ekberg: something modern day visitors are discouraged from emulating!Duration: 11:15Recorded on Polyphonic QPRM161D ROMAN TRILOGY (TheRoyal Northern College of Music Wind Orchestra)
Estimated dispatch 7-14 working days
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£144.99Ross Roy (Concert Band - Score and Parts) - De Haan, Jacob
Jacob de Haan was commissioned to compose this concert piece by the "St. Peters Wind Symphony" from Brisbane, Australia. "Ross Roy" is the monumental late 19th century villa where St. Peters Lutheran College was founded in 1945. The villa has always remained the school symbol. In this composition, Jacob de Haan sees the "Ross Roy" as a metaphor for the years spent at school (a monument in time), where one's personality is formed. So, the opening theme the artist calls the Ross Roy theme initially has monumental characteristics.The rhythmic motion, which strides along in the lower register and percussion at the beginning of the next section is typical of "Tempo di Marcia". This movement, accompanied by repetitions of sound, is a metaphor for the structure and discipline in school. This is the introduction to a march theme, symbolic of "passing through" the classes up to the final examinations.Then, the Ross Roy theme is dealt with again, now in a playful, humorous variation. As if the composer is saying there should also be time for a smile in school. The same theme can be heard in major key and a slower tempo in the following section, expressing pride and self-confidence. This is also the introduction to the expressive middle section that represents love, friendship and understanding.We then return to the march theme in a slightly altered construction. The oriental sounds, constituting the modulation to the final theme, are symbols of the diversity of cultures in the school. The characteristic final theme first sounds solemn, but turns into a festive apotheosis. It is no coincidence that the final cadence is reminiscent of the close to a traditional overture, for the school years can be considered the "overture" to the rest of one's life. The premiere of "Ross Roy" was conducted by Jacob de Haan in Brisbane, on August 22, 1997.Duration: 9:20
Estimated dispatch 7-14 working days
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£118.99Princess Mononoke, Medley - Joe Hisaishi
Series: New Sounds in Brass (NSB); Duration: approx.8'50"; Composed by Joe Hisaishi; Arranged by Takashi Hoshide. Arranger Takashi Hoshide says, "I have selected beautiful melodies from the soundtrack of 'Princess Mononoke' (1997, directed by Hayao Miyazaki) and arranged them into a medley. What can be said about these songs as a whole is that they combine a grand continental scale with the delicacy that reflects Japanese emotions. Since there are no upbeat songs in this selection, I had to work hard on the arrangement, but this allowed for creating contrasts and transitions between each scene in the performance. 'Ashitaka Sekki (English title: The Legend of Ashitaka)' - 'Sekki' means a story that is not recorded but passed down orally. In this anime, this can be considered a sub-main theme. The song starts with a feeling that the story is about to begin and, once the theme kicks in, aim for a grand performance to convey its scale. 'Encounter' - This is the music that plays during the scene where the protagonist Ashitaka meets San. Interestingly, the motif of the main theme 'Princess Mononoke' is used in this melody. Here, let's pursue the shifts in the timbre of individual phrases, creating a beautiful and aesthetic soundscape. 'Princess Mononoke' - This is the main title of the anime. The melody line is carried by horns and trumpets."
