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£64.95Adam Zero, Suite from (Brass Band - Score and Parts) - Bliss, Arthur - Childs, Robert
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
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£59.95Un Vie de Matelot (Brass Band - Score and Parts) - Farnon, Robert
A Sailor's Life. Theme and Variations for Brass BandThis work was specially composed as the test piece for the National Brass Band Championships of Great Britain, held at the Royal Albert Hall, London, on 11th October, 1975Duration: 10.00
Estimated dispatch 7-14 working days
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£29.95
Un Vie de Matelot (Brass Band - Score only) - Farnon, Robert
A Sailor's Life. Theme and Variations for Brass BandThis work was specially composed as the test piece for the National Brass Band Championships of Great Britain, held at the Royal Albert Hall, London, on 11th October, 1975Duration: 10.00
Estimated dispatch 7-14 working days
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£102.99Sinfonietta No.1 (Brass Band - Score and Parts) - Jeanbourquin, Marc
Sinfonietta No.1 won first prize in the 2023 Composition Competition organized by the Swiss Brass Band Association. Various melodic themes and rhythmic motifs develop throughout the work. They combine with the numerous dynamic effects to bring a certain unity, from the beginning to the end of this competition piece. The technical and melodic difficulties allow the different soloists to show their virtuosity and musical prowess over five uninterrupted parts. After a first slow and misterioso part, there is a contrast with the following energico sequence based on an ostinato, creating both a progression and a tension, to drive everything towards the third part mesto (sad), then lento, where some cadenzas and numerous dissonances can be heard. The energico transition announces the fifth part, a ternary and fast con fuoco. This last part will lead the audience to a final apotheosis.Duration: 10.30
Estimated dispatch 7-14 working days
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£75.00Facets of Glass (Brass Band - Score and Parts) - Langford, Gordon
Set as the Third Section test piece for the 2022 Regional Championships of the British Brass Band Championships of Great Britain. This a new edition prepared especially for the 2022 Regionals.The works consists of four contrasting movements movements:Prelude - Fusion (Andante Moderato)Scherzo - Celebration (Presto)Meditation - Lathom Park Chapel (Andante Religioso)Finale - Visions (Allegretto con Spirito)Duration: 10.15
Estimated dispatch 7-14 working days
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£118.99I Shall Love But Thee (Vocal Solo (Soprano) with Brass Band - Score and Parts) - Van der Roost, Jan
I Shall Love But Thee is an occasional work in the literal sense of the word, since it was originally written on the occasion of the composer's youngest son's wedding. The texts, by William Shakespeare, inspired Jan Van der Roost to compose profound and appealing music, largely in the style of Henry Purcell (in the first part) and Georg Friedrich Handel (in the second part)--although no literal quotations have been used. The rather rare combination of soprano and brass band makes this piece a unique addition to the repertoire!Duration: 10.30
Estimated dispatch 7-14 working days
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£104.99Purcellian Fantasia (Brass Band - Score and Parts) - De Haan, Jan
This composition is based on the march from Henry Purcell's Music for the funeral of Queen Mary II, a work written in 1694. In this fantasia, various movements flow from one to the next following the main theme; these movements not only elaborate on the theme, but also contrast with it. At times, the thematic material diverges so much, that the work acquires a character of its own; however, the composer often refers back to fragments of the theme. This work was test piece in the 4th division of the Dutch National Brass Band Championships (NBK) in 2017. Duration: 10.30
Estimated dispatch 7-14 working days
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£47.50You'll Never Walk Alone (Brass Band - Score and Parts) - Hammerstein & Rodgers - Oud, Thijs
This great football anthem, made famous worldwide when sung against the background of the Eiffel Tower to close the 1998 World Cup, can now be played and enjoyed by your brass band. An ideal piece to close any concert with.Duration: 2:10
Estimated dispatch 7-14 working days
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£64.99Oregon (Brass Band - Score and Parts)
This fantasy tells the story of Oregon, one of America's 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 different variants (also in major). The rhythmic 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 rhythmic 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.Duration: 9:10
Estimated dispatch 7-14 working days
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£96.99Viking Age (Brass Band - Score and Parts)
The Viking age lasted from the late eighth, to the middle of the eleventh century. During this period, Scandinavian warriors and merchants explored, plundered and left their mark on numerous territories. This work is based on a series of four notes that appear in different forms, consisting of 4 movements: Northern Men, Explorer, Raids and Heritage. It is an impressive and spectacular piece, with lots of interesting and playful parts for all sections. This is a perfect contest piece or an outstanding work for thematic concerts.Duration: 10.40
Estimated dispatch 7-14 working days
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