Results
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£231.00A Poem Against War - Harrie Janssen
A Poem against War A Poem against War was commissioned by Psalm 150, Dinxperlo for the project Leven in Vrijheid!.Starting point of the composition of this piece was the poem A Poem against War from the American poet Karen Kapowich. The poem tells of young lives that are broken in their start because of war.A monument - founded in memory of the soldiers who gave their lives - is hardly noticed and even ignored. Children find the tree-sheltered memorial place rather scary and even the narrator speeds up his stride when passing. Underlying theme is the otiosity of war.The musical piece is composed of two parts that are being played without interruption. The first part explains the drama of the battle. The second part is based on the poem of Karen Karpowich in which we look back on the sacrifices that have been made. The text is sung by a Mezzo Soprano and emphasizes the bloodshed that comes along with every war. The opening theme returns at the end of the piece but in a complete metamorphosis, wherein optimism and vigor take place for resignation knowing that history repeats itself time and time again. A Poem against War had its premiere on 25th November 2012 in de DRU Cultuurfabriek in Ulft by Fanfare-orchestra Psalm 150, Dinxperlo led by Tijmen Botma. The Mezzo Soprano was Elske ter Lindert.commissioned by Psalm 150, Dinxperlo for the project Leven in Vrijheid!.Starting point of the composition of this piece was the poem A Poem against War from the American poet Karen Kapowich. The poem tells of young lives that are broken in their start because of war.A monument - founded in memory of the soldiers who gave their lives - is hardly noticed and even ignored. Children find the tree-sheltered memorial place rather scary and even the narrator speeds up his stride when passing. Underlying theme is the otiosity of war.The musical piece is composed of two parts that are being played without interruption. The first part explains the drama of the battle. The second part is based on the poem of Karen Karpowich in which we look back on the sacrifices that have been made. The text is sung by a Mezzo Soprano and emphasizes the bloodshed that comes along with every war. The opening theme returns at the end of the piece but in a complete metamorphosis, wherein optimism and vigor take place for resignation knowing that history repeats itself time and time again. A Poem against War had its premiere on 25th November 2012 in de DRU Cultuurfabriek in Ulft by Fanfare-orchestra Psalm 150, Dinxperlo led by Tijmen Botma. The Mezzo Soprano was Elske ter Lindert.
Estimated dispatch 10-14 working days
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£34.95Song for the Skies (Eb Bass Solo with Brass Band - Score and Parts)
Song for the Skies was commissioned by Tuba virtuoso Les Neish and was given its world premier on the December 9th 2010 with the James Madison University Brass Band in Harrisonburg, Virginia, USA.Les asked me to compose a slow melody that highlights the wonderful sonorous sound of the Tuba. I am a big fan of Les and of the instrument and knowing the capabilities of Les as a soloist I wanted to experiment with the range and colour of the instrument in this solo.After a warm introduction from the ensemble the soloist enters almost timeless over the muted cornets. The melody when it is first heard has a somewhat haunting Celtic feel to it. It is intentionally marked as con rubato so that the soloist can really put their own musical stamp on the music. As the haunting melody repeats again this time in a change of key the accompaniment takes more of a role within the piece of music performing counter melodies within this second section.The middle of the piece introduces a new secondary melodic device that serves as an introduction to the original melody played in all its glory by the ensemble. This dies away to leave the second half of the melody in the euphoniums and baritones as the soloist plays a soaring counter melody in the highest register of the instrument.The piece starts to return home with a recapitulation of the introduction followed by the second part of the original melody by the soloist. After a momentary reflective solo from the soloist the introduction is used for a final time before the tuba guides us home to conclude.For the soloist, there are a number of occasions where the opportunity to play in the upper register of the instrument arises. However, I have also given the opportunity for the soloist to play various passages down the octave so it suits the performers playing style and range.Song for the Skies is very simple yet beautiful and I feel it suits the playing of the Eb Tuba perfectly. I hope you enjoy performing it.Paul Lovatt-Cooper
Estimated dispatch 7-14 working days
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£94.95Waiting for a Pain Hit!??!!? (Brass Band - Score and Parts)
