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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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£82.30Hymne til gleden - Ludwig van Beethoven
Schiller's text of 1785 was partially used by Beethoven in1824 when he did finish the 4th movement of his 9th Symphony. The melody has later been used in very many contexts. As the anthem of the European Union, a lot of movies (A clockwork Orange, Die Hard, etc.), music to video games, as the anthem of Rhodesia, as rebel song in Chile and by FIFA. Therefore, it can be used in most settings This Young Band arrangement focuses on the main melody. In the original, the B part is repeated in each variation, but to get three variations (out of four), this repetition has been cut. The first variation should be played as soft as possible, but still with a nice sound. Crescendo to forte(f) and going back to pp should be as a surprise.
Estimated dispatch 5-14 working days
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£213.90Aubade - Dawn Songs of the Fabulous Birds - Torstein Aagaard-Nilsen
Commissioned by The Norwegian Band Federation for The European Brass Band Championship 2003, in Bergen, Norway (Third edition) I remember as a kid the very early morning wake-up ceremonies caused by Seagulls having a "party" outside our home. Very few would describe it as beautiful, particularly not at 4:30 in the morning... But by listening carefully to birds I was fascinated by their diversity and musical language: they dont sing tunes or long phrases, they rather make sounds and signals, based on short motives. Aubade is based on musical pictures of the imaginary birds: the creatures with wings that exists only in myths and legends. The whole story starts with aBaritone-cadenza that evoke all the sleeping creatures. Very soon they all start to sing their songs in one way or another. The composition has a burlesque scherzo-character including slow espressive intersections. Traditional elements like melody and harmony is combined with extensive sounds and textural effects created by use of multiple muting, singing and playing at the same time. I am not too concerned about having a program for the piece. I just know that by thinking of the unheard dragon-songs, griffin-songs, the sound of the dodo, my creativity was stimultated. As a piece of music, Aubade follows its own rules based on well-known elements like melodies, arpeggio-figures, harmonies, rhythms, variations and recapitulation of ideas. - Torstein Aagaard-Nilsen
Estimated dispatch 5-14 working days
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£59.99Alpine March - Bertrand Moren
Bertrand Moren composed Alpine March for the Hochwaliser Musikfest in Blatten, Switzerland in 2004. The march opens in a festive 6/8 time with lots of dynamic contrast and characteristic 6/8 rhythms. The Trio-section however is written in 2/4 time and is very lyrical. With a da capo this march, written by the winner of last year's European Brass Band Composition Contest, is brought to a thrilling close.
Estimated dispatch 5-14 working days
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£44.00Ceremonial Fanfare - Johan de Meij
The Ceremonial Fanfare was originally written for orchestral brass and percussion, commissioned by The Orchestra Osaka Symphoniker from Osaka, Japan. The world premiere performance took place on April 12, 2005 at The Symphony Hall in Osaka, conducted by maestro Heiichiro Ohyama.In April 2009, the combined brass sections of the New York Philharmonic and the Royal Concertgebouw Orchestra gave an impressive performance in New York City. The concert commemorated the Henry Hudson Quadricentennial and 400 years of friendship between The United States and The Netherlands.This version for brass band was written at the request of EBBC, the European Brass Band Contest 2012in Rotterdam, to serve as the opening fanfare of the festival.
Estimated dispatch 5-14 working days
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£128.00Extreme Make-Over - Johan de Meij
The work, set as the test-piece for the 2005 European Brass Band Championships was inspired by a theme from the second movement of Tchaikovsky's String Quartet No.1 (Andante Cantabile). It consists of a number of musical metamorphoses on the theme and includes several excerpts from Tchaikovsky's Fourth and Sixth Symphonies and Romeo and Juliet. The most unconventional element of the work is instrumentation for ten tuned bottles to be played by members of the Cornet section. This gives the piece an Indonesian Gamelan effect. Why not give your players something to get their teeth into with this impressive major new work.
Estimated dispatch 5-14 working days
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£168.50A Tale as Yet Untold - Philip Sparke
A Tale as Yet Untold was commissioned by the Cory Band for the European Brass Band Championships in Linz, Austria, 2010, and their winning performance gave them a hattrick of victories at the competition. The theme of this impressive work, which is set in three movements, is one that recurs again and again throughout the music of Philip Sparke, the power of the human spirit to overcome adversity and how the beauty of music can help in this respect.
Estimated dispatch 5-14 working days
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£84.99
Utopia - Jacob de Haan
Utopia is the name of a book written by the English author Thomas More and was published in 1516. The title is a word thought up by More himself, after the Greek language, meaning "Nowhereland" and leading to the invention of the words utopian scheme and utopian. Utopia pictured an ideal state on an island far from the inhabited world. This idea was the basis of the composition. It makes one think of Oregon in variety of themes and style. Utopia also exists of a combination of styles that breathe the atmosphere of film music. However, Utopia sounds less American. The slow and stirring middle part for example is closer to the European romanticism: the chord signals in the brasssection remind of Wagner's music.
Estimated dispatch 5-14 working days
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£74.99Match-Rhythm - Jan Bosveld
Match-Rhythm was the compulsory work for the B-division during the European Brass Band Championships of 2005 taking place in Groningen. It is a rhythmical (Rhythm) oriented opening work in which the bands have the opportunity to present themselves during the indisputable competitive character (Match) of these championships. To achieve the high standard required is intensive preparation alone not sufficient. The bands increase their level op performance during the customary try-out concerts so that a kind of competitive rhythm (Match) is acquired.
Estimated dispatch 5-14 working days
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£290.99Hymn Of The Highlands - Philip Sparke
Hymn Of The Highlands was commissioned by David King and the Yorkshire Building Society Band for first performance at the 2002 European Brass Band Championships Gala Concert in Brussels. The complete suite lasts approximately 35 minutes however it is possible that pieces of different lengths can be constructed to feature particular soloists or fit different programming constraints.
Estimated dispatch 5-14 working days
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