Results
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£15.00Symphony in Two Movements (Brass Band - Study Score) - Gregson, Edward
Selected as the Championship Section test piece for the National Brass Band Championships of Great Britain 2025This work was jointly commissioned by the National Youth Brass Band of Great Britain (NYBBGB) and the National Youth Brass Band of Wales (NYBBW), the latter with funding from T Cerdd (Music Centre Wales), to celebrate their 60th and 30th anniversaries respectively. The first performances were given at Cadogan Hall, London, in April 2012, by the NYBBGB, conducted by Bramwell Tovey; and at the Great Hall, Aberystwyth University, in July 2012, by the NYBBW, conducted by Nicholas Childs.When I was approached about a joint commission to write a new work to celebrate the anniversaries of these two outstanding youth bands I was delighted to accept, and decided to respond by writing a work apposite for the magnitude of these special occasions, namely a 'symphony for brass'.Through a long journey of writing music for brass band, which commenced with Connotations (1977), and continued with Dances and Arias (1984), Of Men and Mountains (1991), The Trumpets of the Angels (2000) and Rococo Variations (2008), I arrived at what I regard as the most important work of the cycle to date, combining as it does serious musical intent with considerable technical demands. It is perhaps my most abstract work for brass band, avoiding any programmatic content.The symphony lasts for some 19 minutes and is structured in two linked movements. The form is based on that used by Beethoven in his final piano sonata (Op.111), which is in two movements only: a compact sonata-form allegro, followed by a more expansive theme and four variations. Prokofiev also adopted this model in his 2nd Symphony of 1925.The opening Toccata of this Symphony is highly dramatic but compact, whilst still retaining the 'traditional' structural elements of exposition, development and recapitulation; indeed, it also has the 'traditional' element of a contrasting second subject - a gentle, lyrical modal melody first heard on solo cornets.In contrast, the longer and more substantial second movement Variations is built around a theme and four variations. The slowly unfolding chorale-like theme accumulates both added note harmony and increasing instrumentation, whilst the four variations which follow are by turn mercurial (fast, starting with all the instruments muted), march-like (menacing, with short rhythmic articulations underpinning an extended atonal melody), serene (a series of 'romances' for solo instruments alongside echoes of the chorale) with an emerging theme eventually bursting into a climax of passionate intent; whilst the final variation is a dynamic scherzo (concertante-like in its series of rapid-fire solos, duets, trios and quartets) with the music gradually incorporating elements of the main ideas from the first movement, thus acting as a recapitulation for the whole work. It reaches its peroration with a return to the very opening of the symphony, now in the 'home' tonality of F, and thus creating a truly symphonic dimension to the music.Most of the melodic material of the symphony is derived from the opening eleven-note 'row', which contains various intervallic sets, and although the work is not serially conceived it does use some typical quasi-serial procedures, such as canons, inversions, and retrogrades. The symphony uses somewhat limited percussion, in line with a 'classical' approach to the sound world of the brass band, alongside a use of multi-divisi instrumentation, whereby each player has an individual part rather than the traditional doubling within certain sections of the band.- Edward GregsonDuration: 19.00
Estimated dispatch 7-14 working days
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£64.99Skin and Bones (Trombone Trio and Drum Kit Feature with Brass Band - Score and Parts) - Sparke, Philip
Skin and Bones was commissioned by Brett Baker in memory of trombonist Julian Smith and to mark Garry Reed's 20 years as a member of Black Dyke Band, who gave the premiere in June 2023. After an introduction from the band, the trombones enter with the piece's main theme. A short bridge passage follows and the band then takes up this theme, with the soloists adding a countermelody. A change of key heralds a legato trio tune by the band, which is repeated by the trombones. After this, the drum kit takes centre stage to accompany the soloists in a virtuoso cadenza-like passage with interpolations from the band. This leads to a floridly decorated repeat of the opening theme which brings the work to a close.Duration: 4.15
Estimated dispatch 7-14 working days
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£76.99Tango for Joe (Trombone Solo with Brass Band - Score and Parts) - Sparke, Philip
Tango for Joe was written for Joe Alessi, principal trombone of the New York Philharmonic. He gave the official premiere with the Brass Band of Battle Creek on 3rd December 2022 at the W K Kellogg Auditorium in Battle Creek, Michigan.Opening with an (optional) unaccompanied recitative for the soloist, Tango for Joe then develops into a slow and sensuous tango, exploring the lyrical properties of the trombone. The opening of this theme is then taken up by the full band but is soon interrupted by a highly decorated version of the melody by the soloist. A further cadenza-like passage then leads to a faster 'tango nuevo' which makes up the majority of the work.A long introduction by the band builds to the first entry of the soloist, who plays the main tango melody over a rhythmic accompaniment. This is taken up briefly by the band but the soloist enters again with his own variation on the theme. After a bridge passage featuring a brief 'question and answer' exchange between the instruments, the soloist then plays a new version of the opening slow tango theme over rhythmic interpolations. After a climax, the soloist presents a long and elaborate cadenza accompanied only by a solo cajon or drum kit. This eventually leads to a repeat of the main theme and , after a short second cadenza, the piece ends with a flourish for band and soloist.Duration: 8.45
