Results
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£74.95Variations for Brass Band (Original Version) (Brass Band - Score and Parts) - Vaughan Williams, Ralph
Butlins 2018 2nd Section Set Work.
Estimated dispatch 7-14 working days
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£183.99Perihelion: Closer to the Sun - Philip Sparke
Perihelion was commissioned by the Cory Band as their own-choice piece for the 2013 European Brass Band Championships, held in Oslo, Norway. Winning the set piece section of the contest and coming second to Eikanger-Bjorsvik Musikklag with their own choice selection, Cory went on to become European Champions for the fifth time.Cory MD Philip Harper had asked for a 'Concerto for Band' to fully exploit his outstanding band of virtuosi, and composer Philip Sparke created a one-movement work with contiguous sections, first featuring horns and flugel, then trombones followed by cornets and a slower central section for percussion and baritones, euphonium andbasses.The piece is abstract in nature, without a specific programme, and the title merely reflects the fact that the piece was begun on January 2nd 2013, the day of Earth's perihelion - the point in its orbit when it is closest to the sun. It could also be argued that the piece weaves between moments of brilliant optimism and dark shadow, both of which can be the result of bright sunshine.
Estimated dispatch 5-14 working days
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£29.95The Strong Tower (Brass Band - Score and Parts)
Following the popularity of Turris Fortissima, I decided, albeit many years later, to revisit some of the material it contains and create a shorter piece, expanding on some of the ideas and motifs, allowing myself to follow those in different directions altogether. The result is this piece which I hope will also excite players and listeners alike.The music is marked at a quick tempo from the start, but despite several changes in meter, the tempo doesn't change until the small accelerando leads us into the presto section. In order to maintain the excitement and drama, it's important to set the pace and keep it consistent throughout.Section A introduces a few of the motifs that will be developed during the piece, including the main Turris Fortissima theme from bar 13 to 18.At section B, ensure the quavers are tight across the whole band with a strong attack, making an obvious difference in dynamic when fff is marked, in bars 23, 25 and 27. A more lyrical approach will be effective from the Horns in section C, with vigorous interruptions from the rest of the band breaking up their melody.Section D features long notes from muted 1st and 2nd Cornets and Trombones, with crescendos each time. These should be significant and sound as though they emerge from nowhere, completely cutting through the overall texture.Section D features long notes from muted 1st and 2nd Cornets and Trombones, with crescendos each time. These should be significant and sound as though they emerge from nowhere, completely cutting through the overall texture.Sections E and F are both passages of building intensity. Various contrasting motifs are layered, including a subtle reference to the hymn tune Ein' feste Burg (A mighty fortress is our God) from the Euphonium. The music becomes more busy and muddled, before reaching its climax at section G where the lyrical melody is heard again, this time from the Solo Cornets and Euphonium.In bars 141 to 145, there is a reference to Dean Goffin's My strength, my tower in the Basses, as used in Turris Fortissima. Allow this motif to dominate, keeping the notes full and grand-sounding. In bars 149 to 151 there is further use of the line from Ein' feste Burg in the Baritones, Trombones, Euphoniums and Basses leading into the final section.- Steven Ponsford
Estimated dispatch 7-14 working days
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£15.00Perseverance
DescriptionPerseverance was commissioned by Middleton Band to mark their 140th anniversary in 2016, supported using public funding by the National Lottery through Arts Council England, and featured on Middleton Band's CD of the same name.The title is taken from the original name of the 1876 band, the Middleton Perseverance Drum and Fife Band. According to the band's historical records, the Drum and Fife band was formed by six Middleton youngsters eager to learn music but short of funds. Following a whip round, they visited a music shop in Oldham where they purchased a 'one key flute' for six shillings and sixpence, and ('later on') a drum.This determination to make music despite the odds has been a characteristic of the band ever since; at the end of the second world war the band was again down to six players, who rebuilt the 'Middleton Borough Band' back to twenty-six players. After a period of some considerable success throughout the sixties and seventies culminating in winning the National Third Section title in 1983 the band hit hard times again in the late eighties and was down to only four members in 1987 before again being brought back to life. In recent decades the band has built a strong relationship with the East Lancashire Railway, another organisation which has battled sometimes mighty obstacles in its struggle to survive, and has maintained a thriving and successful youth band.The band's will to survive through adversity is reflected in the music, which builds from a sextet of four brass and two percussion players three times, only to fall back to the sextet twice. In the central slow movement the bass drum plays a 'heartbeat' rhythm as the remaining players remember those lost in the war. The relentless pace of the final section culminates in the band triumphing over the adversity which has curtailed the previous