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£84.99Hungarian Rondo - Árpád Balázs
The Hungarian Rondo by rpd Balzs is cheerful, good-humoured music, a finely formed work crafted withgreat professional skill. Its structure is clear: the double recurrence of the rondo theme results in a five-part form. The two episodes differ in character. The first consists of increasingly densely woven imitations that chase eachother playfully, the second evokes the mood of bagpipe tunes. In the latter, above the melody moving evenly in crotchets in the middle parts a pastel-tinted cloud of woodwind notes floats upwards, while the sound is extended downwards by the deep-toned brass stepping lower by semitones. A brilliant device by the composer! In thecourse of its repeats the rondo theme appears more and more richly garbed, particularly the sparkling semiquavers of the woodwind make it ever more decorative. The Hungarian Rondo is the kind of music that drives your cares away.
Estimated dispatch 7-14 working days
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£106.99Funeral Music - Edvard Grieg
The funeral music from the melodrama Bergliot (declamation and orchestra) by the Norwegian composer Edvard Grieg (1843 - 1907) consists of two orchestral fragments which illustrate the dramatical events happening in the melodrama. The monologue is recited by Bergliot, the wife of Einar Tambarskjelve, leader of the Norwegian gentlemen farmers. The latter goes to King Harald's castle in order to request political rights for the gentlemen farmers. Yet he is trapped by the king who cowardly kills both Einar and his son. Bergliot's monologue, relating these tragical events, is a mixture of anger, revolt and resignation. Bergliot was premiered by the Concertgebouw Orchestra, conductedby the composer, at the Amsterdam Concertgebouw in 1906.
Estimated dispatch 7-14 working days
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£264.99
Diferencias on an Old Spanish Song - Yasuhide Ito
I am immensely happy that my Gloriosa, symphonic poem for band (1990), has been performed by so many bands in the last thirty years.During this period, the growth of the internet has made it much easier to access information.When I composed Gloriosa, I only had limited information about the period when Christianity and Western music was first introduced to Japan, and had to rely a lot on my imagination.However, nowadays, it is easy to obtain various source materials and to read interesting studies on the music of the past.In recent years, the music of Luis de Narvez (born ca.1500 - died between 1555-1560), Spanish composer and vihuela player, has become increasingly known, and several CDs of his music are now available.Narvez composed the earliest-known set of diferencias, a forerunner of the variation form. One of his works is Seys diferencias sobre el himno "O gloriosa domina" [Six diferencias on the hymn "O gloriosa domina"] (1538), based on the Spanish Marian hymn, and it was this melody I used in the first movement of my Gloriosa.Western music has been my musical roots since childhood, and throughout my career as a composer, it has continued to fascinate me. One could say that this has provided the inspiration for Diferencias on an Old Spanish Song, my own take on the diferencias form.Actually, such music from the early sixteenth century could sound fresh to our modern ears. So I decided to quote the melody from Narvez's Sey diferencias at the beginning and end of the piece, in order that people can get the feel for the period.The main section (bars 42-390) is formed of 13 diferencias, similar to the first movement of the Gloriosa.In the middle section, which begins after the eighth diferencia(from bar 187), one should be totally absorbed in the tranquility and the beauty of the music. Although it's in the style of a sarabande, it should be taken slower and played as pianissimo as possible.This is followed by folk-style dance music. (As only standard percussion instruments are used, try to be creative with tonal colours and sense of rhythm).The structure of the work is simple, but be aware of the connection between the sections when constructing the whole.Also, think about the tonality. Overall, the work is in F minor. The main section is basically in D minor, but from bar 102, it modulates to A flat minor and G minor, and then in the middle section it suddenly switches to A flat major (which is the furthest key from D minor, and the relative major of F minor). From bar 219, it modulates to F minor and then to C minor, then back to F minor by way of A minor.N.B. The Oboe II part can be substituted by the English Horn (as indicated in the parts). One can choose according to the player's skills or preference.Recent new compositions for wind band are often full of rhythm, dynamism, and tonal colour, and compositional techniques and orchestration have also evolved greatly. Yet on the other hand, they tend to feature fewer melodic or expressive elements. Since this work is the test piece for WMC Kerkrade 2022, I had to think about what "tests" or "challenges" to set, and I decided to compose something that doesn't involve a lot of technical display, but requires beautiful sounds and harmonies, and above all, musical expressivity. I didn't put many expression markings in the score, because I wanted the performers to think about how best to express this music. If it is played merely as notated, it's not going to sound very interesting.Christianity was introduced to Japan in the mid-16th century, but it was subsequently banned and Japan entered a period of national isolation, which meant that there was hardly any international exchange for two hundred years. As a result, the Christian hymns that were introduced prior to the isolation became almost unrecognizable over the centuries. This was the theme I explored in my Gloriosa thirty years ago.Now, in 2021, the whole world has been forced to "isolate" due to the Covid-19 pandemic. In such times, it seems pertinent that I've written a work using this melody again. I sincerely hope that people will be able to gather in Kerkrade in 2022.(English Translation:Nahoko Gotoh)
Estimated dispatch 7-14 working days
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£204.00The Light of Resistance - Franco Cesarini
Franco Cesarini was commissioned to write The Light of Resistance by the Filarmonica di Villadossola APS (Piedmont, Italy) for its 125th anniversary. The Villadossola revolt was an uprising that took place in November 1943 in the homonymous municipality during World War II. The partisans, with the support of local workers, managed to temporarily liberate the town from nazi-fascist forces. It was one of the first acts of armed resistance against the German occupation in Italy but was harshly repressed by nazi-fascist troops who regained control of the territory. Although it was suppressed, the uprising remained a symbol of courage and determination.The slow introduction of the composition creates an atmosphere of latent tension, which gradually intensifies until it explodes in a rapid movement, symbolizing the struggle. Two contrasting musical themes collide, embodying the conflict between opposing forces. In the central section, a prayer rises delicately, then evolves into a heroic parade celebrating the temporary triumph of the revolt. However, this victory is fleeting; dissonant harmonies interrupt the scene, representing the brutal repression of the insurrection. In the finale, the heroic theme reemerges, evoking sacrifice as a spark of unshakeable hope. A moment of contemplation closes the composition, honouring the lives broken and reaffirming hope for a future of peace and regained freedom.The premiere of The Light of Resistance took place on 30th March, 2025 in Villadossola, performed by the Filarmonica di Villadossola, Franco Cesarini conductor.
