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£55.00Purcell Variations (Brass Band - Score and Parts)
Purcell Variations, composed in 1995, the year of the tercentenary of the death of the great English composer, was a watershed work in that it was Downie's first extended composition to be published independently of The Salvation Army and intended for wider use.For his theme, Downie has chosen what has come down to us as the hymn tune Westminster Abbey, which is in fact an adaptation made in 1842 by Ernest Hawkins, who was a Canon of Westminster Abbey where Purcell himself had been organist. Purcell's original is actually the closing section of an anthem, O God, Thou art my God, where it provides the final paean of praise, sung to repeated 'Hallelujahs'. Purcell's tune, particularly the opening triadic gesture, is used as a source of thematic and harmonic material - a quarry for ideas if you like: "I was obsessed with the intervals of thirds in Purcell's tune, rather like Brahms in his Third Symphony", the composer says.There are five variations, preceded by an extended introduction and theme. In the first variation, Purcell's lilting dance pulse has been transformed into a bright, playful sequence, in which each phrase of the melody is given its own transformation. In the second, Purcell's opening gambit is extended into a graceful, flowing waltz, featuring solo and first horn at the top of the register. The composer offers a range of metronome speeds in this movement, in which he is emulating the wistful elegance of Erik Satie's famous Gymnopedie. We enter the world of big band jazz in variation three, where Purcell's tune strides along with added syncopation and bluesy major/minor thirds to the fore. After the breathless energy and blazing brass of the big band, Downie moves into his 'home territory' for a beautifully worked lyrical variation. There is an enhanced urgency about the final variation, which opens with an extended reprise of the work's introduction. Purcell's second and third phrases provide the preparation for the exuberant return, in customary triumph of Purcell's 'Hallelujah'.
Estimated dispatch 7-14 working days
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£28.00PURCELL VARIATIONS (Brass Band extra score only) - Downie, Kenneth
Score only.
Estimated dispatch 7-14 working days
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£55.00
PURCELL VARIATIONS (Brass Band Set) - Downie, Kenneth
Score & Parts.
Estimated dispatch 7-14 working days
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£91.62Chorale Tangents (Brass Band) Kenneth Downie
VIEW SCORE PDF This magnificent work by Kenneth Downie was commissioned by Festival Brass Band of Belgium, and its conductor Manu Mellaerts. It was first performed by the band on 10th October 2010, in Mechelen, a beautiful old city in the province of Antwerp. The composer writes: 'The chorale in the title is the famous one associated with the words 'Now thank we all our God', dating from 17th century Germany. The words were written by Martin Rinkart and the music by Johann Cruger. The use of the word 'tangents' in the title can best be understood as variations. This is another set of variations, in the line of St. Magnus, Princethorpe and Purcell Variations. I still cannot resist the urge to present familiar material in an unfamiliar way! Hopefully, the listener can relate to these tangents, and experience some of the joy that I receive when writing them.' To view a video of Festival Brass Band performing the work please visit: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Kc83_BYkZSc Sheet music available from: UK - www.brassband.co.uk USA - www.solidbrassmusic.com Instrumentation: Soprano Cornet Eb Solo Cornet Bb Repiano Cornet Bb 2nd Cornet Bb 3rd Cornet Bb Flugel Horn Bb Solo Horn Eb 1st Horn Eb 2nd Horn Eb 1st Baritone Bb 2nd Baritone Bb 1st Trombone Bb 2nd Trombone Bb Bass Trombone Euphonium Bb Bass Eb Bass Bb Timpani Percussion 1-3
In stock: Estimated dispatch 1-3 days
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