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£37.95The Year of the Dragon (Prestige Concert Band - Score only) - Sparke, Philip
The 2017 version of The Year of the Dragon was commissioned by the Siena Wind Orchestra and given its world premiere on June 17th 2017 in Bunkyo Civic Hall, Tokyo, conducted by the composer.The original wind band arrangement of The Year of the Dragon was made in 1985, a year after the composer wrote the brass band version. At that time he was still learning the intricacies of writing for wind band (and still is!) and in the 32 years which have elapsed since then, his approach to scoring for the medium has developed and, hopefully, improved.Here are the main differences between the two versions:In the 1980's, the wind band movement was much less international than it is now. British wind bands were still to some extent based on the military band tradition of the time, which tended to use rather smaller instrumentation than the then-dominant American university model. The new version embraces a much more international instrumentation, including low woodwinds and string bass, as well as an expanded percussion section.In the original version there was a touch of naivety in the way the composer wrote for the woodwinds; much of their articulation was transferred too literally from the brass version, resulting in some unidiomatic writing, which he has tried to improve in the new version.In addition to the above, Philip's own compositional style has matured and developed in the intervening 32 years. There are some passages in the original which he simply would not write today - not because they are 'wrong', but because his way of writing has changed. The new version is perhaps how he would have written it today, rather than simply dressing the original version in new clothes.The work is in three movements:Toccata opens with an arresting side drum figure and snatches of themes from various sections of the band, which try to develop until a broad and powerful theme from the middle of the band asserts itself. A central dance-like section soon gives way to the return of this theme, which subsides until faint echoes of the opening material fade to a close.Interlude takes the form of a sad and languid solo for alto saxophone. A chorale for the whole band introduces a brief spell of optimism but the saxophone solo returns to close the movement quietly.Finale is a real tour-de-force for the band with a stream of rapid semi-quavers running throughout the movement. The main theme is heroic and march-like but this is interspersed with lighter, more playful episodes. A distant fanfare to the sound of bells is introduced and this eventually returns to bring the work to a stirring close.
Estimated dispatch 7-14 working days
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£199.95
The Year of the Dragon (Prestige Concert Band - Score and Parts) - Sparke, Philip
The 2017 version of The Year of the Dragon was commissioned by the Siena Wind Orchestra and given its world premiere on June 17th 2017 in Bunkyo Civic Hall, Tokyo, conducted by the composer.The original wind band arrangement of The Year of the Dragon was made in 1985, a year after the composer wrote the brass band version. At that time he was still learning the intricacies of writing for wind band (and still is!) and in the 32 years which have elapsed since then, his approach to scoring for the medium has developed and, hopefully, improved.Here are the main differences between the two versions:In the 1980's, the wind band movement was much less international than it is now. British wind bands were still to some extent based on the military band tradition of the time, which tended to use rather smaller instrumentation than the then-dominant American university model. The new version embraces a much more international instrumentation, including low woodwinds and string bass, as well as an expanded percussion section.In the original version there was a touch of naivety in the way the composer wrote for the woodwinds; much of their articulation was transferred too literally from the brass version, resulting in some unidiomatic writing, which he has tried to improve in the new version.In addition to the above, Philip's own compositional style has matured and developed in the intervening 32 years. There are some passages in the original which he simply would not write today - not because they are 'wrong', but because his way of writing has changed. The new version is perhaps how he would have written it today, rather than simply dressing the original version in new clothes.The work is in three movements:Toccata opens with an arresting side drum figure and snatches of themes from various sections of the band, which try to develop until a broad and powerful theme from the middle of the band asserts itself. A central dance-like section soon gives way to the return of this theme, which subsides until faint echoes of the opening material fade to a close.Interlude takes the form of a sad and languid solo for alto saxophone. A chorale for the whole band introduces a brief spell of optimism but the saxophone solo returns to close the movement quietly.Finale is a real tour-de-force for the band with a stream of rapid semi-quavers running throughout the movement. The main theme is heroic and march-like but this is interspersed with lighter, more playful episodes. A distant fanfare to the sound of bells is introduced and this eventually returns to bring the work to a stirring close.
