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£80.00St. Magnus - Kenneth Downie
Dedicated to Alastair Massey, an inspirational music teacher. Commissioned by the Scottish Brass Band Association for the 2004 European Brass Band Championships in Glasgow. This music is a set of variations on the tune known as St Magnus, which is attributed to Jeremiah Clarke. Most people will associate it with Thomas Kelly's hymn which begins: "The Head that once was crowned with thorns is crowned with glory now". The tune is very simple, consisting of just two, four-bar phrases. Neither is there much in the way of rhythmic variety, every note being a crotchet with the exception of two quavers, and the last note in each phrase. Within such a simple structure, however, lies considerable strength. THEME The listener is given the opportunity of hearing it twice, in full, at the beginning, starting with one player but soon taken up by the full ensemble. It returns in the middle of the music and is stated again near the end. This has been done quite deliberately in the hope that there will be an appreciation of what material is being developed, by the listener as well as by those with access to the score, who are able to see the visual connections. VARIATION 1 This takes the rhythm of the last part of the theme and also uses the shape of the opening as a recurring figure. The mood is whimsical and skittish, with short, teasing rhythmic figures tossed around the band, and quick interplay with percussion, at a fast tempo. An energetic flourish finishes this variation before the Andante espress. VARIATION 2 This commences with chords related to the opening of Variation 1. The cantabile on solo comets establishes a new, lyrical mood and there is scope for expressive playing in a series of short solo passages. The theme works its way unobtrusively into the texture before a reprise of the solo cornet melody and some more lyrical interchanges between Eb bass, euphonium, flugel horn and comets. The variation ends serenely with clear references to the last phrase of the theme. VARIATION 3 The first idea to dominate is clearly linked to the shape of the theme's first phrase. There is a frenetic feel to much of this variation, with considerable energy and instability created by extensive use of cross-rhythms. A thinning-out of the score marks a clear change to development of the start of the second phrase of the theme. This proves to be short-lived however, and the opening material returns leading to a restatement of the theme, "Maestoso," after which a euphonium cadenza links to Variation 4. VARIATION 4 Here we have some solos for euphonium, cornet, trombone and Eb bass set against a background of horns and baritones presenting a pensive statement of the theme's opening. VARIATION 5 This commences Allegro, with lively work for cornet and euphonium spreading to the whole band before attention focuses on the beginning of the second phrase of the theme which is initially presented in diminution, then in regular rhythm, then in inversion. An increase in tempo coupled with a decrease in volume, requires dexterity and control, with several metrical challenges thrown in for good measure. The same fragment of phrase becomes an ostinato which generates a frenzied climax, punctuated by short, dramatic silence, before the opening figure returns and the music gradually winds down. The tubular bells herald the final return of the theme, in augmentation, marking the start of the Finale. FINALE This features the running semiquavers of the previous variation sounding in counterpoint. A fast, furious coda speeds the work to a conclusion while references to the opening of the theme are still trying to break into the texture of the music. Kenneth Downie
Estimated dispatch 5-14 working days
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£24.95The M-lisada March - Jim Trott
All proceeds from "The M-lisada March" are donated to Brass for Africa, a charity making a positive change to the lives of disadvantaged children and young people in Africa through brass music and brass music education. The composer, Jim Trott, is the founder of a charity called Brass for Africa and one of the organizations the charity supports and works with is the MLISADA organization located in the slums of Kampala, Uganda. MLISADA is a home for ex-street kids, orphans and vulnerable children and at the heart of the home is music and dance. MLISADA have a junior and senior brass band and the bands earn income to feed the home by playing at functions and marches. Jim has often been with the band as they work up anthems and themes for their various engagements and he thought it would be great for MLISADA to have their own theme. So, he has written this short March for these inspiring young people and is delighted that they love to play it whenever they can.
Estimated dispatch 5-14 working days
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£106.50La Figlia del Reggimento - Gaetano Donizetti - Ray Farr
The Selection from La Figlia del Reggimento (The Daughter of the Regiment) by Gaetano Donizetti comes from the second of a series of works (No. 6 in the advertisement below) called Distin's Brass Band Scores published in 1855 by Henry Distin. These publications represent an important stage in the history of bands in Britain. The popular music of the day was mostly opera extracts, and the music of Donizetti was particularly popular.The purpose of this scholarly edition is to produce a performing version, clearing ambiguities and errors, that can be enjoyed by today's performers and listeners, bearing in mind the original function and context. At the same time the edition is an analytical, musicological study of one of the rare treasures of the brass band repertory.