Waiting For a Pain Hit!??!!? was written during November and December 2006 as an entry in the 2006/07 Swiss Brass Band Association Composers Competition. It was later chosen as the Championship Section set test piece for the 2010 Swiss National Brass Band Championships.The piece originates from sketches for a Brass Quintet which was written whilst I was in my second year of studies at the Royal Welsh College of Music and Drama. The piece, now being much more elaborate both musically and structurally than the original, aims to explore the many various textures available to a large brass ensemble. The aims of the piece, from its earliest stages, were mainly exploration of textures as well as dealing with issues of continuity and whilst the piece certainly contains challenging technical elements, they were not a driving force behind its inception and more organically grew from the primary aims of the piece. I was purposefully looking throughout the writing and editing process to create a piece of music with a seamless, ethereal quality to both the structure and the musical content.There are no 'performance directions' throughout the piece, the reasoning for this is explained below. However, I have spent much time and thought over the tempo markings throughout the piece and the tempos throughout the piece are the desired tempi and care should be taken with these. The tempo markings contained throughout the piece form a vital part of the structure and affect the continuity of the piece. Metronome marks contained within a box show the tempo of the new section in relation to the tempo that precedes it by use of metronome modulations. Any alterations to the tempo of the section that precedes it will alter the boxed metronome marks.The title of a piece of music, please forgive my generalisation, is to give an insight into 'what a piece is about'. I suppose that this piece is no different, but with the title being slightly abstract I shall resist the temptation to reveal what it means to me. The title, I feel, needs to be open to interpretation along with the music within. That's the way, with this piece especially, I like my music to be. Freedom to find our own meaning and a way to express it from within the score is vital. It is only then that the piece can take on its own identity and grow in ways that even I might not have imagined, revealing different sides to its personality with each performance.Before the music begins I have included some text. Do these words hold the key to the music?! Can they help??! I DON'T KNOW!!! I just like the rhythms, the pulse and the imagery. Hopefully, all of this can help to create a picture. But let it be your picture...- Paul McGhee, June 2010
Estimated dispatch 7-14 working days
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£48.56Peace in Our Time (Brass Band) Andrew Wainwright
Commissioned by Armonico Consort to mark the 85th anniversary of the Coventry Blitz, Peace in Our Time is a profoundly moving reflection on humanity's enduring quest for reconciliation amidst turmoil. Originally scored for choir, orchestra, and organ, this masterful brass band transcription beautifully captures the emotional weight of John Oxenham's evocative poetry and the timeless plea of Psalm 122. The work opens in hushed reverence, where distant muted cornets, a dark bass pedal, and a fragile, militaristic snare drum set a shadowed, contemplative scene. Out of this delicate landscape emerges a poignant cornet solo that yields to the expressive voice of the solo flugel horn, carrying the opening text with quiet conviction before introducing the solemn reminder: "O pray for peace, peace in Jerusalem." As the piece progresses, the setting turns darker and more restless. Harmonic tension builds through rich brass textures to reflect the fears, divisions, and heavy costs of historical and modern conflict. From this emotional turbulence rises a bold, ceremonial fanfare that marks a dramatic turning point, ushering in a glorious, expansive setting of the poem's final verse. Yet rather than ending in simple triumph, the music gently recedes into a serene and tender stillness. The final bars leave performers and audiences alike with a quiet, lingering echo - a persistent hope for peace that resonates just as deeply today as it did 85 years ago. This substantial work is an extraordinary addition to any brass band library, serving as an ideal centerpiece for Remembrance Sunday, historical commemorations, church services or serious concert programming. To view a multimedia presentation of the piece with audio please visit www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y2BKI_GCegw The multimedia presentation is available on request withe purchase of this work - please email [email protected] to receive a link to download it. To view a video performance of the original work for choir, orchestra and organ please visit www.youtube.com/watch?v=m6o6PJJVKCo Duration: approx. 8.45 minutes Difficulty Level: 2nd Section + This PDF download includes the full score and parts. Sheet music available at www.brassband.co.uk (UK) or https://satradecentral.org (USA) 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 1-2
In Stock: Estimated dispatch 1-3 working days
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£30.00Is That The Time ? - Paul Mottram
Is That The Time ? was written in 2014 for UK national award winning band 'Youth Brass 2000'. It's a showpiece in a jazzy fusion idiom with a full and central role for the kit drummer and percussionists. The temptation must be resisted to play the piece too quickly and in so doing losing the 16th note syncopations inherent within the rhythmic groove. The challenge is not so much one of getting the notes, although there are a few harmonic surprises along the way, as one of playing as a cohesive rhythmic unit.
