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£30.00The Sword and the Star
DescriptionThe Sword and the Star was written in 2006 for the Middleton Band at the request of their Musical Director, Carl Whiteoak. The inspiration for the work was the band's badge, which features a medieval archer. The town of Middeton's historical link with the symbol of the Archer came from the English victory at the Battle of Flodden in September 1513, where bowmen from Middleton and Heywood under the command of Sir Richard Assheton played a vital part in crushing the invading Scottish army. Sir Richard captured one of the Scottish commanders and presented the prisoner's sword to the St Leonard's church in Middleton in recognition of the town's contribution. As long time Lords of the Manor, the Assheton family crest was for centuries featured in the coat of arms of Middleton council, and when Middleton became part of the Metropolitan Borough of Rochdale the black star from the Assheton crest was used to represent Middleton in the new borough's coat of arms. Hence the title The Sword and the Star, for a piece which attempts to give an impression of the town as it was then and as it is now.The music is in three short sections - a fanfare, a lament and a bright scherzo - and simply aims to contrast the medieval hamlet of Middleton with the bustling urban centre it has now become. The central lament features a Scottish song called "The Flowers of the Forest", written to mourn the loss of so many of Scotland's young men on the field of Flodden; the song returns in a much more positive form at the end of the piece.
Estimated dispatch 7-14 working days
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£103.00
Tornado - Fredrick Schjelderup
"Tornado" is based on sketches from the Royal Norwegian Naval Forces' Band (SFMK) Composer Workshop with composition students from The Grieg Aacademy in 2012. The working title of the piece, "Workshopping", reflects a young composer on "shopping" for new timbres and effects within the range of instruments and opportunities. The piece starts with a wind from afar (trills and tremolos) which then builds up in block harmony and various fragments that are processed across different keys and harmonies. Tension between chords and dissonances are then pressed up and develops the character and temperament. The title,Tornado, is selected on the basis of the energy and build up, something that can be translated with the weather phenomenon Tornado . Whirl- wind speed translates into the notation with fast tempo, tremolos and technical parts.
Estimated dispatch 7-14 working days
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£35.00
Elegie - Peter Meechan
The opening unaccompanied passage of this work was originally written as a short memorial piece for saxophone, but was later adapted as the basis of this more developed work for solo euphonium or trombone.The work uses a variation structure, with both the soloist and the accompaniment changing throughout the piece; the harmony, rhythm and melodic lines leading somewhere new and different each time they are heard - similar to the way our memories of a person often wander in different directions, but are still always focused on that person.
Estimated dispatch 12-14 working days
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£60.00
Land of the Living Skies - Peter Meechan
From the composer:aCommissioned by tuba virtuoso Patrick Sheridan, Land of the Living Skies is inspired by the love of photography shared by both Patrick and I.After moving from the UK to Saskatchewan, Canada, there were many changes, but perhaps the most striking of all were the skyscapes that my new home produced; stunning sunsets, incredible views of the Milky Way, amazing moonlit landscapes, and - of course - the Northern Lights.This piece was the last I wrote before moving away from Saskatchewan and. given that the Province calls itself the aLand of the Living Skiesa, it seemed only fitting to name the work after its amazing skies that had provided a lifetimeas worth of inspiration.The piece is dedicated to Patrick Sheridan, an amazing tubist, musician, educator and friend.aPete Meechan, January 2018
Estimated dispatch 12-14 working days
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£100.00
Manchester Concertino - Peter Meechan
Manchester Concertino is a concertino in three movements for trumpet or cornet. It was written in late summer/early autumn in, as the title suggests, Manchester, UK.The first movement, Fanfare, was written for Belgian cornetist Harmen Vanhoorne, and explores the main musical idea behind the piece, a minor third. The loud fanfare gives way to a cadenza over a timpani roll, before a reprise of the opening fanfare.The second movement, Dream, was commissioned by Keith Johnson and is dedicated to Jess Tredrea. It is a slow, lilting, movement - almost as if the listener was hearing the piece through a summer haze.The final movement is simply titled Finale and is dedicated to Roger Webster. New material is fused with the fanfare from the opening movement leading to a climatic finish to the work.
Estimated dispatch 12-14 working days
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£105.20Terrible Symphony - Haakon Esplo
Let us present "Terrible Symphony" - the perfect piece for beginner or junior bands!This fun composition gives young musicians the opportunity to have a great time while driving the conductor crazy. The piece includes well-known themes from great symphonies, along with new music, and not least, lots of silliness and fun. All musicians can join in and come up with more pranks and humorous elements. The audience will laugh out loud and enjoy this crazy and entertaining, yet terrible symphony.Make your concert an unforgettable experience with "Terrible Symphony"!In the score, you will find instructions and suggestions for the conductor as the musicians become increasingly impossible.
