Results
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£74.99Olympus - Philip Harper
Selected as the test-piece for the 3rd Section Regional contests of the National Brass Band Championships 2012The music begins with a depiction of the exciting Opening Ceremony where noisy fanfares and sudden swells add to the cosmopolitan flag-waving clamour. Without a break the music leads to The Chariot Race, a fast compound-time gallop withthundering hooves in the basses and percussion, and a heroic melody introduced by the tenor horns. Chariot racing was the main equestrian event in the Ancient Greek Games, which were founded in memory of King Oenomaus. In the Greek legend he suffereddefeat in a chariot race to his son-in-law and Zeus' grandson, Pelops, but much of the music is bitter-sweet to symbolise the fact that Pelops had to cheat to win drawing parallels with some of the issues still facing modern-day athletics. A slow, mystical passage follows, describing The Temple of Zeus at Olympia. The statue of Zeus, who was honoured throughout the Ancient Games' history, was housed inside the temple and was one of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World. Themusic depicts this period of the dawn of one of mankind's most ancient civilisations and there is a series of solo passages above a drone. The next section is called The Olympic Flame and a broad and lyrical anthem-like melody develops slowly in the euphoniums, which gradually ascends until the horns can take it over before passing upwards again to the cornets (Higher). The musicbursts into bright life at the lighting of the flame and the regular rhythmic pattern which has been established goes through an accelerando (Faster). The final section is called The Olympic Truce and aims to capture the cooperative spirit of the ancient practice of ending wars for the duration of the games. The anthem-like melody makes an affirmatory return (Stronger) and the work ends asit began with a blaze of colour and a real sense of optimism and global celebration. "Citius, Altius, Fortius" (Faster, Higher, Stonger)NOTES ON PERFORMANCEPercussion requirements: 1 to 3 players (3 Timpani, Snare Drum, Tenor Drum, Cymbals, Glockenspiel, Triangle)
Estimated dispatch 5-14 working days
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£23.50A Brussels Requiem - SCORE ONLY - Bert Appermont
The attacks in Brussels on 22 March 2016 created a shockwave throughout Belgium and the rest of the world. Equally, the attacks in Paris and Nice led to great public indignation, fear and disbelief. What has happened to the western world? Have our cultures grown apart to such an extent that we do not understand each other anymore? Bert Appermont's intention was to voice certain emotions that these acts of terror have caused: particularly fear, grief, anger, and helplessness. He uses the French children's song Au Claire de la Lune as a connecting thread throughout the work. This piece is also about hope and faith in another world, and is meant to pay homage to all victims, resulting in a dignified remembrance. The musical development is presented in four through-composed parts, titled Innocence, In Cold Blood, In Memoriam - We Shall Rise Again and A New Day. This work was commissioned by the Brassband Oberosterreich (Brass Band Upper Austria) to be played at the European Brass Band Championships 2017.
Estimated dispatch 5-14 working days
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£137.99Sunrise with Sea Monsters - Oliver Waespi
The title of this work is based on the painting of the same name by the English painter William Turner. The ambiguity and suggestive power of this seascape offers great musical possibilities. The first part of the work represents the sunrise, and depicts scenes from Greek mythology in which two sea monsters from Odyssey play their part. In Charybdis, rugged high and low sound fields contrast with a tuneful theme, veined with restlessly pulsing lines. The subsequent fragmentary movement, Sirens, is characterized by mysterious sounds and intertwined arabesques, that are increasingly overshadowed by menacing chords. Concluding the final movement is another famous musical monster: a Tarantella. Sunrise with Sea Monsters was commissioned by the Brassband Burgermusik Luzern and was premiered at the 2023 Swiss Brass Band Championships, conducted by Michael Bach.
Estimated dispatch 5-14 working days
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£52.50Broadheath - Philip Sparke
Broadheath was commissioned by the Elgar International Brass Band Summer School for their 2024 course. The premiere took place in the Routh Hall at Bromsgrove School on Friday 26 July.It is in conventional march form, opening with a brief fanfare before the horns take up the main theme. This is then repeated by the full band before euphoniums and baritone announce the second subject. This builds to a stirring tutti passage utilising elements of the opening theme, which brings the opening section to a close.In honour of the summer school's tribute to Sir Edward Elgar (it is held in 'Elgar country'), the trio uses the opening melody of his 1st symphony as its main theme, decorating it with filigree work from the cornets. This is repeated on the full band and leads to a varied recapitulation of the opening material to bring the march full circle.
Estimated dispatch 5-14 working days
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£53.50Wiener Philharmoniker Fanfare - Richard Strauss - Paul Mealor
Paul Mealor's arrangement for orchestra of the Wiener Philharmoniker Fanfare (Vienna Philharmonic Fanfare) by Richard Strauss was originally commissioned by His Majesty King Charles III for The Coronation. This version for Brass Band was first performed on Saturday 14th September 2024 at St Asaph Cathedral in Wales as part of the North Wales International Music Festival by Foden's Band, conducted by Michael Fowles.
