Results
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£30.00Flanfayre - Stephen Deazley
I was asked by Music for Youth to write a flexibly scored fanfare for the school proms at the Royal Albert Hall and at their National Festival in Birmingham in 2013. At its first performance at the National Festival, over 200 young brass players performed Flanfayre in Birmingham Town Hall, directed by Roger Argente, members of Superbrass and myself. The score is a progressive romp through some increasingly dance-like grooves, borrowing some of its swing from South America, from marches and big band, moving from a really quite straight opening to a "let-go" moment at the end. It is more like a flan full of different flavours, than a fanfare, hence the title. I set myself a challenge to write 100 bars but ended up with 102, which, after the introduction, can be broken down into 10 easily discernible sections each with their own mini-musical narrative. If you have time feel free to teach the audience the clapping groove. I also modelled the slow moving melody of the final section on the following words; "nothing beats a nice big cheesy, nothing beats a nice big cheesy, nothing beats a nice big cheesy, nothing beats a cheesy flan". Feel free to incorporate these too, and perform only under the strict instruction that you have fun ! - Programme Note copyright of Stephen Deazley
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£40.00Marcos - Brian Finnegan & Niall Vallely
Brian Finnegan (born1 969) is an Irish flute and tin whistle player from Armagh, Northern Ireland. Finnegan began playing whistle at age 8 and flute at age 10 as a student of the Armagh Pipers Club under the tuition of the Vallely family. He first came to public attention with the Irish group Upstairs in a Tent.Niall Vallely (born 1970) is also an Irish musician from Armagh. In1966 his parents, Brian and Eithne Vallely founded the Armagh Piper's Club, but he chose to learn the concertina instead. His brother Cillian plays the uillean pipes and low whistle, another of his brothers, Caoimhin, plays classical piano, tin whistle and fiddle. In 1990, they formed the group Nomos, which released two albums before breaking up in 2000.
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Blake's 7 - theme - Dudley Simpson - Len Jenkins
Blake's 7 was a British science fiction television series produced by the BBC and broadcast between 1978 and 1981. It was popular from its first broadcast, watched by approximately 10 million people in the UK and shown in 25 other countries. Although many aspects of space opera were present, its budget was inadequate for its interstellar narrative. It still remains well regarded for its strong characterisation, ambiguous morality and pessimistic tone - but has also been described as "classically awful". It has cult status. After over 30 years of silence, the theme music has now been arranged for full Brass Band and is a strident 'opener', or 'closer' for any concert.
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Walk, Don't Run - Johnny Smith - Len Jenkins
"Walk, Don't Run" is an instrumental composition written and first recorded by jazz guitarist Johnny Smith in 1954. Chet Atkins also recorded it. However, the most well-known version is by a rock band called The Ventures from Tacoma (near Seattle) who released their version of the tune as a single in spring 1960. It was an instant success. In 1964, The Ventures released an updated version called "Walk Don't Run '64," which also made the Top 10 in the US, and there were 4 further editions up until 2000. In the UK, the tune was covered by the John Barry Seven. Rolling Stone magazine rated the Ventures' version of "Walk, Don't Run" as number 82 on their list of the 100 Greatest Guitar Songs of All Time.
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Diamonds - Jerry Lordan - Len Jenkins
In November 1962, ex-Shadows members Jet Harris and Tony Meehan decided to work as a duo and went to No 1 with a Jerry Lordan composition, "Diamonds". Harris, a bass player, took an ordinary Fender guitar and detuned every string a whole tone to enable him to hit notes which were lower than an ordinary guitar. However, it was apparently difficult to work with on stage since once the strings were slackened they would go out of tune very easily. The duo went on to have a second Top 10 hit with "Scarlett O'Hara" which is also available from Wobbleco Music in an arrangement for brass band. Both arrangements seek to capture the characteristic style of 60's rock music and retain the signature drum solos for which they are rightly remembered. But in addition, both pieces also appeal to a younger generation who may not have heard the originals. Our young kit drummer in Woburn Sands 'A' Band commented "...the (drum) part has the slightest shuffle feel to it, which improves the groove of the song, and to replicate the vintage snare-drum sound, I have heard that you can place a towel or a cloth over the head of the drum. I think it would work well...(otherwise) the drum part stays relatively simple and repetitive"...Chance to re-create the sound of the 60's.....Go for it!
