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£104.99A View at the Zoo - Carl Wittrock
Everybody is familiar with the zoo. Remember all those animals? Big ones, small ones. Water dwellers, air-bound birds, long legged hoppers, creeping bugs. All animals seem to have their own peculiarities. Now, Carl Wittrock (who also composed the world-famous master piece 'Lord Tullamore') invites you to join him in a musical exploration of the animal kingdom. An invitation you must not reject! In his 'A view at the Zoo', Wittrock presents ten distinctly different animals as compositions of music. You may be familiar with some of those animals, such as the white swan or the butterfly, but there are also more exotic breeds, like the lion, the monkey, or theelephant. The composition as a whole is built around a structure of shorter fragments reminiscent of 'The Paintings Exhibition' by Moussorgsky. The parts are decorated with recognizable illustrations of the different animals. At each composition, Wittrock looks for something that can fascinate both musicians and listeners. In this he succeeded extremely well.
Estimated dispatch 5-14 working days
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£80.00St. Magnus - Kenneth Downie
Dedicated to Alastair Massey, an inspirational music teacher. Commissioned by the Scottish Brass Band Association for the 2004 European Brass Band Championships in Glasgow. This music is a set of variations on the tune known as St Magnus, which is attributed to Jeremiah Clarke. Most people will associate it with Thomas Kelly's hymn which begins: "The Head that once was crowned with thorns is crowned with glory now". The tune is very simple, consisting of just two, four-bar phrases. Neither is there much in the way of rhythmic variety, every note being a crotchet with the exception of two quavers, and the last note in each phrase. Within such a simple structure, however, lies considerable strength. THEME The listener is given the opportunity of hearing it twice, in full, at the beginning, starting with one player but soon taken up by the full ensemble. It returns in the middle of the music and is stated again near the end. This has been done quite deliberately in the hope that there will be an appreciation of what material is being developed, by the listener as well as by those with access to the score, who are able to see the visual connections. VARIATION 1 This takes the rhythm of the last part of the theme and also uses the shape of the opening as a recurring figure. The mood is whimsical and skittish, with short, teasing rhythmic figures tossed around the band, and quick interplay with percussion, at a fast tempo. An energetic flourish finishes this variation before the Andante espress. VARIATION 2 This commences with chords related to the opening of Variation 1. The cantabile on solo comets establishes a new, lyrical mood and there is scope for expressive playing in a series of short solo passages. The theme works its way unobtrusively into the texture before a reprise of the solo cornet melody and some more lyrical interchanges between Eb bass, euphonium, flugel horn and comets. The variation ends serenely with clear references to the last phrase of the theme. VARIATION 3 The first idea to dominate is clearly linked to the shape of the theme's first phrase. There is a frenetic feel to much of this variation, with considerable energy and instability created by extensive use of cross-rhythms. A thinning-out of the score marks a clear change to development of the start of the second phrase of the theme. This proves to be short-lived however, and the opening material returns leading to a restatement of the theme, "Maestoso," after which a euphonium cadenza links to Variation 4. VARIATION 4 Here we have some solos for euphonium, cornet, trombone and Eb bass set against a background of horns and baritones presenting a pensive statement of the theme's opening. VARIATION 5 This commences Allegro, with lively work for cornet and euphonium spreading to the whole band before attention focuses on the beginning of the second phrase of the theme which is initially presented in diminution, then in regular rhythm, then in inversion. An increase in tempo coupled with a decrease in volume, requires dexterity and control, with several metrical challenges thrown in for good measure. The same fragment of phrase becomes an ostinato which generates a frenzied climax, punctuated by short, dramatic silence, before the opening figure returns and the music gradually winds down. The tubular bells herald the final return of the theme, in augmentation, marking the start of the Finale. FINALE This features the running semiquavers of the previous variation sounding in counterpoint. A fast, furious coda speeds the work to a conclusion while references to the opening of the theme are still trying to break into the texture of the music. Kenneth Downie
Estimated dispatch 5-14 working days
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£102.60Starship Battle - Roar Minde Fagerli
Startship Battle is a catchy composition inspired by music written for film an series who describes war in space. The form of the composition is a typical ABA structure. It starts with a fast A-part with a transition to a slow choral in the B-part and ends with a repetition of the A-part. With a duration of approx. five mins, this is a quite long composition from the composer at this grade level. The piece will fit to any contest- or concert use.
Estimated dispatch 5-14 working days
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£68.99
European Overture - Bertrand Moren
With its unique structure, European Overture brings out the vast potential of the concert band. The work opens with a magnificent fanfare followed by a lively allegro section. The lento of the middle section gracefully meanders bringing several soloists into the spotlight. Following another pulsating allegro section the work comes to a close with a final restatement of the central melody. A fantastic opener for any concert.
Estimated dispatch 5-14 working days
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£64.99
Fantasia for Tuba - James Curnow
This work for Tuba and Brass Band was commissioned by and written for internationally renowned tuba soloist Steve Sykes. The Tuba plays four notes (F, Bb, G, C) during the opening. All the themes and much of the harmonic structure are based on these fours notes and their permutations. The soloist receives ample opportunity to showcase his or her technical prowess and expressive capabilities. Fantasia for Tuba also provides plenty of interaction between the soloist and brass band.
Estimated dispatch 5-14 working days
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£104.99Slavia - Jan Van der Roost
Jan Van der Roost originally composed each and every note of 'Slavia' (as in case in 'Puszta', 'Rikudim' and 'A Highland Rhapsody'). Consequently, 'Slavia' does not contain any arrangement of existing tunes, but is an original composition 'in the style of...'. The introduction has an ABA structure and exposes a broad melodic line. Following a short cadenza, there is a second movement in a fast and fiery tempo. The tempi increase, gradually culminating in an exciting final climax, making this 'Slavonic Rhapsody' a spell-binding experience to the very last note.