Estimated dispatch 7-14 working days
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£435.40Goldberg 2012 - Svein H. Giske
The first time I heard Bach's Goldberg Variations was in the movie Silence of the lambs, in the early 1990s. I noticed the beautiful background music in one of the scenes, but at that time I didn't know what it was. A few years later, when I was studiying at the Grieg Academy, I got to know the entire piece. For me, this is a piece of music which I can listen to countless times. I think it sounds as fresh today as it did more than 15 years ago and it never ceases to inspire me. Both Bach's composition and Glenn Gould's famous 1955 recording (which was the first one I heard) still makes a great impression on me. Before Gould recorded it at age 22, it wasn't a highly ranked piece amongst pianists and Bach was by many viewed as a bit old-fashioned. The young Canadian turned all this around. He managed to portray Bach in a reformed way, producing fine nuances in phrasing and making the many layers in Bach's music more transparent than anyone before him. Thus he plunged both himself and Bach (back) onto the international music scene. When The Norwegian Band Federation (NMF) asked me to write the test piece for NM in 2012, it was only natural for me to use the Goldberg Variations as a starting point and inspiration for my work. Since I was a teenager at NMF's summer courses in the mid eighties I've always listened to many different styles of music. Growing up in Sunnmre with the Brazz Brothers as teachers and mentors, jazz-, pop/rock- and folk music were early on a natural part of my musical background. I also have my classical education from the Grieg Academy on trumpet. As the title of my piece implies, I've wanted to bring Bach to the present and put his music into various modern musical landscapes. I think you can bring about a special kind of energy when music from different genres are mixed and I've tried to do this by mixing Bach with artists and musical styles from the present. In Goldberg 2012, the music is often constructed by several layers, which in a way are living parallel musical lives. They are seemingly moving or floating freely, almost unaware of each other, but bound together by the same basic pulse. The rythms, however, are often notated on a different rythmic subdivision level than the usual 8th- or 16th note levels. By doing this, I hope to achieve transparent sounds that rythmically are perceived as more free and detached from each other. In large sections of the piece, pop/jazz is fusioned with elements from Bach. I guess you could have this little scene as a synopsis for the piece: picture a group of musicians meeting: some are classical performers, some are jazz. They start to improvise together, each in their own voice or musical dialect and I'm sort of in the middle, trying to write down what they are playing. This is what I feel much of Goldberg 2012 is about. The foundation of the piece, in addition to Bach and references from pop/jazz music, lies also in my own material. This material, basically two chords, is heard in it's purest form in the 1st movement. I use these chords to create scales, new chords and different motifs which contribute to blend together the different moods of the piece. It has not been my intention to copy Bach's form (theme and 30 variations), but rather to use the bits and pieces that I like the most as an inspiration for my own variations. The 1st movement, Aria 2, is for my 3rd son, Olav, who was born on the 21st of April 2011, and the 5th movement, From long ago, is dedicated to the memory of my father, Svein J. Giske, who passed away on the 6th of June 2011. -Svein H. Giske, January 2012-
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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£159.99Spirit of Time (Concert Band - Score and Parts) - Schwarz, Otto M.
Zeitgeist; transformations; a departure for new shores... these are buzzwords we often encounter nowadays. Above all in this digital age, it is essential that we face changes positively and that we make the very best of them. Music is emotion! Otto M. Schwarz begins many of his lectures with this phrase, and this is exactly what we feel in this new concert work. Rapid, and full of energy, is the leap into a new chapter, wonderful opportunities are waiting to be discovered in uncharted lands. But change is not only loud and momentous. The creative power of the future lies dormant in the inventive spirit of the individual, quietly, thoughtfully, silently and alone! The final sequence of this work is all about good vibes: it lights the way to a positive future and stands for the dawn of a new era!Duration: 9.45
Estimated dispatch 7-14 working days
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£139.99Cyrano (Concert Band - Score and Parts) - Schwarz, Otto M.