Estimated dispatch 7-14 working days
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£79.99Hope Arises - James Barnes
Hope Arises is one of two new works requested in 2021 of composer James Barnes by Colonel Donald Schofield, to be written for the United States Air Force Band. It is a short piece intended to be used as an opener for AFB's tour concerts. It opens with a dramatic brass fanfare, based on consecutive perfect fourths first introduced by horns and euphoniums, followed by a short oboe solo. An ascending line in mallets and woodwind provide a rather celestial transition, taking the listener to a lively, melodic allegro, which is based on the same opening fourths. This allegro theme is developed until a return to the opening fanfare is powerfully re-announced in brass. The work concludes quite dramatically, and includes a return of the ascending line in woodwinds, mallets, harp and piano.
Estimated dispatch 7-14 working days
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£74.00Galop - Amilcare Ponchielli
La Gioconda, with a libretto by Arrigo Boito, is the most successful theatrical work by Amilcare Ponchielli (1844-1886). In this work there are two dance pieces: the Furlana at the conclusion of the 1st act and the Danza delle ore in the 3rd act. The Dance of the Hours has a precise choreographic outline: it is a masked ball which includes the "hours" of dawn, day, evening and night successively, and ends with a wild finale of galop. The latter is a sort of fast polka, in binary rhythm and unbridled pace. A French variant of it is the can-can. The finale in galop time of the Dance of the Hours recalls certain playful dances by the composer Jacques Offenbach, such as the famous Can-can that concludes the overture of the operetta Orphe au enfers.
Estimated dispatch 7-14 working days
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£60.99The Banks of Green Willow - George Butterworth
Written by British composer George Butterworth in 1913, this classic work is based on two folk songs - The Banks of Green Willow and Green Bushes (the latter also appearing in works by Grainger and Vaughan Williams). Butterworthdied in World War I at the age of 31, and this composition remains his most popular, regarded as an anthem for Unknown Soldiers. Here is a masterful setting for winds adapted by Robert Longfield. Dur: 3:50
Estimated dispatch 7-14 working days
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£94.99Children's Oak - Thierry Deleruyelle
Children's Oak was commissioned by the wind band from Beauquesne, France. This solemn work pays homage to a city particularly affected by the two World Wars and is inspired by the knowledge that the city of Beauquesne needed to recover from these terrible episodes in its history. The title has its origin in the roots of the word "Beauquesne", the beautiful oak tree. It is a beautiful slow piece for your concert, or as a resource to work on phrasing and intonation, or alternatively as a warm up piece.
Estimated dispatch 7-14 working days
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£149.40The Battle of the Hats - Øystein Sjøvaag Heimdal
The word svimesltt, which is the title of this piece in Norwegian, has two meanings. One meaning is "knocked out", whilst the other, "sltt", means a folk melody/dance.Svimesltt is one of several folk dances, all of them with humorous titles, originally written by ystein Olsen Vadsten. Norwegian culture is the basis for these dances, both rhythmically and melodically. The accompaniment has brought this funpiece into the 21st Century.When it comes to Svimesltt, it is the traditional dance "halling" that is the inspiration. Halling is a rather wild dance, where the man tries to win the heart of a lady by attempting to kick a hat off a stick,held up in the air. This iswhere "The Battle of the Hats" gets its distinctive name A truly Norwegian tradition.The composer wanted to write a "crazy" melody, which highlights how "knocked out" a man can be by love, as he tries to win the chosen ones heart.
Estimated dispatch 7-14 working days
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£84.99
Euphoria - Wim Laseroms
Euphoria is a bracing composition which concentrates its energy on the baritones/euphoniums. The solo parts require at least two soloists. This piece opens with a syncopated introduction followed by a statement of the simple melodic theme interpreted by the baritones/euphoniums. The style of performance is particularly affected by the alternation of staccato and legato passages. The finale of this work develops through a progression of accelerandos and crescendos leading to an amazing conclusion.
Estimated dispatch 7-14 working days
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