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£32.00Amaranth (Score only) - Ray Steadman-Allen
The title of the work refers to a legendary imaginary purple flower, mysterious in that it never fades or dies. In an extended single movement the music explores the colours and textures of the brass band. Duration: 10:00
Estimated dispatch 7-9 working days
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£42.00Amaranth (Parts only) - Ray Steadman-Allen
The title of the work refers to a legendary imaginary purple flower, mysterious in that it never fades or dies. In an extended single movement the music explores the colours and textures of the brass band. Duration: 10:00
Estimated dispatch 7-9 working days
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£42.00A French Suite (Score only) - Boely
Boely (1785-1858) was a French organist who preferred the traditions of Bach to the varying influences of the French Revolution. The five movements that make up this refreshing suite demand clarity of line, a fine balance in ensemble, and purity of tone and intonation - the classical style. Duration: 10:00
Estimated dispatch 7-9 working days
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£52.00A French Suite (Parts only) - Boely
Boely (1785-1858) was a French organist who preferred the traditions of Bach to the varying influences of the French Revolution. The five movements that make up this refreshing suite demand clarity of line, a fine balance in ensemble, and purity of tone and intonation - the classical style. Duration: 10:00
Estimated dispatch 7-9 working days
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£64.95Adam Zero, Suite from (Brass Band - Score and Parts)
Selected as the Section 2 test piece for the National Brass Band Championships of Great Britain 2025Following his ballet Checkmate, Bliss composed another score for the, by then, Sadler's Wells Ballet, Miracle in the Gorbals, which was choreographed by Robert Helpmann, to a scenario by Michael Benthall. Premired in 1944, the ballet made a considerable impact and was a box-office success. It was followed in turn by a further collaboration with Helpmann and Benthall, Adam Zero. This would serve Helpmann, in the eponymous role, as a vehicle in two respects: demonstrating his gifts as a dancer-actor and as a choreographer. First performed at the Royal Opera House, Covent Garden, on 8 April 1946, Adam Zero was conducted by Constant Lambert, the work's dedicatee. Bliss considered it 'his most varied and exciting ballet score'. Benthall provided a synopsis for the programme:There is a philosophy that life moves in an endless series of timeless cycles. As Nature passes through Spring, Summer, Autumn and Winter, so man is born, makes a success in his own particular sphere, loses his position to a younger generation, sees his world crumble before his eyes and only finds peace in death. This age-old story is told in terms of a Company creating a ballet and calling on the resources of the theatre to do so. Lighting, stage mechanism, dance conventions, musical forms and costumes and scenery of all periods are used to symbolize the world of 'Adam Zero'.Apart from Adam, as the Principal Dancer, other main roles included the Stage Director (representing Omnipotence), and Adam's Fates (Designer, Wardrobe Mistress, and Dresser). 'The Woman in this allegory', wrote Bliss, 'under the symbol of the Choreographer, was both the creator and destroyer of Adam: his first love, his wife, his mistress, and finally the figure of beneficent Death.' When the curtain rose, the 'audience saw the Covent Garden stage right back to the wall, completely empty except for the protagonists, 'the Company poised, still and expectant, as they await the birth of... Adam Zero.'Unfortunately, soon after the premire, Helpmann injured himself and had to withdraw from the remaining performances. Despite generally positive reviews, the ballet did not capture the imagination of audiences and, to Bliss's considerable disappointment, was not revived. Seventy years would elapse before its first major return to the stage, in 2016, performed by the ballet company of Stadttheater Bremerhaven with choreography by Sergei Vanaev.Bliss extracted a concert suite from the ballet, conducting its first performance with the City of Birmingham Symphony Orchestra on 28 October 1948. For his own suite, arranged for brass band in 2023, Dr Robert Childs chose three dances linked to the seasons, book-ending them with the ebullient 'Fanfare Overture' and 'Fanfare Coda'. After Adam has grown to manhood, his Fates clothe him in a costume synonymous with confident youth, appropriate for the virile, ardent 'Dance of Spring'. In the 'Approach of Autumn', Adam, now wearing a sombre costume, has grown older: his Fates have streaked grey in his hair and put lines on his face. But they had earlier raised Adam to the zenith of his power, and the 'Dance of Summer' depicts him in the prime of life, in music of sweeping grandeur. The 'Fanfare Coda' signals that the next cycle of life is about to begin.Duration: 10.30
Estimated dispatch 7-14 working days