Estimated dispatch 5-14 working days
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£89.99Ross Roy - Jacob de Haan
In this composition, Jacob de Haan sees the "Ross Roy" as a metaphor for the years spent at school (a monument in time), where one's personality is formed. So, the opening theme the artist calls the Ross Roy theme initially has monumental characteristics.The rhythmic motion, which strides along in the lower register and percussion at the beginning of the next section is typical of "Tempo di Marcia". This movement, accompanied by repetitions of sound, is a metaphor for the structure and discipline in school. This is the introduction to a march theme, symbolic of "passing through" the classes up to the final examinations.Then, the Ross Roy theme is dealt with again, now in aplayful, humorous variation. As if the composer is saying there should also be time for a smile in school. The same theme can be heard in major key and a slower tempo in the following section, expressing pride and self-confidence. This is also the introduction to the expressive middle section that represents love, friendship and understanding.We then return to the march theme in a slightly altered construction. The oriental sounds, constituting the modulation to the final theme, are symbols of the diversity of cultures in the school. The characteristic final theme first sounds solemn, but turns into a festive apotheosis. It is no coincidence that the final cadence is reminiscent of the close to a traditional overture, for the school years can be considered the "overture" to the rest of one's life.
Estimated dispatch 5-14 working days
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£59.99Helios - Jan Van der Roost
Following in the footsteps of Ceremonial March, Mercury, Arsenal and Minerva, Helios is a concert march in the tradition of grand English marches. In the first passage several connected themes are developed in a combination of contrasting nuances. The melodic line of the trio is long and expressive; a characteristic found in all Jan Van der Roost's marches. Helios represents the ideal combination of rich thematic material with a traditional harmonic structure.
Estimated dispatch 5-14 working days
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£74.99Oregon - Jacob de Haan
This fantasy tells the story of Oregon, one of Americas north-western states. Traveling by train on the Northern Pacific Railroad, the listener is taken through the fascinating Oregon landscape. Indians, cowboys, golddiggers and hooded wagons will file past on this adventurous journey. The piece has some similarities with a soundtrack of a movie. Various melodies, which could be the main themes of a movie, pass the review.The piece begins in a slow movement, introducing the first theme in minor. Then we hear in the following fast movement the trombones imitate the train, whistling the steam-flute. We hear the characteristic minor theme again, but now in differentvariants(also in major). The rythmic structure of 'western' stile and rock succeed each other. This is leading to the slow movement, where the signals of horns and trumpets introduce a wonderful vocal melody. After this characteristic melody, the fast movement appears shortly again, the trombones whistling the steam-flute again (now in major). We hear also some musical elements, that plays a part in the following Presto. Barchanges, jazzy chords, interesting rhytmic patterns (with bongo) and an original theme are the characteristics of this Presto. After this, the horns announce the last section of the piece. Interesting is the fact that we hear in this Allegro section a variant of the vocal melody in the slow movement. Also the Presto theme returns shortly, followed by the Allargando, which is a grand characteristic end of a soundtrack. The movie of our travelling fantasy has come to an end.
Estimated dispatch 5-14 working days
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£124.95Hyperlink (Brass Band - Score and Parts) - Graham, Peter
Hyperlink was commissioned by the National Youth Brass Band of Great Britain (funded by Arts Council England and the Department for Education) for its 70th Anniversary Year. Since the anniversary coincided with other significant celebrations in 2022 (including the Royal Albert Hall/Ralph Vaughan Williams 150th and the Platinum Jubilee of Elizabeth II) it was requested that these also be recognised in some way.Where better to begin this challenging brief but with a computer search for the NYBBGB founder Dr Denis Wright (coincidently born in Kensington, home of the RAH). The subsequent rabbit warren of hyperlinks led me to structure the work through a series of associations:Movement I - The Voice of Jupiter. Alongside the discovery that Denis Wright had been a church organist was the realisation that while the RAH has hosted thousands of musical events the fabric of the building actually incorporates a musical instrument, the famous Henry Wills organ (aka The Voice of Jupiter). Organ and J S Bach are synonymous (e.g. Toccata in D min) and so both become fundamental to the content of the movement. An opening 7 note quote from the Toccata leads to a mammoth sound cluster, as if every note on the huge RAH organ is sustained. The material which follows is based upon the notes BACH (in German notation). The notes are manipulated in various ways in a 12 tone matrix; reversed, inverted and so on. Other techniques employed in the movement are ones of which Bach was master, including ground bass and fugue.Movement II - Remember Me. The lives of Salvationist composer Ray Steadman-Allen (born 1922) and Ralph Vaughan Williams are remembered here, with RSA in musical notation and fragments of RVWs famous Tuba Concerto providing the source material. While writing the movement my father passed away and to close his funeral service the family chose the uplifting Robert Lowry hymn They'll sing a welcome home. It seemed fitting to conclude the movement with a reflective setting of the chorus, the repeated phrase 'Welcome, welcome home' eventually disappearing into the ether.Movement III - Vivat. The finale takes the form of a short fantasy upon Hubert Parry's marvellous coronation anthem I Was Glad, truly a celebratory note with which to conclude. The first performance of Hyperlink was given by the NYBBGB conducted by Martyn Brabbins at the Royal College of Music, London on August 6th 2022.- Peter Graham
Estimated dispatch 7-14 working days
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