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£134.99Hunting Tower - Ottorino Respighi
Not much is known about the origin of Huntingtower, except for the fact that this ballad was composed in 1931 by the Italian composer Ottorino Respighi (1879-1936), commissioned by Edwin Franko Goldman and the American Bandmaster Association, and was premiered on 17 April 1932 at a concert in memory of John Philip Sousa in Washington D.C. It is not even certain whether Respighi arranged the work himself, or left this to someone else. Huntingtower is the name of a castle in Scotland, where Respighi spent some time. It is possible that this ballad contains his musical impressions of his stay there. The orchestration on this CD, made by Franco Cesarini in 1987, is an adaptation ofthe work to the demands of the contemporary concert band.
Estimated dispatch 7-14 working days
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£154.99Algona Overture - Jan van der Roost
This piece is dedicated to all the citizens who live, have lived, and will live in the US town of Algona, who commissioned the work to celebrate it's 150th anniversary. With dark-tinted tones (low drums, heavy brass), this overture begins with a primitive sacred feel, it seems as if centuries-old Indian singing is heard once more. Gradually the sound becomes clearer and brighter as the same theme travels throughout the band in various guises and variants. Imposing tutti passages then give the band the chance to lavishly shine. This bright and catchy overture radiates spontaneous energy and as it features every section of the band all the players as well as the listenersare continually surprised and captivated.
Estimated dispatch 7-14 working days
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£60.99Jamaica - Timothy Travis
Jamaica is an island in the Caribbean. In 1494 it was discovered by Christopher Columbus, who used it as private property until 1509. After some skirmishes it fell under British rule and the sugar trade on the island flourished. After the abolition of slavery in 1834 it was only granted Home Rule in 1944, but it remained a member of the British Commonwealth of Nations. Whereas the export of cane sugar used to be Jamaica's main export product for many years, nowadays music has taken over this role. At first American music used to be very popular on the island. Later, however, Jamaican musicians started to experiment and thus in the end created their ownmusical style called Reggae. Well-known Reggae musicians are Bob Marley and Peter Tosh. The most important instruments used in Reggae are the bass and the drums. Together they form the base for the style: the riddim. A bass drum accent on the second and fourth beat are characteristic of a typically reggae drum beat. To this syncopic patterns are often added. The rhythm guitarist plays chords in a characteristic Reggae rhythm, not on, but between the beats.
Estimated dispatch 7-14 working days
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£154.99Achnaton - Jan Bosveld
The Egyptian pharaoh Amenhotep IV, better known as Achnaton, was the second son and successor of Amenhotep III. He reigned the New Kingdom from 1353 until 1336 BC. Achnatons lack of interest in the economic well-being of Egypt ushered ina revolutionary period in Egyptian history. His harsh reign induced much suffering under the population. During this period when it was customary for a pharaoh to have many wives, he had taken his cousin Nefertete to reign as queen at hisside. An elegant and very beautiful woman, she used her influence to ease the turmoil caused by Achnaton. Combined with her grace, her presence at public functions led to a greater popularity among her subjects than the pharaoh enjoyedhimself. Being mostly preoccupied with religious questions, he declared that all the other gods did not exist. There was only one god, the Aten, and it was the sun itself. It was now necessary to change his name: 'Amenhotep' meaning 'the god Amun is satisfied', because he didnt want to be associated with Amun or any of the other deities. He renamed himself 'Achnaton' which means 'servant of the Aten' -- a much more appropriate title! In the sixth year of his reignAchnaton also moved the capital to a brand new city called Achet-Aton ('the Horizon of the Aten') which was where Tel el-Amarna stands today. He did this to further isolate himself from the 'old' religion, since the previous capital Thebes was thecentre of worship of Amun. This new religion created an up rise among the population and high priests. In spite of Nefertetes influence, the falling economy and religious conflict resulted in the decline of the Egyptian empire. Hoping toforget it ever happened, people later tried to eradicate all traces of Achnaton and his successors rule by smashing their statues, mutilating their mummies, and ruining their relief carvings. From that moment on he was remembered as the'heretic king'. This composition was partially funded by the 'Prins Bernhard Cultuurfonds'.
Estimated dispatch 7-14 working days
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£89.99Norwegian Overture - Traditional
It is not entirely sure where the melody originates that forms the basis for Norwegian Overture. Most sources point in the direction of a certain J.H. Nebelong in about 1881. It is also possible that he was the first to note down this traditional melody and put his name to it.The lyrics are by a certain A.H. Brorson and were set to the music at a later date. The original title is "store hvide flok", which means "the big white herd". Several composers have used this theme, including Edvard Grieg and the Danish Carl Nielsen.
Estimated dispatch 7-14 working days
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£249.99The Wind in the Willows - Johan de Meij
"A book for those who keep the spirit of youth alive in them; of life, sunshine, running water, woodlands, dusty roads, winter firesides" said author Kenneth Grahame (1859-1932) about his children's book The Wind in the Willows. Initially, he wrote the stories about Ratty, Mole, Badger and Toad to read to his visually handicapped son Alistair, but after the publication in book form in 1908, it became a worldwide success. It was later also turned into a film and a television series. What appealed ti the composer most is the friendly, very cosy atmosphere that Grahame has managed to create with his optimistic narrative style full of high spirits, an atmosphere that reminds thecomposer of his own carefree youth. It was therefore a great pleasure to set this book to music! The four movements successively describe:I) The River- The river, which flows through the habitat of the animals like a lifeline, regularly is the scene of pleasant boat trips and picnics. The animals lead their untroubled lives here. The four-tone main motif [A-C-D-C] is extensively presented by the brass section, and returns in the following movements as a countermelody. II) Ratty and Mole -The bright, energetic Rat and the melancholy doubter Mole are inseparable friends and have many adventures. Their opposite characters are illustrated by separate musical themes. III) Mister Toad - The wilful, haughty Mister Toad is indeed a unique case: time after time, he runs into tricky situations, and with his indomitable passion for fast - preferably stolen - cars he causes quite a lot of damage...IV) The Return of UlyssesAfter Toad Hall, the majestic residence of Mister Toad, is recovered from the weasels and stoats of the Wild Wood, who had captured the estate in a cowardly way, our friends get ready for a banquet. They celebrate the victory with a triumphant parade, and so both the book and the music conclude with a happy ending.