Estimated dispatch 7-14 working days
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£77.50Standing Stones (Concert Band - Score and Parts) - Stalter, Todd
Ancient legend says that as the Oneida were being chased on foot through a forest by an enemy tribe, they came to a clearing and suddenly disappeared from sight, confounding their enemies by shape-shifting into the stones that stood in the clearing. This piece is meant to commemorate that event. Duration: 4:30
Estimated dispatch 7-14 working days
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£60.50Ancient Curses (Concert Band - Score and Parts) - Story, Michael
Inspired by the 2016 discovery of an ancient Roman burial ground, this poignant original composition, "Ancient Curses," by Michael Story is both bold and reflective. The intriguing discovery took a turn when ancient scrolls with a variety of curses were also found. Compelling! Duration: 3.00
Estimated dispatch 7-14 working days
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£195.00England's Pleasant Land (Concert Band - Score and Parts) - Vaughan Williams, Ralph - Noble, Paul
England's Pleasant Land was written to accompany a pageant by the same name written by the novelist E. M. Forster. The pageant focused on the 'English countryside, its growth and destruction'. The two movements included were Vaughan Williams original contribution to the pageant. The pageant was presented around 1934, and then forgotten - until now. Bands around the world will enjoy presenting this newly found work of Ralph Vaughan Williams.
Estimated dispatch 7-14 working days
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£36.95Lie in the Dark and Listen (Concert Band - Score and Parts) - Wiffin, Rob
This piece was originally used on the RAF Massed Bands Concert Tour in 2002 when we were commemorating the role of RAF Bomber Command in World War II. It comprises the central theme of the fanfare ?€Shining Sword?€ which was commissioned for the same commemoration. In the concerts this music was played underneath a recitation of the Noel Coward poem ?€Lie in the dark and listen?€ which he composed at night while listening to the sounds of RAF bombers flying overhead on their way to Cologne.Duration: 3.35
Estimated dispatch 7-14 working days
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£72.99Frederick's Black Devils (Concert Band - Score and Parts) - Murtha, Paul
March of the First Special Service Force.During World War II, Winston Churchill initiated the formation of Special Force Commando Units that would prove so effective as to change the course of the war. The First Special Service Force, led by their intrepid colonel, Robert T. Frederick, was perhaps the most famous of these units. Due to their ferocious nature and blackened faces for night raids, the fearful Germans gave them the nickname The Black Devils. In 2015 they were awarded the Congressional Gold Medal, the highest honour the U.S. government can bestow. Frederick's Black Devils is a stirring concert march that pays tribute to this legendary unit.
Estimated dispatch 7-14 working days
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£104.99Man in the Ice (Concert Band - Score and Parts) - Schwarz, Otto M.
This programmatic piece of music is one of the best-selling works from Otto M. Schwarz. There was a very high demand for a lower grade version to enable young and small bands to perform this epic piece. On September 19th, 1991, a mummified corpse of a man was found at the Similaun glacier in the ?tzt?ler Alps. The glacier unveiled an early man after 5300 years, with all of his personal belongings. His clothes and weapons were fairly well preserved and provide us today with a deeper insight into that period. Austrian nature filmmaker Kurt M?ndel reconstructed the life of this man and made a film, which Otto M. Schwarz used as an opportunity to write a work for symphonic wind band and musically resurrect the "Man in the Ice- ?tzi".
Estimated dispatch 7-14 working days
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£89.99The Pageant of London (Concert Band - Score and Parts) - Bridge, Frank
Frank Bridge was one of the finest English composers of the first half of the 20th century. The Pageant of London is his only work for wind band, comprising of two marches, one scored from Bridge's best known organ piece and including the chimes of Big Ben, plus three short renaissance pastiche items, one arranged from Playford (later used by Peter Warlock in Capriol Suite). The music is tuneful, approachable and makes a fine alternative to Holst's two suites, which were composed around the same time. Duration: 15.00
Estimated dispatch 7-14 working days
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£115.00To Set the Darkness Echoing (Concert Band - Score and Parts) - Wilson, Dana
This intriguing composition, marked by its innovative sounds and haunting orchestration, is a tribute to Martin Luther King, Jr. The composer's intent was to capture the way Dr. King inspired profound change by leading us to see how we, not others, were behaving - and thus "set the darkness echoing," according to the words of poet Seamus Heaney. This dramatic and thought-provoking piece will truly inspire. Duration: 8:00
Estimated dispatch 7-14 working days
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