two sections. As a former member of Middleton Band (and one of the team that regained the National Third Section title in 2007) it is my pleasure to dedicate this work to the 'Pop and Ale Boys', Middleton Band.You can read more about the piece here.To view the accompanying video by Andy Marshall, designed to precede the piece, clickhereand find out more about the link between the video and the music here.Recording with Score VideoPerformance NotesIn performance the four brass members of the sextet (soprano, solo horn, solo trombone and solo euphonium) should stand at the sides of the band - soprano and horn behind the cornets, trombone and euphonium behind the trombones. Percussion may stand with them at the conductor's discretion, but only if the band has TWO snare drums and TWO concert bass drums available, as these are also needed at the back of the band in the tutti sections. In the second sextet snare drum should be muffled with a heavy cloth OR have the snares turned off (not both).Percussion and mutesPercussion required:snare drum (muffled with a heavy cloth at one point)concert bass drum, kit bass drum, hi-hat, suspended (crash) cymbal2 x tom-tomswood blockclash cymbals3 x timpanitam-tamglockenspielSoprano cornet, repiano and 2nd cornets, flugel and all trombones require metal straight mutes. Soprano, Solo Cornet 3/4, Repiano 2nd and 3rd cornets require cup mutes. Solo Cornet 1/2, Repiano, 2nd and 3rd cornets require harmon mutes.
Estimated dispatch 7-14 working days
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£90.00Impressions of Seurat (Chris Cobon) - Brass Band Full Score and Parts - LM482 - Chris Cobon
COMPOSER: Chris Cobon1 - Stone breakersThe Suite opens with the only picture, of the five, which is not in the pointillist style. Several pictures were produced on the Stone Breaker theme, painted in oil on small panels called croquetons. The subjects in the art are breaking stones for use in road building. Musically the piece starts canonically alluding to the repetitive nature of the labour. A more direct, rhythmic link of three hammer blows, are first heard in the opening passages in the percussion. These hammer blows are also built into each third bar of the cannon and, therefore, become embedded into the opening section. Arising from the flurry of activity are two, three bar legato phrases in a majestic style until it falls to a more dramatic sounding of the legato phrase over a resounding of the cannon in a new textural order. This leads to a short, new section, featuring a trombone trio underneath rising scales in the cornet section.2: Bathers at AsnieresBathers at Asnieres was Seurat's first major painting...The canvas is of a suburban, Parisian riverside scene. Isolated figures, with their clothes, piled sculpturally on the riverbank, together with trees, austere boundary walls and buildings, and the River Seine are presented in a formal layout. This moment aims to capture the tranquillity of a summer's day in the park. This painting led the development of the pointillist technique whereby the colours were applied as small dots that combine to form a picture when viewed at a distance. The trombones capture this idea in the opening bars with their carillon-style entries. The 2nd/3rd cornets make a more direct link by individual picking out single notes of a melody being sounded on Baritones and trombones at C. The use of mutes adds a subtle darker side to this movement which nods to the industrial working-class aspects of the painting.3: White DogWhite Dog features a few characters relaxing in the sun, and a white dog with its tail held high. Having two dogs myself, I've taken the idea of an excited dog with a waggy tail as the basis for this short, middle, movement.4: Sunday Afternoonon the Island of La Grande Jatte Sunday Afternoon on the Island of La Grande Jatte is arguably Seurat's most famous work.5: Parade de CirqueCircus Sideshow Parade de Cirque encompasses a circus scene's boisterousness, vitality and chaos. However, the painting, constructed with the new pointillist technique, also portrays stillness, calmness and precision. As expected from looking at the picture, the trombone takes centre stage in various locations on either side of the calming circus waltz and pointillist section (I).LM482ISMN : 9790570004829
In Stock: Estimated dispatch 3-5 working days
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£69.95Ceremony - Jonathan Bates
DIFFICULTY: 2nd+. DURATION: 10'00". 'Ceremony' was commisioned by Musica da Domat, Switzerland and their Musical Director Gian Stecher in 2019. The concept of the work revolves around a number of religious processions which take place around the mountainous region of Graubunden in the south of the country and in more musical terms, a specific setting of the 'Stabat Mater' (heard in fragments throughout the piece, but only at the finale is it heard in it's entirety) which is traditionally the ceremonies around this area. Through-composed yet in 4 clear sections, 'Ceremony' opens with 3 fanafare trumpets/cornets positioned antiphonally across the back of the stage, each paired with a different pitched tenor drum, and in a different key - inspired by the idea of being able to hear the different ceremonies from all regions of Graubunden echoing up the valley in equal strength. Following this opening fanfare section, the procession around the hills begins with a tongue-in-cheek quasi-march in a far more upbeat and jovial mood. The centrepiece of the work is simply entitled 'Echoes', and once again returns to the idea of music breaking the almost eerie-silence as it reverberates around the vast valleys, before the culmination of the piece returns to material from the opening 'Ceremony' section in a more grandioso and bold style. . .