Estimated dispatch 7-14 working days
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£143.00Psyche et Eros (Concert Band - Score and Parts) - Franck, Cesar - Cesarini, Franco
Cesar Franck, composer, pianist, organist and music teacher, completed Cupid and Psyche, his sixth and last symphonic poem in 1887. It was first performed in Paris in 1888 and was a complete success, but the piece later fell completely into oblivion, and it was only thanks to some meticulous research that it has returned to concert halls. The intricate love affair between Psyche and Cupid is an original story of the Metamorphoses, written in the 2nd century AD by Apuleius. The tale is about overcoming obstacles in love and their final union. The symphonic poem is divided into three parts and calls for a choir. The movement that is the subject of this arrangement, Psyche et Eros, is positioned at the end of the second part. Franco Cesarini's version for wind orchestra carefully illustrates the nuances of the instrumental colours, and represents a real test aimed at demonstrating the musicality and interpretative skills of orchestras and their conductors. Duration: 10.30
Estimated dispatch 7-14 working days
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£75.00Once in Royal David's City (Concert Band with Optional Choir - Score and Parts) - Noble & Willcocks
Once in Royal David's City is a Christmas carol originally written as a poem by Cecil Frances Alexander. The carol was first published in 1848 in her hymnbook Hymns for Little Children. A year later, the English organist Henry John Gauntlett discovered the poem and set it to music. According to The New Oxford Book of Carols, the text was conceived by Cecil Alexander after overhearing a group of her god children complaining about the dreariness of the catechism. Cecil masterfully took doctrines from the Apostle's Creed and simplified them for her hymns. Cecil wrote about 400 hymns in her lifetime, among which are All things bright and beautiful and There Is a Green Hill Far Away. She used the money for charitable purposes, and was a tireless advocate (and visitor) of the poor and sick. Henry John Gauntlett had spent the first half of his career as a lawyer before abandoning his practice to pursue music. He served as the organist at a number of leading London churches. Gauntlett was a prolific writer and is said to have composed over 1000 hymn tunes. He made tremendous contributions to the world of music, even inventing mechanical improvements to the organ. As a result, he was praised by the famous Felix Mendelssohn and was awarded an honorary doctorate in music from the Archbishop of Canterbury. In 1919, Arthur Henry Mann, organist at King's College (1876-1929), introduced an arrangement of Once in Royal David's City as the processional hymn for the service. In his version, the first stanza is sung unaccompanied by a boy chorister. The choir and then the congregation join in with the organ on succeeding stanzas. This has been the tradition ever since. It is a great honor to be the boy chosen to sing the opening solo--a voice heard literally around the world. In this arrangement for band accompaniment, the first five verses may be performed as directed by the conductor, with different groupings of instruments for each verse, i.e., Vs.1, A cappella; Vs. 2, Fl., Oboe, E.H., Bsns; Vs. 3 Cl., Saxes; Vs. 4, Brass; Vs. 5, All, and Vs. 6 as written with featured descant. This arrangement is one of the Series of Band Arrangements compatible with the David Willcocks Carols for Choir, Book 2 (#31).
Estimated dispatch 7-14 working days
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£75.00The First Nowell (Concert Band with Optional Choir - Score and Parts) - Noble & Willcocks
The First Nowell is one of the oldest Christmas folk songs going back to at least the 1600's. We cannot be sure who wrote it, but both France and England claim it as part of their heritage. The spelling of the word Noel would indicate it to be French, however, England claims the original spelling was the English version Nowell. The singing of The First Nowell and the lighting of the yule log became tradition among the peasants in England and was passed down from generation to generation. It was not until 1833 that it was published and soon after was sung in Church services. This arrangement is one of the Series of Band Arrangements compatible with David Willcocks Carols for Choirs Book 1 (#38).
Estimated dispatch 7-14 working days
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£75.00Zion Hears the Watchmen's Voices (Concert Band with Optional Choir - Score and Parts) - Bach, Johann Sebastian - Noble & Rutter
Zion Hears the Watchmen Singing (Zion hrt die Wchter singen) is the fourth of seven movements of Bach's cantata Wachet auf, ruft uns die Stimme ('Awake, calls the voice to us'), BWV 140, also known as Sleepers Wake. It is regarded as one of his most mature and popular sacred cantatas. It is written in the style of a chorale prelude, with the phrases of the chorale, sung as a cantus firmus by the tenors (or by the tenor soloist), entering intermittently against a famously lyrical melody played in this arrangement in unison principally by the woodwinds. Bach composed the chorale cantata in Leipzig for the 27th Sunday after Trinity and first performed it on 25 November 1731. This arrangement represents one in the Series of Band Arrangements compatible with David Willcocks' Carols for Choirs.
Estimated dispatch 7-14 working days
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