Estimated dispatch 5-14 working days
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£122.10Himlen i min famn - Carola Häggkvist - Reid Gilje
"Heaven in My Arms" is a beautiful melody by Carola Haggkvist with lyrics by Erik Hillestad.This version is without vocal soloist so the melody is spread into many parts throughout the arrangement.To the conductor:Strive for good flow and phrasing. Feel free to be a bit creative with the phrasing. It invites for two-bar phrases in the melody, but perhaps 2/2/4 could also work nicely.Balance is very important. Often there is both melody and obligato/countermelody in addition to harmonic elements. Let each of them have their own layer in the balance.Staccato effects in cornets and marimba are intended as pizzicato effects and must be phrased. Not too static.The tutti section at 72 can be energetic with intense lines. Maybe a little piu mosso as well. Think big and orchestral with good resonance and timbre.- Reid Gilje -
Estimated dispatch 5-14 working days
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£91.99Fanfares, Songs & Dances - Philip Sparke
Fanfares, Songs & Dances was commissioned by Brass Bands England, the Lithuanian Brass Band Association and the Dutch National Brass Band Championships (NBK), and first performed at the 43rd 'NBK' in October 2024. The work is played in three linked movements: FANFARES opens in robust fashion with a sequence of fanfare-like statements, initially featuring the horns, whose modal theme includes a figure that will reappear throughout the work. Euphoniums and then cornets introduce a second theme, which is followed by a third, again initiated by the horns. Baritones then change the mood with a more-lyrical theme, which builds to a climax, eventually leading back to a recall of the initial fanfare theme. This gradually dissolves to introduce the second movement. SONGS continues to relax the fanfare feel with a long introduction to the movement's main theme, first appearing on solo cornet. A change of key introduces a bridge passage which leads to a sonorous chorale, which builds to a triumphal return of the cornet theme. A peaceful coda leads to the final movement of the work. DANCES is a scherzo-like movement based around a series of rhythmic melodies in triple time, which lead to a majestic return of the 2nd movement's chorale theme under cornet figuration. The opening dance theme returns and heralds a joyous coda.
Estimated dispatch 5-14 working days
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£183.20Folklore - Kjetil Djønne
"Folklore" is a work for brass band and percussion loosely based on the story of the Norwegian woman accused of witchcraft, Anne Pedersdotter. She was sentenced to be burned at the stake in Bergen in the spring of 1590 and has since been frequently highlighted as Norway's most famous and talked-about witch.The work begins with the movement "Lyderhorn," depicting the mountain outside Bergen where witches gathered to plan magical actions against the city. Here, we hear the quietness of nature and the wind blowing through the trees before a new theme appears, which will come to life in the next movement. In the distance, the witches have started their ceremony.In the next movement, "Walpurgis Night," the witches perform their rituals to afflict the city with fire, disease, and natural disasters. The ceremony becomes more and more chaotic, violent, and compelling until the darkness of the night envelops us, concluding the section.The third movement describes the women's inner struggle against the harassment they faced when the people of Bergen suspected them of being witches. Rumors often turned into formal accusations from the legal system, and many were sentenced to death after undergoing trial. "From life to death through the fire."The fourth and final movement, "The Pyre," depicts the actual death sentence. You can hear the pyre being ignited and the flames growing and intensifying. It all culminates in a chorale as a memorial to the lives that were taken.
Estimated dispatch 5-14 working days
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£64.40The Master Plan! - Dean Jones
We all have a purpose...whether those are found in daily routines or much larger parts of our lives. Having a plan or a goal is a great way we can measure our success. Here's a small piece of music that explores 3 such elements:Covert Mission - a militaristic theme where the music conveys action and drama.Finding Someone - at some point, we share our lives with people who are special to us. The music has a more lyrical feel to help illustrate affection.Life Goals! - the strong rhythmic pattern to this section is the undertone for portraying a a sense of focus. We need to match desire with action when attempting something new - the sense of excitement and hope will need to be drawn from the music to convey this message.The music tells a compelling story of purpose, hope and passion....in the words of Col. Hannibal Smith from the A-Team, "I love it when a plan comes together!"
Estimated dispatch 5-14 working days
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£73.60West of the Mississippi - Dean Jones
There's always a sense of adventure about America that makes it a really exciting topic to write about. The 3 States that sprang to mind in bringing a piece of music together were: California, Hawaii and Texas.We start out our American journey on the West Coast....California has provided much in the way of film and music for over 100 years. Combining this sense of free expression with the 'Surfing' culture, this initial section of the piece has an easy-going, fun feel in a pop idiom. Maybe wearing some shades might be quite a good look for this section!We move even further West now to the island of Hawaii where the free and easy goes onto a new level! The use of chromatics is a feature of Hawaiian melodies and has a feel a 'sliding' between notes that somehow sums up this feel of living on a tropical island! Have some fun with this section and have a Hawaiian garland to wear!Back into the USA mainland, and the fabulous state of Texas! Here we have the concept of the old fashioned rodeo and the 'Wild West'. Even today, the culture of horses, cowboys and tales of adventure are celebrated in places such as Fort Worth. The music captures some of these themes and has a fun and enjoyment...some get your Cowboy hats at the ready and enjoy the finale!
Estimated dispatch 5-14 working days
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