In Stock: Estimated dispatch 1-3 working days
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£30.00Niagara Falls - Brass Band - LM597
COMPOSER: Neil LockThis descriptive piece commemorates a visit I made to Niagara Falls back in October 1984.At the beginning, the music is very quiet; the falls are a long way away! But as it progresses, the noise of the falls becomes louder and louder. The piece has three principal motifs, whichrun through most of it. Descending crochets signify the water going over the cliff, and risingquavers the spray coming back up. And the frequent discord (a major chord with anadditional 2nd) represents wetness.Right after my first sight of the falls, I see the "Maid of the Mist" boat phut-phutting outinto the stream, with horns and E flat basses on the off-beat. There is also an "Indian"war-cry in this section from the trombone, euphonium and B flat bass. Then, an extendedclimax describes my first view of the full majesty of the falls.After this climax dies away, I go up the tower near the falls. The music goes into the minorkey, and loses the discord. It isn't wet up there!In the final section, I stand close to the falls; almost close enough, it seems, to put an armin. The music becomes very loud. Twice I look aside, but when I turn back the falls are stillthere. At the end, the descending crochet motif takes over entirely, and a timpani roll isfollowed by a classic final chord.
In Stock: Estimated dispatch 3-5 working days
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£35.00A Manchester Tale. Andrew Duncan
Recommended - Championship & 1st Section A Manchester Tale depicts life in Manchester from the industrial revolution through to the 2nd World War and the rebuilding afterwards. Includes score & parts
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£29.95Ghost of Christmas Past, The - Jonathan Bates
DURATION: 2'30". DIFFICULTY: 2nd+. Composed for Strata Brass in 2020 as part of their COVID-19 induced, virtually recorded 'A Christmas Carol' (a new suite for brass bandlasting around 30 minutes in total), 'The Ghost of Christmas Past' is a lively and virtuosic cornet solo portraying the visions Scrooge is shown of his childhood. Beginning in a jovial mood, the ghost then shows Scrooge his early love life, before showing how Scrooge's unsympathetic and callous ways lead to his loss of love and friendship throughout the years as the music gets gradually darker and darker with each passing section. .
In Stock: Estimated dispatch 1-3 working days
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£34.95The Battle of Sherwood Forest - Jonathan Bates
DURATION: 3 minutes. DIFFICULTY: 2nd+. 'The Battle of Sherwood Forest' was composed for BD1 Brass as part of a set of music inspired by the fairytale of Robin Hood and Maid Marian. . In this section of the story, we are transported to the infamous Sherwood Forest in Nottinghamshire where Robin Hood does battle against the evil Sheriff of Nottingham - a crooked and corrupt officer of the law employed by King Richard to tak the poor and provide for the rich. The battle ends in a stalemate, but Maid Marian (an ally of Robin's) is captured during the conflict by the Sheriff's man and escorted far, far away into solitary confinement.
In Stock: Estimated dispatch 1-3 working days
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