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£37.35A Fugal Overture (Brass Band) Gustav Holst arr. Rob Bushnell
A Fugal Overture was written in 1922 by Gustav Holst. It was first performed at the Royal Opera House, Covent Garden on 14 May 1923 and was used as an opening work to Holst's one-act opera The Perfect Fool. It received its concert premiere on 11 October 1923 at one of Henry Wood's Queen's Hall Promenade Concerts. It is an early example of neoclassicism and was influenced by the counterpoint of J. S. Bach, despite its unconventional use of the fugal process. Holst began writing the piece in the summer of 1922, having hoped to develop it into a ballet. It is divided into three sections, the fugal subject with its distinct 3+3+2 pattern, a slower section with solos at the end, and a third section where the subject returns. Although reviews of the piece were mixed at the time of its premiere, the likes of Adrian Boult have said it was "an invigorating work that could effectively start any [...] concert". In more recent years, it has been compared to John Adam's A Short Ride in a Fast Machine. This arrangement is for the British-style brass band, with alternative parts for horns in F and bass-clef lower brass. A recording of the original composition can be found here: www.youtube.com/watch?v=a8xfwJyFq2E. Duration: Approx. 5.40 minutes Difficulty Level: 1st Section + PDF download includes parts and score. Sheet music available from www.brassband.co.uk 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 BbTimpani Percussion 1-2
In Stock: Estimated dispatch 1-3 working days
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£94.95Rhapsody on a Theme by Purcell - Contest Edition (Brass Band - Score and Parts)
Contest VersionIn his relatively short lifetime, Henry Purcell (1659 -1695) achieved stellar musical success and was known and admired internationally by his contemporaries. He is justifiably considered one of England's greatest composers.I thought long and hard before using this magnificent theme as the basis for a band piece because I think that Benjamin Britten has said just about everything possible regarding it in his The Young Person's Guide to the Orchestra. Bearing this in mind, I tentatively set about working on this composition. Once started though, the job became fun because the theme still yielded possibilities - even after Britten!The piece is basically a set of linked variations, much like Rachmaninov's great Rhapsody on theme by Paginini. The music starts slowly and makes much use of crisply dotted rhythms - a Purcellian characteristic. The theme is heard twice before the music changes into a jaunty duple time variation based on the opening motif of Purcell's theme. After this, the mood changes to a waltz-like variation in which clear references to the original theme can be heard. The slow movement follows, and is based on rising and descending scalic figures. This variation is an 'A-B-A' movement with two similar passages framing a more vigorous middle section which features antiphonal fanfare-like figures. Without any preamble, the last variation launches itself - a rumbustious dance which has a distinctive feel to it.The theme eventually reappears as a counter-melody to this dance music before a final triumphant treatment of the melody featuring a somewhat athletic bass line. The music accelerates at the Coda and disappears in a 'puff of smoke'.- Kevin Norbury
Estimated dispatch 7-14 working days
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£39.95
Rhapsody on a Theme by Purcell - Contest Edition (Brass Band - Score only)
Contest VersionIn his relatively short lifetime, Henry Purcell (1659 -1695) achieved stellar musical success and was known and admired internationally by his contemporaries. He is justifiably considered one of England's greatest composers.I thought long and hard before using this magnificent theme as the basis for a band piece because I think that Benjamin Britten has said just about everything possible regarding it in his The Young Person's Guide to the Orchestra. Bearing this in mind, I tentatively set about working on this composition. Once started though, the job became fun because the theme still yielded possibilities - even after Britten!The piece is basically a set of linked variations, much like Rachmaninov's great Rhapsody on theme by Paginini. The music starts slowly and makes much use of crisply dotted rhythms - a Purcellian characteristic. The