What are the true qualities of a person? Outward beauty or inner values? Or perhaps a balance of the two? This question has probably been posed by everyone at some time or another, and the answer is as challenging as it is subjective. This is also the theme of this work. The poet and soldier Cyrano de Bergerac is known for his big nose and his great intellect. The 17th century novelist harbours feelings for the beautiful Roxane but is sure that this love will never be reciprocated. Roxane herself falls in love with the cadet Christian de Neuvillette, who is certainly handsome but could be described as stupid. Cyrano de Bergerac writes love poems on behalf of Christian to win Roxane's heart. And then there is the Count Guiche, who is married but also wants to make her his mistress. Christian and Roxane eventually marry and the furious Count Guiche sends Christian and Cyrano, who serve together in the Captains of Gascony regiment, to the front and, some months later, on a suicide mission. Shortly before the battle, Roxane confesses to her husband that she no longer loves him so much for his beauty as for his inner values. Christian is dismayed and begs Cyrano to tell Roxane the truth, but he can't bring himself to do so. Christian de Neuvillette dies in battle and Cyrano de Bergerac remains silent about the true provenance of the letters. Only much later does the truth come to light: scarred by the war, Cyrano visits Roxane in the convent where she has been living since Christian's death and confesses his love for her. He ultimately dies in Roxane's arms.Duration: 8.30
Estimated dispatch 7-14 working days
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£64.95Pioneers of the Medway (Concert Band - Score and Parts) - Phillips, Richard
The Salvation Army Band in my home town of Chatham, part of a conurbation of 5 towns in the South East of England known as the Medway Towns, celebrated their 135th anniversary in 2016 and this piece was composed as part of those celebrations. I suppose to some degree all composers and lyricists are pioneers, always striving to write something different and new. Well, there has been a number of 'creatives' who at one time or another have been members of the Chatham Corps and this piece includes songs from some of those. The opening motif is based on the 1st 3rd and 5th notes of the scale and after a short 'fanfare-like' introduction the tune of Blacklands (Ray Steadman-Allen) is heard in 4/4 time. This is followed by a song from Ray Jones, a former Bandmaster of the Corps entitled 'On resurrection day', a song for children's voices published in 1971 and for mixed voices in 2009. Rosemary Steadman-Allen's 'To know and do thy will' is at the heart of the link into 'Everywhere', a new setting of John Gowans' words by Andrew Maycock (both former members) which is proving to be very popular at the moment. Finally, an arrangement of this composer's setting of 'Praise the Lord' is used to bring this piece to its conclusion. It was first performed on October 1st 2016 by the Chatham band under the leadership of Bandmaster Ray Maycock.
Estimated dispatch 7-14 working days
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£12.95Pioneers of the Medway (Concert Band - Score Only) - Phillips, Richard
The Salvation Army Band in my home town of Chatham, part of a conurbation of 5 towns in the South East of England known as the Medway Towns, celebrated their 135th anniversary in 2016 and this piece was composed as part of those celebrations. I suppose to some degree all composers and lyricists are pioneers, always striving to write something different and new. Well, there has been a number of 'creatives' who at one time or another have been members of the Chatham Corps and this piece includes songs from some of those. The opening motif is based on the 1st 3rd and 5th notes of the scale and after a short 'fanfare-like' introduction the tune of Blacklands (Ray Steadman-Allen) is heard in 4/4 time. This is followed by a song from Ray Jones, a former Bandmaster of the Corps entitled 'On resurrection day', a song for children's voices published in 1971 and for mixed voices in 2009. Rosemary Steadman-Allen's 'To know and do thy will' is at the heart of the link into 'Everywhere', a new setting of John Gowans' words by Andrew Maycock (both former members) which is proving to be very popular at the moment. Finally, an arrangement of this composer's setting of 'Praise the Lord' is used to bring this piece to its conclusion. It was first performed on October 1st 2016 by the Chatham band under the leadership of Bandmaster Ray Maycock.
Estimated dispatch 7-14 working days
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£84.99Toccata (Concert Band - Score and Parts) - Monteverdi, Claudio - De Haan, Jacob
Claudio Monteverdi composed this toccata as an instrumental introduction for the opera L'Orfeo (1607). According to the composer, this introduction should be played three times before the rising of the curtain. This is actually the first overture in the history of opera.)The story of Orfeo, who enchanted nature with his music, is tragic, as he loses his beloved Eurydice and decides to retrieve her from the underworld. On their return journey, one glance back at her is fatal: he loses her for the second time.)This arrangement for wind band is very suitable as a concert opener. The toccata is played three times just like the original. The first time it is played by a quintet consisting of two trumpets and three trombones.)Various ways of performing this toccata are possible. The tension builds up more intensely if the quintet starts off stage. Eventually, these five players join the band, after which the tutti version follows two times. You can also have the brass play from the gallery during the second or third time for a double choir effect.Duration: 2:00
Estimated dispatch 7-14 working days
