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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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£54.95Sonata - Derek Bourgeois
This work, composed in 1998, was commissioned by the American trombonist Don Lucas as a work for trombone and piano and first performed by him in Birmingham on 19th May 2000. Subsequently, I arranged the music for both solo trombone and brass band and solo trombone and wind band so that it now exists in three formats. The first movement, in B flat major, is brisk and energetic, and is cast in sonata form. The second subject is gentler and more lyrical. The second movement, a scherzo in C major, is the most complex of the four. Basically the structure is a rond. For a long time the music remains in the opening 5/8 time until a new theme introduces more broken rhythms in a more jazzy idiom. After a return of the opening theme the following episode is more tonally ambiguous. Finally, the main theme returns to round off the movement. The third movement, a lyrical adagio, is really one long extended melodic flow. The harmonies are lush and the textures simple and direct. The tonal center is A minor, but the music meanders through so many keys, that this key centre is heavily disguised. The finale is a fiery affair. G minor is really its home key, but throughout the movement the music moves about a lot and the second subject is first heard in A flat minor. The movement's underlying sonata structure is masked not only by its loose tonality but also by its frequently changing time signatures. Like the first movement the second subject is more lyrical in nature and for a while it seems that the music will end peacefully, but a final flurry heralds a triple forte unison on the home note of the first movement - B flat. Derek Bourgeois
Estimated dispatch 5-14 working days
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£110.40Three Inventions - Pi Scheffer
Dr. J (Pi) Scheffer was the leader of the famous Dutch AVRO Radio Big Band 'The Skymasters' in the 50's, as well as also being an English teacher. He also had a huge success with his composition for wind band 'Three Inventions', not only in Europe but also in the USA. At the time of publication (1971) there was no promotion with sound sample of this work, so for this reason now Molenaar Edition has a complete new score and parts available in their 'Creative Compositions' (c) series. The work is in the movements. 'Flippant', 'Whimsical' and 'Sorta Mixed Up'. A recent edition of the American magazine publication 'The School Musician' even compared Scheffer with Leonard Bernstein.
Estimated dispatch 5-14 working days
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£49.10Happy Go Lucky - Willy Hautvast
The public love the xylophone, so for all you xylophonists out there, here is a fresh and fun new composition for those of you who want a piece that doesn't require a top level of technique.
Estimated dispatch 5-14 working days
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£68.90For Fans Only - Piet Daalhuizen - W. Kalischnig
Piet Daalhuisen (Hilversum, 1939) was already known in the world of wind bands because of his medleys 'With a smile to the classics' and 'Pop for the People' (both in splendid wind band arrangements by Marcel Peeters). Here is a new medley For Fans Only, consisting of a series of stirring tunes, arranged for wind band by Walter Kalischnig, a Slovenian musician who settled in The Netherlands back in 1953 and wrote several fine compositions and wind band arrangements.
Estimated dispatch 5-14 working days
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£49.10Four Meets Seven - Patrick Millstone
The young Dutch composer Patrick Millstone is a new name in our catalogue. In this fine composition he describes the meeting of two friends with quite different personalities, the one being introvert (4/4 meter), the other extrovert (7/8 meter). The lyrical introduction suggests the quiet beginning of the conversion. By means of an almost constant alteration of both meters, the Allegro part suggests a sudden quarrel. Finally both friends are parting ... A most fine acquisition for the original concert repertoire.
Estimated dispatch 5-14 working days
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£116.40Decennium - Eric Swiggers
'Decennium' was composed in 2003 as a commission by the municipality of Berheze for its tenth anniversary. The composition describes the history of this town in the Province of Brabant, consisting of 6 different villages: Heesch, Heeswijk, Dinther, Nistelrode, Loosbroek and Vorstenbosch. The composition starts with a slow introduction, Adagio Misterioso, suggesting the atmosphere in long-ago days when the area consisted mainly of swamps, meres and low woods. (The word 'Bern' is a synonym of 'Born' meaning source or water, whereas 'Hese' is derived from 'Haisjo' meaning brushwood ). Above the dark sounds we hear far away trumpet signals announcing the Middle Ages. After a piercing crescendo, we hear the full sound of festive trumpets. A medieval dance, as was to be heard in the Heeswijk castle, follows. This dance gets a more and more stirring character and finally turns into a merry popular dance ending with a burst of laughter reproduced by descending scales with the muted trombones and trumpets. A slow transition with a quotation from a Gregorian plainsong (Domine Deus) and church bell ringing, referring to the Abbey of Berne, brings us to a romantic Larghetto. This part describes the quiet rural life in a beautiful natural surrounding. The last dying note contrasts with the threatening ostinato, referring to the rise of the industrialization, which provoked quite some resistance with the local people. Once more we hear the 'Domine Deus' but much more powerful this time. When the resistance calms down, the work concludes with an Alla Marcia. The first notes of the main theme could be heard all through the composition and now we hear the complete main theme again. The new town is born. A festive conclusion refers both to the tenth anniversary and the optimism and confidence as to the future.
Estimated dispatch 5-14 working days
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£90.30Reclamation - Feike van Tuinen
Here is a splendid composition by Feike van Tuinen commissioned by the municipality 'Het Bildt' on the occasion of its 500th anniversary in 2005. The score describes the history of the place situated in a nice area near to the Waddenzee, a sea bordering the Northern part of The Netherlands. It starts with the very first reclamation in 1505, and then comes the hard labour of the workers in the mud, the joy of winning new land on the sea, the continuous struggle or game between the wind and the water, and finally the festivities in 2005. This composition challenges both the conductor and the musicians to bring this score to life.
Estimated dispatch 5-14 working days
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£86.70Mr. Bojangles - Jerry Jeff Walker - Henk Ummels
'Mr. Bojangles' is a popular song written and initially recorded by Jerry Jeff Walker in 1968 and covered since by many other artists. The song was inspired by an encounter with a street performer in the New Orleans first precinct jail. Although this man could tap dance, the inspiration for the song was the famous stage and movie dancer Bill 'Bojangles' Robinson. Robbie Williams recorded it on it's bigband CD 'Swing When You're Winning'.
Estimated dispatch 5-14 working days
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£68.60Fanfare, Dance and Choral - Giovanni Giacomo Gastoldi - Henk van Belcum
Henk van Belcums used the festive and much loved song 'In Thee is Gladness', in this arrangement. Better known as 'Geest van hierboven' (Hymn 477) from the Songs for the Church (NL). A glorious fanfare opens the piece, which is then followed by a bright dance. The hymn is heard in the chorale section, in a fancy new setting, and the piece closes with a reprise of the opening fanfare.
Estimated dispatch 5-14 working days
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