Results
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£74.99Kingdom of Dragons - Philip Harper
The 'Kingdom of Dragons' is Gwent in South Wales, known in ancient times as the Kingdom of Gwent, and more recently home to the Newport Gwent Dragons Rugby Union team. This piece was commissioned by the Gwent Music Service with additionalfunding from Ty Cerdd - Music Centre Wales to celebrate the 50th anniversary in 2010 of the formation of the Gwent Youth Brass Band. Although the music is continuous, it is divided into four distinct sections, each one representing one of theunitary authorities which make up the County of Gwent. I. Monmouthshire, which has a large number of ancient castlesII. Blaenau Gwent, an historic area of iron and coal miningIII. Torfaen, where Pontypool Park is a notablelandmarkIV. Newport, the largest city in the region. The music begins with a two-bar fanfare, which sets out all the thematic material of the piece. The mood of pageantry that follows describes some of the ancient castles inMonmouthshire, with rolling tenor drums and fanfaring cornets. After a majestic climax the music subsides and quite literally descends into the coal mines of Blaenau Gwent. The percussion provides effects that suggest industrial machineryclanking into life, and the music accelerates to become a perilous white-knuckle ride on the underground railroad. There is a brief respite as a miner's work-song is introduced and, after a protracted build-up, this is restated at fortissimo beforethe music comes crashing to an inglorious close, much like the UK's mining industry itself. The middle sonorities of the band portray the tranquillity of Pontypool Park, a place of great natural beauty. Brief cadenzas for cornet and euphoniumlead to a full band reprise of the pastoral mood. At the end of this section we find ourselves at the top of the park's 'Folly Tower' from which the distant castle turrets of Monmouthshire are visible. Pontypool RFC was one of eleven clubs inthe first Welsh league in 1881 and a brief but bruising musical portrayal of the formidable Pontypool front-row, the 'Viet Gwent' leads into the work's final section. This portrays Newport, a symbol for progress and optimism for the future, idealsshared by the Gwent Youth Band itself. The music is a vigorous fugue which advances through various keys and episodes before the final triumphant augmented entry which brings the work to a magnificent conclusion. NOTES ONPERFORMANCEPercussion requirements: (3 players) Timpani, 2 Tenor Drums, 2 Tom toms, Snare Drum (sticks and brushes required), Bass Drum, Clash Cymbals, Suspended Cymbal, Hi-hat, Sizzle Cymbal, Tambourine, Metal block with metalbeater (eg hammer), Rattle (eg football rattle), Glockenspiel, Xylophone
Estimated dispatch 5-14 working days
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£29.95Intrada - Jonathan Bates
DURATION: 2'30. DIFFICULTY: 2nd+. 'Intrada for Brass Band' was composed for my great friends at Orskog Brass, Norwayin celebration of their 50th anniversary. The work is a short celebratory fanfare used to open their anniversary concert, making use of antiphonal cornet choirs and marimba (with which the band had only recently been able to source, hence it's inclusion!).
In Stock: Estimated dispatch 1-3 working days
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£59.95Fire in the Blood - Paul Lovatt-Cooper
This was commissioned by Dr Stephen Cobb for the 120th anniversary of the International Staff Band of the Salvation Army. It had a rousing premiere performance at the International Staff Band 120th anniversary. Circa 10'08".
Estimated dispatch 10-14 days
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£124.95Hyperlink - Peter Graham
Hyperlink was commissioned by the National Youth Brass Band of Great Britain (funded by Arts Council England and the Department for Education) for its 70th Anniversary Year. Since the anniversary coincided with other significant celebrations in 2022 (including the Royal Albert Hall/Ralph Vaughan Williams 150th and the Platinum Jubilee of Elizabeth II) it was requested that these also be recognised in some way.
Where better to begin this challenging brief but with a computer search for the NYBBGB founder Dr Denis Wright (coincidently born in Kensington, home of the RAH). The subsequent rabbit warren of hyperlinks led me to structure the work through a series of "associations":
Movement I - The Voice of Jupiter.
