Results
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£79.95Grieg Variations - Jonathan Bates
DURATION: 12'30". DIFFICULTY: 2nd+. . 'Grieg Variations' is a through-composed work in the traditional style of a 'theme & variations'. The work opens with the main melodic fragment featured throughout Grieg Variations which comes from Grieg's Peer Gynt Suite No.2; the final movement - 'Solveig's Song'. . This theme is followed by a set of 9 variations, each taking inspiration from various melodies and styles found within the Peer Gynt Suite. The first variation, a light-footed scherzo based upon the tonal line of Solveig's Song is followed by an 'Alla marcia' variation - in which the music is inspired by the 2nd movement - 'Arab Dance' - of the original suite. The 3rd variation takes a far darker and more aggressive turn in a variation set around the music of the 1st movement of the Peer Gynt Suite before a relaxation into a solemne revisiting of the original theme. Opening with a sombre and longing solo for Flugel horn, the focal point of this 4th variation is an extended solo for the Solo Euphonium, marked 'molto espressivo'. The new material here is used as a theme throughout this variation, being reprised by the full band immediately after as the music builds to a climax point at the top of the musical line. . Following this, there are 2 cadenzas for the Solo Horn and Solo Cornet respectively; the former inspired by the thematic material of Solveig's Song, and the latter from the Oboe cadenza at the beginning of Grieg's '2 Lyric Pieces, Op.68'. These cadenzas lead swiftly into the 7th variation, a bustling rhyhm-driven movement set in complex time. The 3rd movement of the Peer Gynt Suite No.2 - 'Peer Gynt's Homecoming' - makes it's first appearance in variation 8 in a triumphant battle-like setting before a combination of both this material and the Solveig's Song combine to bring Grieg Variations to it's close -not without a little nod to potentially Grieg's most famous work - In The Hall of the Mountain King. . .
In Stock: Estimated dispatch 1-3 working days
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£34.95Real Northern Powerhouse, The - Jonathan Bates
DURATION: 4'00". DIFFICULTY: Championship. Commissioned by the NASUWT Riverside Band for their 2019 appearance at the Brass in Concert Championships, held at The Sage in Gateshead, 'The Real Northern Powerhouse' is a musical representation of the huge impact various forms of industrial life had on the history, and indeed future of the North East of England. Defined into 3 clear sections - By Sea, By Land, and By Rail, the music paints a picture of the various scenes in the dockyards, coalfields and rail stations as the industrial revolution boomed. .
In Stock: Estimated dispatch 1-3 working days
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£89.95Songs of Ascent - Jonathan Bates
DURATION: 14 minutes. DIFFICULTY: Championship. 'Songs of Ascent' was composed for the Royal Northern College of Music Brass Band, as part of their programme for the 2019 RNCM Festival of Brass. In my view, the festival itself is the leading showcase for original contemporary music for the medium (in a concert setting) in the world and therefore an ideal place to explore new ideas and sounds, which was a notion fundamental to the construction of this work. The piece is subtitled 'Out of the Depths, I cry to you, O Lord'; the opening line of Psalm 130 (which forms part of a set of 15 psalsm, 120-134 known as the Songs of Ascent") which forms the main inspiration for much of the musical material. Following an extended opening for four individual tuba lines, there are a number of solos for members of the band off stage, with bleak and deep accompaniment lines, reflecting the words of Psalm 130. Amongst these 'songs of ascents', the most common and strong themes are repentance and redemption; with the central core of this work emerging 'from the depths' to reveal one of very few calming and reflective passages of the work utilising the tune of 'Guide Me O Thy Great Redeemer' in a new setting, featuring the Solo Horn and Bass Trombone, before returning to the ethereal and dark timbres that form much of the music up to this point. In terms of compositional technique, this work is solely based on a set of 4 9-note scales in their various unique transpositions (below). Each of these scales provide a set of 2 whole tone scales, 6 minor triads, 6 major triads and is built on 9 augmented triads. Whilst most of the music in this work is based melodically on the set of notes (heard right at the outset in the motif in the tuba line), the central section delves into the harmonic capabilities of these 'modes', using a number of the 7 'keys' which can be derived from the minor & major chords derived in each scale. All 4 scales are used independantly to each other, with whole sections of the work focussing on each mode. 'Songs of Ascent' was selected as the set work for the Championship Section at the Butlin's Mineworker's Championships in 2020.
In Stock: Estimated dispatch 1-3 working days
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£34.95War Dance of the Red Cossacks - Jonathan Bates
DURATION: 2 minutes. DIFFICULTY: 1st+. 2018 marked the centenary of the Red Cossack's declaring independence from the Russian state following the revolutions of 1917. The music combines more contemporary musical elements with that of the melodies, rhythms and modes traditionally used in early soviet music. This piece was composed for Jaren Hornmusikkforening as part of their programme for the 2018 SIDDIS Championships held in Stavanger, Norway. .
