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£171.00Passacaglia and Fugue in C-minor BWV 582 - Johann Sebastian Bach
The Passacaglia is a set of instrumental variations based on an ostinato bass. Bach's Passacaglia and Fugue in C-minor for organ represents the pinnacle of what had been achieved in this compositional form at that time. In Franco Cesarini's arrangement for large wind orchestra, the particularly careful interpretation of the original piece enables him to exploit all the sound colors at his disposal, and in this sumptuous guise Bach's work also takes on a grandiose dimension, albeit tinged with late-Romanticism. The exposition of the beautiful theme begins in the bass part, immediately creating a solemn and serious atmosphere which is accentuated by the intensely pathetic character of the first variations. Up to the tenth variation it remains confined to the bass, but in subsequent ones it also passes to the soprano and alto register. The integrity of the theme is also embellished with elegant arpeggios, in whose lower and higher extensions the theme can be distinguished. Towards the end it returns to the bass in an impressive thickening of the polyphonic texture that swiftly re-establishes the key of C-minor. The "Thema fugatum" which follows immediately does not constitute a Fugue in its own right, rather it is nothing but the twenty-first and most extensive variation of the Passacaglia. This time Bach uses only the first half of the theme, superimposing a rhythmic countersubject that considerably enlivens the entire development of the composition. The polyphonic discourse becomes increasingly dense, until the building tension peaks in a powerful "Neapolitan sixth" chord, followed by a sudden pause. This culminating moment then leads to the coda and final cadence on a bright C-major chord.
Estimated dispatch 7-14 working days
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£122.50Mercury Rising - Philip Sparke
Mercury Rising was commissioned by sinfonisches blasorchester wehdel and its conductor Thomas Ratzek, to celebrate their 50th anniversary in 2018. They premiered this piece in their half-century concert on 2nd November 2018 in the Bremerhaven Stadttheater in Germany. Designed as a virtuosic and lively opener, Mercury Rising opens with nervous energy and driving, syncopated rhythms in a blaze of colour. The horns and saxophones then introduce a broad melody, which the trumpets subsequently take up after a change of tonality. A quieter moment introduces a distant fanfare on muted horns over bubbling semiquavers in the low clarinets. This is interrupted by a passionate tenor melody but soon returns on the full brass section, accompanied by echoes of the opening woodwind figuration, and is extended to bring the piece to a triumphant close.
Estimated dispatch 7-14 working days
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£118.99North Hills Fantasy - Philip Sparke
North Hills Fantasy was commissioned by the North Hills High School Bands, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania (director: Len Lavelle) as part of a commissioning programme that has run since 1965 - the longest of its kind in the USA. The work opens with a reflective, unaccompanied solo for alto saxophone which develops into a chorale for horns and saxes. This is taken up by the trumpets and subsides to a change of key and mood, with highly decorated folk-like solos for clarinet, bassoon and saxes. These solos build to a climax for full band, which heralds a triumphant return of the horn chorale, accompanied by florid woodwind figuration. But the mood soon winds down; fragments of earlier melodies return calmly to peacefully close the work.
Estimated dispatch 7-14 working days
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£164.99A Centennial Journey - Philip Sparke
A Centennial Journey was commissioned by the Norwegian ensemble Stavanger Musikkorps av 1919 to celebrate their 100th anniversary in 2019. The work was premiered under conductor Morten E. Hansen at their Jubilee Concert in the Stavanger Konserthus on 28th September 2019. The piece opens dramatically with a sweeping melody on horns and saxophones under florid woodwind figuration, building to a majestic climax. A trio for the trombones calms the mood until the opening melody returns in a gentler style, eventually building to a busy molto vivo. The woodwind figuration continues over a series of brass trios until the main theme of the work appears on clarinets and euphoniums. This develops to introduce a change of key, featuring a long, hymn-like melody on clarinets and horns. The melody is then taken up by the full band, interspersed with sporadic brass fanfares. The opening of the molto vivo returns and leads to a return of the opening horn melody, building to a thrilling coda based on previous melodic material.