Alongside the discovery that Denis Wright had been a church organist was the realisation that while the RAH has hosted thousands of musical events the fabric of the building actually incorporates a musical instrument, the famous Henry Wills organ (aka The Voice of Jupiter).Organ and J S Bach are synonymous (e.g. Toccata in D min) and so both become fundamental to the content of the movement. An opening 7 note quote from the Toccata leads to a mammoth sound cluster, as if every note on the huge RAH organ is sustained. The material which follows is based upon the notes BACH (in German notation). The notes are manipulated in various ways in a 12 tone matrix; reversed, inverted and so on. Other techniques employed in the movement are ones of which Bach was master, including ground bass and fugue.
Movement II - Remember Me.
The lives of Salvationist composer Ray Steadman-Allen (born 1922) and Ralph Vaughan Williams are remembered here, with "RSA" in musical notation and fragments of RVWs famous Tuba Concerto providing the source material.While writing the movement my father passed away and to close his funeral service the family chose the uplifting Robert Lowry hymn They'll sing a welcome home. It seemed fitting to conclude the movement with a reflective setting of the chorus, the repeated phrase "Welcome, welcome home" eventually disappearing into the ether.
Movement III - Vivat.
The finale takes the form of a short fantasy upon Hubert Parry's marvellous coronation anthem I Was Glad, truly a celebratory note with which to conclude.The first performance of Hyperlink was given by the NYBBGB conducted by Martyn Brabbins at the Royal College of Music, London on August 6th 2022.
Estimated dispatch 3-7 working days
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£45.00Blue Thunder
Commissioned in 2013 by the National Children's Band of Great Britain for their 10th Anniversary, Blue Thunder takes inspiration from the fast and noisy world of steam locomotives. The Mallard 4468 is a LNER Pacific steam locomotive and was famous for setting the world land speed record (126mph). Blue Thunder (a reference to the train's colour and lightning speed) also marks the 75th anniversary of this world record. The music imitates the sounds and excitement of a steam train on its journey, with added choreography to add some visual excitement. Listen: Duration: 00:04:45 Grade 3.5
Estimated dispatch 5-7 working days
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£35.00Flanders Fields
Commissioned in 2014 by the 2nd Rossendale Scout Band, Flanders Fields was composed to commemorate the 100th anniversary of World War I, also known as the Great War. It is a reflective work which uses a hymn as its basis, infusing the sound of bugle calls and marching drums to convey the impression of a conflict rather than depicting a specific battle. Narration and wordless choir can be included as part of performance. Listen: Duration: 00:07:30 Grade: 3
Estimated dispatch 5-7 working days
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£89.95In Many Lands - The Adventures of Mary Seacole - Paul Saggers
In Many Lands - The Adventures of Mary Seacole was commissioned by The Royal Marines Band Service for The National Youth Brass Band of Great Britain. The first performance of the piece was on 16 April 2022 in Huddersfield Town Hall to celebrate the 70th anniversary of the NYBBGB. It was next performed in Birmingham Town Hall (on 28 April 2022) at a joint charity concert of the NYBBGB and The Band of Her Majestyas Royal Marines, Collingwood, for the European Brass Band Association Prelude Concert. The work is a musical account of the life of Mary Seacole who was a British-Jamaican nurse and businesswoman who set up the "British Hotel" behind the lines during the Crimean War. The work takes inspiration from Seacoleas biography Wonderful Adventures of Mrs. Seacole in Many Lands. The work is divided into three movements:
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£30.00Sine Metu. March for Brass Band
Recommended - Championship to 2nd Section Sine Metu is a march written for the Bo'ness and Carriden Band from West Lothian, Scotland to celebrate their 150th anniversary. Its title is from the band's motto, meaning 'Without Fear', which is also the motto of their home town, Bo'ness. An exciting item for any concert programme or entertainment competition. Includes score & parts
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£30.00Tewkesbury March. Andrew Duncan
Recommended for - Suitable for all bands Tewkesbury march was written for the 30th anniversary celebrations of the Tewkesbury Town band in 2004. This march is suitable for most bands to play. Includes score & parts
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£45.00Soaring The Heights - Christopher Bond
Soaring The Heights is a tour-de-force opener for brass band, written for and commissioned by Cory Band in 2024 on the occasion of the band's 140th Anniversary. With solos for cornet and euphonium, the work opens and closes with brilliance and vigour - the perfect short concert opener.
Estimated dispatch 10-14 working days