Estimated dispatch 7-14 working days
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£55.00Mr Shilkret's Maggot (Brass Band - Score and Parts) - Holst, Gustav - Hindmarsh, Paul
This short piece was composed in 1932 during a visit Gustav Holst was making to the USA. He was invited by the band leader Nathaniel Shilkret to contribute to a series of piece for concert jazz band based on a folk song. Rather than using a traditional tune, Holst invented one of his own in folk song style and therefore the piece was not performed. Holst considered various titles for the piece including Mr. Shilkret's Dump, Folly and Maggot. On the manuscript he described it as a Jazz Band Piece. When the composer's daughter Imogen re-scored the piece for the English Chamber Orchestra to record under her direction in 1967, she changed decided to use the title Capriccio.Her re-orchestration involved removing the saxophone quartet, adding cor anglais and a second bassoon and changing cornet parts to trumpets. She retained the harp, extensive percussion, piano and celesta. My brass band version is based on the composer's manuscript, held at the British Library. It retains the composer's cornet parts, re-voices the woodwinds and strings, and places keyboards and harp onto glockenspiel, marimba, vibraphone and xylophone.I have selected the title Mr. Shilkret's Maggot for my scoring of Jazz Band Piece, which was first performed by The Cory Band, conducted by Philip Harper, at the Royal Northern College of Music Brass Band Festival, 29 January 2017.- Paul HindmarshDuration: 5.30
Estimated dispatch 7-14 working days
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£91.99Pulcinella (Euphonium Solo with Brass Band - Score and Parts) - Sparke, Philip
Pulcinella was commissioned by the Taiwanese euphonium player Tzu-Hsiang Lin. Lin is a renowned soloist and teacher and a Besson Euphonium Artist. He teaches euphonium at Taipei National University of the Arts, National Taiwan University of Arts, Shih Chien University and National Kaohsiung Normal University. Lin gave the premiere of Pulcinella in both its concert band and brass band versions in January 2021. Pulcinella continues Sparke's series of euphonium solos named after characters of the Italian commedia dell'arte and opens with a long and expressive minor melody for the soloist over a brooding accompaniment. This is taken up briefly by the full band and is extended by the soloist after a change of key. A cadenza, accompanied by fragments of the main melody leads to a complete change of mood, tempo and tonality, introducing a Vivo section starting with a perky syncopated tune for the soloist. The band then uses elements of this new tune to introduce a change of key, where the soloist introduces a more lyrical second subject over a pulsing accompaniment. The band then takes this up and changes key to reintroduce the original Vivo melody, which leads to a short and acrobatic coda to bring the work to a spectacular close. Duration: 6.45
Estimated dispatch 7-14 working days
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£69.95Heroes of the North (Brass Band - Score and Parts) - Graham, Peter
Heroes of the North was commissioned by Henning Annundsen for Skodvin Skulemusikk and pays tribute to the development of brass band activity in the Nordhordland region of Norway.The music is a set of character variations based upon personalities long associated with both the band and the region. The opening 5 note motif (C D E F G) might be considered the starting point for beginner brass students, and this mini-theme is developed throughout the work.Five variations follow: Mr Brevik's Galop (representing Tom Brevik, a key figure in Norwegian brass band music); Frode's Dance (with apologies to Edvard Grieg), portraying soprano cornet player Frode Rydland, one of Skodvin Skulemusikk's most famous "old boys"; Mr Bjrge's Walk representing Viggo Bjrge, "Mr Eikanger Bjrsvik Band"; Hymn for Knut-Harald, known as "Mr Skodvin Skulemusikk" having over many years played a central role in the teaching and training of the band, and finally Maestro Snell's Russian Adventure features music with more than a hint of Russian (Khachaturian to be precise) and calls to mind Howard Snell whose arrangements and presence have made such a huge contribution to Norwegian Brass Banding over many years.Heroes of the North is playable by 4th section bands.Duration: 10.00
Estimated dispatch 7-14 working days
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£29.95Heroes of the North (Brass Band - Score only) - Graham, Peter