Estimated dispatch 7-14 working days
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£47.50Cowboy Dust - Gerald Oswald
In this work, the composer depicts an adventurous day in the life of a cowboy. As he rides his horse across the plains, clouds of 'cowboy dust' whirl up behind him. He rides over the prairie, faces dangerous snakes, gallops across dusty fields and stumbles upon an ambush of bandits. In the gunfight that follows, he is the victor, and he rides along the prairie a silent hero, on his way to another adventure.
Estimated dispatch 7-14 working days
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£74.99Fanfare for an Occasion - Philip Sparke
Fanfare for an Occasion was written to celebrate the 20th anniversary of the founding of Anglo Music Press, the publishing company dedicated to the works of British composer, Philip Sparke. It is a bright and festive work in which the main theme starts on the tenor instruments of the band before appearing as canonical imitation by all sections in turn. A short, repeated bridge passage leads to a second theme on the saxes that is taken up by the full band and leads back to a return of the main theme and a repeat of the second subject, which brings the fanfare to a brilliant close.
Estimated dispatch 7-14 working days
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£78.50Dragon Fight - Otto M. Schwarz
At the best viewpoint over the Alps of Liechtenstein, the village of Guflina is situated. Underneath the overhanging ledge, there is said to have been a cave in the mountain. In it lived a terrible dragon that was on the rampage on the surrounding meadows, spreading fear and terror among the population. At the same time there lived a giant man up in Guflina, who had the strength of twelve normal men. The farmers implored him to help them in their distress. The giant ventured to fight the dragon and was lying in wait above the cave. When the dragon refused to appear, the giant threw stones into the entrance of the cave. They got into a fight, which the giant only just won with difficulty. Since that day, people have lived in peace and prosperity.
Estimated dispatch 7-14 working days
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£78.50Leonardo - Concert Band Set - Otto M. Schwarz
Leonardo da Vinci (1452-1519) was a painter, sculptor, inventor, philosopher and researcher. He is renowned as the original 'Renaissance Man'. 'I will preserve the memory of myself in the minds of others' was one of his maxims. Among his most famous works of art are the Mona Lisa, The Last Supper and the Vitruvian Man. He left an extensive collection of handwritten documents in his notebooks. These books, known as codices, survive in various volumes such as the Codex Atlanticus, Codex Madrid, Codex Trivulzianus etc.). They include sketches of ground-breaking inventions as well as studies and commentaries which span the gamut of human study. The left-handed da Vinci wrote the texts in mirror writing. Through wars and other upheavals, the documents were scattered throughout Europe and much of his work disappeared. Leonardo da Vinci wanted to leave a kind of encyclopaedia for posterity and, although it is estimated that up to 80% of his manuscripts were lost, some 6,000 individual documents survive to this day, the contents of which in many cases were only understood centuries later.
Estimated dispatch 7-14 working days
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£109.60When the lights go down - Kevin Houben
Kevin Houben created with When the Lights Go Down, a wonderful chorale that can be a moment of reflection in any concert program.The resigned, magnificent melodies at the beginning of this composition slowly build up to a highlight with an increasing orchestration. The piece starts with a suggestive Adagio Meditativo, after which the main theme is immediately announced. A central bridge section takes the listener along through the different spheres at which the melodic and rhythmic drums embellish the chorale melodies. Thematic elements from the introduction brings the piece to a quiet and peaceful end.The sheer simplicity with which this work is written, makes it a resplendent, magnificent concert piece. 'When the Lights Go Down', refers to a moment when time stand still for a while, stillness within and around yourself.
Estimated dispatch 7-14 working days
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£91.99Guardians of the Waves - Philip Sparke
Guardians of the Waves was commissioned by the Japan Coast Guard Band to celebrate their 30th anniversary in 2018. They gave the premiere as part of a 30th anniversary concert on November 8th that year. Set in traditional march form, Guardians of the Waves opens with a short introduction, which leads to the main theme, played initially by the brass and then repeated with a florid woodwind descant. The theme is extended and morphs into a second theme, first played tutti and then quietly repeated by bassoon, tenor sax and euphonium. This leads to a conventional 'bass strain', played twice with varying accompaniments. A quieter trio section follows, delicately scored and featuring the tenor instruments of the band. Taken up by the full band, this leads back to a recall of the introduction and a return to the main two themes, which lead to a triumphal close.Recorded by the Kobe College Wind Orchestra and its conductor Osama Matsuura
Estimated dispatch 7-14 working days
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