theme is heard twice before the music changes into a jaunty duple time variation based on the opening motif of Purcell's theme. After this, the mood changes to a waltz-like variation in which clear references to the original theme can be heard. The slow movement follows, and is based on rising and descending scalic figures. This variation is an 'A-B-A' movement with two similar passages framing a more vigorous middle section which features antiphonal fanfare-like figures. Without any preamble, the last variation launches itself - a rumbustious dance which has a distinctive feel to it.The theme eventually reappears as a counter-melody to this dance music before a final triumphant treatment of the melody featuring a somewhat athletic bass line. The music accelerates at the Coda and disappears in a 'puff of smoke'.- Kevin Norbury
Estimated dispatch 7-14 working days
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£89.95Diversions for Brass Band, Op.97 (Brass Band - Score and Parts)
This work was commissioned in1985 by Skellerup, Christchurch, New ZealandMovements:Allegro VivaceAndante Con Moto Molto ExpressivoAllegro VivaceDerek Bourgeois wrote Diversions in the summer of 1985 to a commissioned from the Skellerup Brass Band.Bourgeois previous test piece, Blitz, was aggressive and forceful, therefore the composer decided to write a work of a completely different character, which although technically very demanding, is light-hearted in style, and easy on the ear, as the title suggests.The first and third movements share the same tempo, but are rather different in character. The first movement is a sonata allegro contrasting two main themes. The first is bold and jaunty and is heavily scored, the second announced by the solo horn is more lyrical in character. The development section and recapitulation are merged into a continuous interplay of the two themes.The second movement is an expressive andante in free rondo form. It is lightly scored for the most part with a lot of solo passages that make demands on the musicianship of the players and conductor alike. The very simplicity of its textures and the breadth of its melodic writing demand firm control of vibrato, phrasing and rubato.The brief finale is nothing short of a romp. Its ternary structure is highly rhythmic in character and only rarely do the performers enjoy the luxury of two consecutive bars in the same time signature!Duration: 11.00
Estimated dispatch 7-14 working days
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£15.99A Road Less Travelled By (Brass Band - Study Score) - Sparke, Philip
A Road Less Travelled By was commissioned by Palangos Orkestras for the Championship Section of the 2020 European Brass Band Championships held in Palanga, Lithuania.The following was written by the composer, Philip Sparke:The title alludes to a poem by American author, Robert Frost, which appeared in his 1916 collection, Mountain Intervals: The Road Not Taken.In common with most of my larger works, this piece in not programmatic, but purely abstract; there is no extrinsic musical story. The choice of title shares my view of how composers can often develop. There can be no 'destination' in a composer's career, but rather a continuing journey to an unknown place. From piece to piece a composer needs to decide his or her next steps, never really knowing where they might lead. As Frost so eloquently describes, these sorts of instinctive decisions guide all our lives.Set in three movements, which play without a break, A Road Less Travelled By opens with a Moto Perpetuo firmly rooted in classical language, form and syntax. A continuous river of semiquavers, veering from melody to accompaniment and back again, adds drive, every and motion. The second movement, Nocturne, is in the form of a free fantasia; solos for vibraphone, flugel horn and euphonium set the stage for a central cornet solo, quietly echoed by the full band. A triumphal climax is reached before the movement dissolves into a Scherzo Finale. Mercurial and quixotic in nature, this third movement starts jovially until trios for trombones and horns darken the atmosphere. A change of mood and meter leads to a reprise of the opening and a return of the cornet melody, this time accompanied by figures derived from the scherzo theme. A brief coda based on earlier material drives the piece to a close.Duration: 15.30
Estimated dispatch 7-14 working days
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