In Stock: Estimated dispatch 1-3 working days
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£29.95Ye Joyous Bells in Heaven - Jonathan Bates
'Ye Joyous Bells in Heaven' was composed for the Thurlstone Brass Band near Sheffield in memory of their band's stalwart John Wilmot. The Sheffield area is synonymous for it's local musical culture and melodies, and one of these - Stannington, was a particular favourite of John's. This short and bustling concert work is a joyous fantasy on the melody, with short solo features for a number of players within the band.
In Stock: Estimated dispatch 1-3 working days
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£80.00
Lough Leane (Bra) - Stijn Aertgeerts
Lough Leane was commissioned by "Koninklijke Harmonie De Verenigde Vrienden - Bree" as a musical tribute to their president Luc De Bruyne. The work attempts to portray the beauty of Lough Leane, Killarney's largest lake in Ireland. The dense chords represent a mysterious layer of fog above the lake. Gradually the sun rises and that fog disappears, revealing the beautiful nature around the lake and on the islands. Throughout the whole work the Irish influence is very noticeable. Hopefully Lough Leane can make you dream away at the beautiful scenery in one of the most beautiful countries in the world!
Estimated dispatch 7-14 working days
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£59.00
Shifting Winds (Bra) - Arend Gerds
A virtuous and energetic work. Shifting rhythmical patterns, tone repetitions and fast and flowing musical lines are the main ingredients of this composition.
Estimated dispatch 7-14 working days
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£71.00
Between Light and Dark (Bra) - Arend Gerds
'Between light and dark' is inspired by the early baroque opera L'Orfeo, composed by Claudio Monteverdi in 1609. This opera tells the story of the greek legend Orpheus and his attempt to bring his dead bride Eurydice back to the living world. The composition contains some musical quotes from L'Orfeo. These quotes have a ritornello function in the form of this work. Other (because of the opera's libretto) related topics, come from Ancient Greek music and the opera's story (libretto); resulting in the use of tetrachord structured gestures, polymeric functions and tone clusters.
Estimated dispatch 7-14 working days
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£120.00
Rhapsody in Black (Bra) - Andi Cook
The primary inspiration for this work comes from the composer's first encounter with the genre of Symphonic Metal - the opening track of the 2004 Nightwish album 'Once', entitled Dark chest of Wonders. The combination of full orchestra, operatically trained female vocals and the raw power of a Scandinavian metal band was a potent mix that instantly had me hooked.That same dark and powerful sound is one that a brass band can generate, and I've tried to capture that in this composition. Heavy Rock/Metal as a genre is arguably fifty years old now, but symphonic metal is a newer concept, and I feel possibly the one that can bridge the gap between two musical styles very dear to me.Composer Gilbert Vinter had explored through music the connotations that different colours held for him, and his movement Purple from 'Spectrum' gave me an idea for the structure of 'Rhapsody in Black'. Andi Cook explored the different connotations of one colour within his own life, black being an easy choice due to the personal dichotomy of the black leather jacket he wore to the rock club on Friday night and the black suit jacket and tie he wore to the concert hall the next day.To avoid repetition the word 'black' is omitted from the five movement titles, each of which is a different episode. '...as Thunder' is a furious argument between two people - the top and bottom of the band - set against the backdrop of a storm, with lightning flashing outside while barbs, insults, sarcasm, tears and even violence is traded inside. Following that '...Satin and Pearls' is an old black-and-white movie with a wistful character to it as if we're looking back a screen icon with fondness long after their career or even their life has ended. '...as the Raven's Wing.' is deliberately gothic and funereal, hinting at Edgar Allen Poe's similarly named poem, with undertones of death and afterlife. The shift into F/C Minor (band pitch) represents the descent - alive - into the grave that Poe had a paranoid fear of his entire life. Family and friends standing around grieving, oblivious as we're lowered into the earth despite frantic attempts to make ourselves heard. '...and Chrome' is an unashamed motorcycle reference with all its born-to-be-wild, open air, high speed and freedom overtones. In a deliberate contrast to what went before it continues several of the same motifs though this time in the major key. Lastly, we reprise the second movement with '...as the Night Sky' which is simply the feeling of walking home under the summer stars, with someone important - who that is, is left to the listener, but a walk under the stars is always that bit special.There's an old saying that very few things are black and white. I hope this work will prove that even black alone isn't quite as simple as it's often made out....'Rhapsody in Black' is dedicated to the composer's friend and mentor John Roberts, who shares his love of both brass and rock.
Estimated dispatch 7-14 working days
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£57.00A Hairy, Scary Spider - Thomas Geerts
A Hairy Scary Spider is the second part of the musical theatre piece Welcome to Halloween. This piece can be ordered separately or as part of the complete set. The piece describes a day in the life of a hairy, scary spider. In the beginning you aren't really sure what you are looking at. Is it a ball of wool or a big shadow? It turns out to be a spider sitting happily in his web. At a certain point while the whole band is watching him carefully, he jumps which leads to an inevitable scream.
Estimated dispatch 10-14 working days
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