Estimated dispatch 5-14 working days
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£115.60The Hippodrome Galop - J. H. White - Ray Farr
The Hippodrome Galop by H. White is No. 5 in the first of a series of works called Distin's Brass Band Scores (see advertisement below), published in 1854 by Henry Distin. These publications represent an important stage in the history of bands in Britain.The purpose of this scholarly edition is to produce a performing version, clearing ambiguities and errors, that can be enjoyed by today's performers and listeners, bearing in mind the original function and context. At the same time the edition is an analytical, musicological study of one of the rare treasures of the brass band repertory.
Estimated dispatch 5-14 working days
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£59.99
Carnival of Venice - Harry James - Mark Freeh
The jazz cornet legend Harry James was synonymous with taking classical works and crafting versions in his own inimitable style. Carnival of Venice was one of his most famous features and here you have a true-to-the-original arrangement to feature your cornet soloist created by one of the greatest arrangers of jazz for Brass Band, Mark Freeh.A Brass Band classic given the jazz treatment, Carnival of Venice will astound and amaze your audiences every time. Not to be missed.
Estimated dispatch 5-14 working days
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£154.99A Road Less Travelled By - Philip Sparke
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 title alludes to a poem by American author, Robert Frost, which appeared in his 1916 collection, Mountain Intervals. In common with most of the composer's larger works, the piece is not programmatic, but purely abstract. The choice of title shares Sparke's 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. 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, energy 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. A brief coda based on earlier material drives the piece to a close.
Estimated dispatch 5-14 working days
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£60.99Crazy Music in the Air - Jacob de Haan
This composition in two parts is one of the first successful works Jacob de Haan published for Brass Band. Somewhat under the influence of Ted Huggen's Choral and Rock Out which was an overwhelming success at the time, the still very young Jacob de Haan wrote this composition. The first part (Air) exists of a choral melody with baroque grace notes, supported by a pop rhythm in the drums. The second part (Crazy Music) is a swinging bossa nova, in which various instrument groups present themselves in the continuously varying themes. The famous Black Dycke Mills Band contributed to the success of Crazy Music in the Air by regularly puttingthe piece on its tour programmes.
Estimated dispatch 5-14 working days
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£53.50Mr Cool's Swing - Etienne Crausaz
This piece is in line with the tradition of works by Louis Prima and performances by Benny Goodman. It attempts to reproduce a similar "feel", adapted from the music of these two artists, for brass band. The result is a swing with a sustained tempo and modern harmonies, as well as solo passages highlighting the cornet, the trombone and the euphonium with effervescent riffs. Mr Cool's Swing will absolutely find success with your audience! This music forms part of the musical tale La Malediction d'Aragne (Aragne's Curse), commissioned by the Lyre de Courtion (conductor Dominique Morel) on the occasion of its 100th anniversary.
Estimated dispatch 5-14 working days
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£94.99October - Eric Whitacre - Philip Sparke
The continuing popularity of Eric Whitacre's dramatic and evocative music is evident in concert programming everywhere, with his symphonic, choral and operatic works. October is arguably his most notable symphonic work, now adapted in this stunning version for brass band.
Estimated dispatch 5-14 working days
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£159.99Other Lives - Oliver Waespi
Other Lives is works perfectly for a competition but can also be programmed as concert work. The dark chords at the beginning of the piece are derived from "Der Doppelganger", one of Franz Schubert's late songs. After a short development the music begins to accelerate and find its own shape, gradually moving away from the introduction. The entire first part, "Rage", has an intensely agitated character. The ensuing "Reflection" turns back to the initial chord progression, before a series of interspersing solos explore time and space at a slower pace. After another musical surge, the music is brought close to silence and then gives way to the third part, "Redemption".Here, a widely spaced sound field contains a remote allusion to another work by Schubert "Ruckblick". After this farewell, an abstract musical transformation triggers an emotional change, as the initial motifs are now presented in their inversed form in order to create a much brighter harmonic landscape. Moreover, in the last part of the piece, "Renewal", the grim, tense atmosphere of the first part is transformed into a great energy. Other Lives was commissioned by the Valaisia Brass Band.
Estimated dispatch 5-14 working days
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