Heroes of the North was commissioned by Henning Annundsen for Skodvin Skulemusikk and pays tribute to the development of brass band activity in the Nordhordland region of Norway.The music is a set of character variations based upon personalities long associated with both the band and the region. The opening 5 note motif (C D E F G) might be considered the starting point for beginner brass students, and this mini-theme is developed throughout the work.Five variations follow: Mr Brevik's Galop (representing Tom Brevik, a key figure in Norwegian brass band music); Frode's Dance (with apologies to Edvard Grieg), portraying soprano cornet player Frode Rydland, one of Skodvin Skulemusikk's most famous "old boys"; Mr Bjrge's Walk representing Viggo Bjrge, "Mr Eikanger Bjrsvik Band"; Hymn for Knut-Harald, known as "Mr Skodvin Skulemusikk" having over many years played a central role in the teaching and training of the band, and finally Maestro Snell's Russian Adventure features music with more than a hint of Russian (Khachaturian to be precise) and calls to mind Howard Snell whose arrangements and presence have made such a huge contribution to Norwegian Brass Banding over many years.Heroes of the North is playable by 4th section bands.Duration: 10.00
Estimated dispatch 7-14 working days
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£100.00Handel in the Band (Brass Band - Score and Parts) - Downie, Kenneth
Handel in the Band is a virtuoso set of symphonic variations on one of Handel's best known keyboard dances, the Sarabande from his Suite in D minor, HWV 437, based on the Spanish traditional dance La Folia. Kenneth Downie's work was commissioned by Brass Band Treize Etoiles, for performance at the 2013 Swiss National Brass Band Championships, where it was conducted by James Gourlay. The title is a reference to Percy Grainger's popular Handel in the Strand, and is indicative of the witty and theatrical nature of the music, which is more playful than conventional competition pieces and as such offers different challenges to brass bands as well as being thoroughly entertaining for audiences.Kenneth Downie is one of the most respected and experienced brass band composers. His music has been widely performed and published throughout the brass band world since the 1960s.Handel in the Band was selected as the set work for the Championship Section final of the 2018 National Brass Band Championships of Great Britain, which took place at the Royal Albert Hall, London, on 6th October 2018.Duration: 15.00
Estimated dispatch 7-14 working days
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£19.99
Handel in the Band (Brass Band - Score only) - Downie, Kenneth
Handel in the Band is a virtuoso set of symphonic variations on one of Handel's best known keyboard dances, the Sarabande from his Suite in D minor, HWV 437, based on the Spanish traditional dance La Folia. Kenneth Downie's work was commissioned by Brass Band Treize Etoiles, for performance at the 2013 Swiss National Brass Band Championships, where it was conducted by James Gourlay. The title is a reference to Percy Grainger's popular Handel in the Strand, and is indicative of the witty and theatrical nature of the music, which is more playful than conventional competition pieces and as such offers different challenges to brass bands as well as being thoroughly entertaining for audiences.Kenneth Downie is one of the most respected and experienced brass band composers. His music has been widely performed and published throughout the brass band world since the 1960s.Handel in the Band was selected as the set work for the Championship Section final of the 2018 National Brass Band Championships of Great Britain, which took place at the Royal Albert Hall, London, on 6th October 2018.
Estimated dispatch 7-14 working days
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£95.00Concertante (Piano Solo with Brass Band - Score and Parts) - Gregson, Edward
This work was written in 1966, when I was a student at the Royal Academy of Music in London. It was the first major work to be written for this combination. The Concertante is unashamedly romantic in idiom and is cast in three movements: Prelude, Nocturne and Rondo.The Prelude is in sonata form with a contracted recapitulation. There are two main themes, the first announced after the opening flourish on piano. The second theme is lyrical in character and the interplay between these two themes forms the main focus of the movement.The pensive Nocturne opens with an introduction from the band which contains hints of the two main ideas to follow. The solo piano announces the main theme, which has a slightly 'blues' character in its flattened third and seventh notes of the scale. The band enters with the chorale theme already heard in the introduction. Eventually the first theme returns, this time from piano and band and building to a powerful climax before subsiding to a peaceful ending.The Rondo is full of energetic rhythms and changing time patterns. The main theme is 'giocoso' in character and in the first episode there is more than a hint of the tune 'Onward Christian Soldiers' in what amounts to a good humoured parody. Before the final coda there is a long piano cadenza underlying the virtuoso element of the work.The work had a number of public performances leading up to a memorable one in the Royal Albert Hall in 1989 as part of the Gala Concert that used to be held after the National Brass Band Championship in the Royal Albert Hall. That year, the 'centre band' in the massed bands concert were the GUS Band (then known for sponsorship reasons as 'Rigid Containers Group Band'!) conducted by my great friend and champion, Bramwell Tovey, with myself as the soloist.- Edward GregsonDuration: 18.00
Estimated dispatch 7-14 working days
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