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£131.00Magdalena Bay - Gauthier Dupertuis
While admiring many masterpieces at the Louvre Museum in Paris, Gauthier Dupertuis' attention was drawn to a less famous painting: Magdalena Bay, by French painter Francois-Auguste Biard (1799-1882).The work depicts a magnificent snowy landscape on the Norwegian island of Spitsbergen. However, in the foreground, the presence of the wreckage of a ship, bodies covered in snow and a visibly dying character make us understand that tragic events took place there. Thus, a strong contrast is formed between death and the sublime, between the desolation of the survivors of the shipwreck and the magnificence of the landscape. When we look in more detail at the painting, we notice that footprints have been made in the snow: so, could someone have gone to get help? This little glimmer of hope makes the picture even more touching. In this work, Gauthier Dupertuis tried to describe the different elements of the painting, using contrasting sections and dissonances (in particular, the conflict between the minor and the major) to convey the duality between death and the sublime. The work also attempts to highlight a wide palette of orchestral colors, from the most shimmering lines to the darkest low brass colours. In 2024, Magdalena Bay was awarded the first Prize as well as the band Prize at the 9th European Composition Competition for Brass Band, which was held in Palanga (LT). It was premiered on May 2, 2024 by The Cory Band, conducted by Philip Harper.
Estimated dispatch 5-14 working days
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£67.50Columbus - Thierry Deleruyelle
Columbus is a brilliant and dynamic overture for brass band, with a soft and melodious central passage. In addition to the many American towns that hold the name, Columbus is a European space laboratory that is part of the International Space Station. Launched in 2008 by the American space shuttle Atlantis, it makes it possible to carry out continuous scientific experiments in fundamental physics, life sciences, fluid physics, etc. Several hundred experiments take place within Columbus every year. Commissioned by the Brass Band Bourgueillois, this piece celebrates the 10th anniversary of the launch of the band at the instigation of its conductor, Michael Auclert. The ensemble brings together musicians from the various wind bands of the Bourgueillois region and beyond. Thus, just like the space laboratory that inspired this work, the Brass Band Bourgueillois also serves as a laboratory, albeit a musical one, within a territory that is discovering this ensemble and its original repertoire.
Estimated dispatch 5-14 working days
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£169.99Destination Moon - Paul Raphael
Destination Moon was first performed by Cory Band at the 2017 European Championships in Ostend, Belgium, and is inspired by the Belgian comic-book hero Tintin. The first part is called 'Science' and describes the development of the theory of space travel. The second part is 'Humanity' which addresses human concerns and philosophies about our place in the universe. The third part is 'The Launch' which ends with a repetition of the words 'Earth to Moon Rocket are you receiving me?' as the rocket vanishes into a tiny speck in the sky.
Estimated dispatch 5-14 working days
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£164.99Raveling Unraveling - Philip Sparke
Winning Performance EBBC Lille 2016 Raveling, Unraveling In Search of 'La Valse' was written for the Cory Band as their own-choice test piece for the 2016 European Brass Band Championships in Lille. The piece found its genesis in Sparke's The Unknown Journey (2014) for concert band, and the use of Ravel's La Valse as a structural undercurrent to the original piece is an act of reverence. Sparke's aim was to produce a work that is organic rather than episodic in nature. The composer's view is that little in music does this better than La Valse and for this reason he uses various sections of this masterpiece, both manipulated and quoted verbatim (including much of itsstunningclosing passages) to provide the overall geography of his new work. As the music progresses, more of the Ravel appears, surfacing completely as the piece reaches its climax - a gesture of homage to the French master.
Estimated dispatch 5-14 working days
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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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£84.99Snow Island - Thierry Deleruyelle
The Swiss canton of Valais is home to a number of wind and brass bands that regularly stand on the podium in Swiss and European competitions. For the general public, the Valais is above all a unique place, between the Rhone Glacier and Lake Geneva, where life is pleasant. The brass players of the five music associations of the villages of Crans-Montana - an internationally renowned "snow island" - were awarded the organisation of the 224 cantonal festival, for which this work was commissioned.
Estimated dispatch 5-14 working days
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£76.99
Variazioni in Blue - Jacob de Haan
Variazioni in Blue is a series of variations in which elements from the Blues, such as the specific 'blue notes', run throughout the piece. Following a stately introduction, which includes part of the theme, is an ornamental variation in 'classical style'. We then hear a variation in 'Blues style", followed by a fast variation with an Eastern European folklore feel. The 'Andante con espressivo' is particularly fine with its attractive harmonic changes. This variation develops into a repeat of the previous folklore variations with its 'major' variation forming a climax towards the end.
Estimated dispatch 5-14 working days
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£137.99Klezmer Discovery - Sjaak van der Reijden
The Yiddish word 'Klezmer' has been derived from the Old Hebrew words 'Kley' (tool, instrument) and 'Zemer' (song, singing, making music).Klezmer is the traditional music of Jews from Eastern Europe.Yiddish musicians (Klezmorim) were regularly invited to come and play at Yiddish weddings as well as several other Jewish celebrations and festive occasions. Despite its close connection with traditional Eastern European folk music, Klezmer music has succeeded in preserving its distinctive Jewish character. 'Klezmer Discovery' is a voyage of discovery through the richly varied music of the Jewish people from Eastern Europe.The introduction consists of a number of motives from differenttraditional melodies (a Mitzve Tenzel and L'cha Dodi), followed by a melody in 3/8th time (Kandel's Hora). This dance melody originally came from Bessarabia (present-day Moldavia) and was taken along to America by Jewish musicians round 1900. Subsequently, 'Der Terk in Amerika', a composition by famous clarinet player Naftule Brandwein can be heard. A number of fast, cheerful dance melodies (bulgars) form the finale of 'Klezmer Discovery' (Lebedyk un Freylekh, Lomir sich iberbetn and Sherele).
Estimated dispatch 5-14 working days
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£56.90Balkan Gipsies - Paul Voet
Gipsies are wizards with the fiddle. Eastern European folk musicians and gipsies are using a lot of brass in their music. Their brass ensembles are very impressive, so the link to brassbands is quickly made. Based on the folk theme of Manea Tsigailor all cornets join the theme in an up tempo 7/8 bar. Gathered around a campfire gipsies are telling stories and making music. When the lower brass is telling their story all others clap hands. All of a sudden a cornet soloist appears. When we return to the basic theme the story ends with some dazzling bars.
Estimated dispatch 5-14 working days
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£119.99Thyellene - Kevin Houben
Thyellene depicts of a battle that took place on the 'Tielenheide' - a stretch of moorland near the Belgian village of Tielen in 1597. In that memorable battle Prince Maurice of Nassau, commander of the Dutch army, defeated Count Varax, a general of the Spanish army - with a considerably smaller troop than the enemy. This great heroic subject has been transformed into this equally great work for brass band, which won the third prize at the 2009 European Composers Competition.
Estimated dispatch 5-14 working days
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