Estimated dispatch 5-14 working days
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£69.99The Green Hills of Tyrol - Philip Sparke
The Green Hills of Tyrol was commissioned by Jrena and Beat Knusel for their son, Swiss euphonium player Joel Knusel, to celebrate his 20th birthday in 2019. The request was for a piece suitable for use in a solo competition, possibly using a Scottish or Irish melody, and composer Philip Sparke suggested an 'old-fashioned' air varie might be a suitable idea. The piece follows the well-established formula of a theme followed by four variations. The history of the original melody is fascinating and, although it is now well-known as a bagpipe tune, its background is Austrian or Italian, rather than Scottish. The tune appears as a chorus of Swiss soldiers in Rossini's 1829 opera William Tell but was possibly an existing Tyrolean folk tune. In 1854, during the Crimean War, Pipe Major John MacLeod of the 93rd Highlanders heard a band of the Sardinian contingent playing selections from the opera in camp before the Siege of Sebastopol. He was struck by the melody and arranged it for his pipers, calling it The Green Hills of Tyrol, referring to Tell's visit to that corner of Austria in the opera. It has since become universally popular among pipe bands who usually refer to it as A Scottish Soldier, following the addition of new lyrics in a 1961 hit by Andy Stewart.
Estimated dispatch 5-14 working days
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£154.99Cantabile - Philip Harper
"As long as we live there is never enough singing." - Martin Luther Philip Harper composed this piece in response to his personal concern about the direction of new music for brass band. His goal with this 5 movementCantabile, was to compose a piece which fully complied with all that is asked of a top-level test in the 21st Century, but also to reconnect with more traditional values such as lyricism in melody and richness of blendedbrass sound. Each of the 5 parts seek to capture this idea.
Estimated dispatch 5-14 working days
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£228.70Fanfare and Chorale - Egil Hovland - Ray Farr
This arrangement (or edition) for brass band will give the possibility for more performances of this fine work by Hovland. The composer, before his death, examined my work and made no suggestions for changes, and his approving comments were complimentary and encouraging. The work was originally written for Concert Band in 1966 as Op. 54a to St. Olaf College Band in the US. It was transcribed in 1967 for symphony orchestra as Op. 54b by the composer himself. The challenges in arranging the piece for brass band were mostly concerned with satisfactorily covering the upper register used by piccolo, flutes and clarinets, and while there are wonderful brass players around who have amazing high registers, I have aimed this edition at a level achievable by reasonably good brass band players who are willing to give time and effort into the proper preparation and delivery of the music. Having worked on this new edition with a top-class brass band, I think it sounds wonderful and interestingly different to the original. Besides the obvious differences of tone-colour and absent high notes, I have used in my scoring, the option for using a vibraphone in place of a celeste. Vaughan Williams, in his Variations for brass band writes for celeste, but because the instrument is quite rare, performances have been mostly given using a glockenspiel- but this, of course sounds two octaves higher than it was intended. I think that vibraphone and brass is an excellent combination and recommend it without hesitation in this piece. Every detail of articulation and dynamic has been considered, so in order to keep the integrity of the music, please do not change anything in the name of "interpretation". As Ravel says- "What is there to interpret?" Ray Farr
Estimated dispatch 5-14 working days
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£19.95Bandkraft 1
The first of three superb sets of new music and arrangements for brass ensemble, edited by John Golland.1. Bandkraft - John Golland: A substantial piece with an exciting syncopated rhythm introduced in the opening bars and referred to throughout in a fanfare-like manner, to which a hint of dissonance adds extra thrill to the sound.2. Saraband - Gordon Jacob: A stately Elizabethan dance of great beauty, utilising modal harmony in Jacob's characteristic style. Constant speed, full note values and careful playing will achieve a beautiful, delicate effect.3. La Donna E Mobile - Verdi, arr. Roy Newsome: An amusing arrangement of this popular favourite by a conductor and adjudicator of international acclaim. Easy and enjoyable to play and to listen to.4. Spike's Rag - Michael Ball: A skilfully written piece in the true tradition of Scott Joplin, with the ragtime rhythm the backdrop to an unfolding conversation between the sections of the band. Really persuasive entertainment.5. National Anthem - arr. John Golland: A simple first verse setting the scene for the colourful and majestic second, utilising chromatic harmonies and an optional tenor counter melody for added splendour.
Estimated dispatch 5-14 working days
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