Results
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£19.65Adam Zero, Suite from (Brass Band - Study Score) - Bliss, Arthur - Childs, Robert
Selected as the Section 2 test piece for the National Brass Band Championships of Great Britain 2025Following his ballet Checkmate, Bliss composed another score for the, by then, Sadler's Wells Ballet, Miracle in the Gorbals, which was choreographed by Robert Helpmann, to a scenario by Michael Benthall. Premired in 1944, the ballet made a considerable impact and was a box-office success. It was followed in turn by a further collaboration with Helpmann and Benthall, Adam Zero. This would serve Helpmann, in the eponymous role, as a vehicle in two respects: demonstrating his gifts as a dancer-actor and as a choreographer. First performed at the Royal Opera House, Covent Garden, on 8 April 1946, Adam Zero was conducted by Constant Lambert, the work's dedicatee. Bliss considered it 'his most varied and exciting ballet score'. Benthall provided a synopsis for the programme:There is a philosophy that life moves in an endless series of timeless cycles. As Nature passes through Spring, Summer, Autumn and Winter, so man is born, makes a success in his own particular sphere, loses his position to a younger generation, sees his world crumble before his eyes and only finds peace in death. This age-old story is told in terms of a Company creating a ballet and calling on the resources of the theatre to do so. Lighting, stage mechanism, dance conventions, musical forms and costumes and scenery of all periods are used to symbolize the world of 'Adam Zero'.Apart from Adam, as the Principal Dancer, other main roles included the Stage Director (representing Omnipotence), and Adam's Fates (Designer, Wardrobe Mistress, and Dresser). 'The Woman in this allegory', wrote Bliss, 'under the symbol of the Choreographer, was both the creator and destroyer of Adam: his first love, his wife, his mistress, and finally the figure of beneficent Death.' When the curtain rose, the 'audience saw the Covent Garden stage right back to the wall, completely empty except for the protagonists, 'the Company poised, still and expectant, as they await the birth of... Adam Zero.'Unfortunately, soon after the premire, Helpmann injured himself and had to withdraw from the remaining performances. Despite generally positive reviews, the ballet did not capture the imagination of audiences and, to Bliss's considerable disappointment, was not revived. Seventy years would elapse before its first major return to the stage, in 2016, performed by the ballet company of Stadttheater Bremerhaven with choreography by Sergei Vanaev.Bliss extracted a concert suite from the ballet, conducting its first performance with the City of Birmingham Symphony Orchestra on 28 October 1948. For his own suite, arranged for brass band in 2023, Dr Robert Childs chose three dances linked to the seasons, book-ending them with the ebullient 'Fanfare Overture' and 'Fanfare Coda'. After Adam has grown to manhood, his Fates clothe him in a costume synonymous with confident youth, appropriate for the virile, ardent 'Dance of Spring'. In the 'Approach of Autumn', Adam, now wearing a sombre costume, has grown older: his Fates have streaked grey in his hair and put lines on his face. But they had earlier raised Adam to the zenith of his power, and the 'Dance of Summer' depicts him in the prime of life, in music of sweeping grandeur. The 'Fanfare Coda' signals that the next cycle of life is about to begin.Duration: 10.30
Estimated dispatch 7-14 working days
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£64.95
Adam Zero, Suite from (Brass Band - Score and Parts) - Bliss, Arthur - Childs, Robert
Selected as the Section 2 test piece for the National Brass Band Championships of Great Britain 2025Following his ballet Checkmate, Bliss composed another score for the, by then, Sadler's Wells Ballet, Miracle in the Gorbals, which was choreographed by Robert Helpmann, to a scenario by Michael Benthall. Premired in 1944, the ballet made a considerable impact and was a box-office success. It was followed in turn by a further collaboration with Helpmann and Benthall, Adam Zero. This would serve Helpmann, in the eponymous role, as a vehicle in two respects: demonstrating his gifts as a dancer-actor and as a choreographer. First performed at the Royal Opera House, Covent Garden, on 8 April 1946, Adam Zero was conducted by Constant Lambert, the work's dedicatee. Bliss considered it 'his most varied and exciting ballet score'. Benthall provided a synopsis for the programme:There is a philosophy that life moves in an endless series of timeless cycles. As Nature passes through Spring, Summer, Autumn and Winter, so man is born, makes a success in his own particular sphere, loses his position to a younger generation, sees his world crumble before his eyes and only finds peace in death. This age-old story is told in terms of a Company creating a ballet and calling on the resources of the theatre to do so. Lighting, stage mechanism, dance conventions, musical forms and costumes and scenery of all periods are used to symbolize the world of 'Adam Zero'.Apart from Adam, as the Principal Dancer, other main roles included the Stage Director (representing Omnipotence), and Adam's Fates (Designer, Wardrobe Mistress, and Dresser). 'The Woman in this allegory', wrote Bliss, 'under the symbol of the Choreographer, was both the creator and destroyer of Adam: his first love, his wife, his mistress, and finally the figure of beneficent Death.' When the curtain rose, the 'audience saw the Covent Garden stage right back to the wall, completely empty except for the protagonists, 'the Company poised, still and expectant, as they await the birth of... Adam Zero.'Unfortunately, soon after the premire, Helpmann injured himself and had to withdraw from the remaining performances. Despite generally positive reviews, the ballet did not capture the imagination of audiences and, to Bliss's considerable disappointment, was not revived. Seventy years would elapse before its first major return to the stage, in 2016, performed by the ballet company of Stadttheater Bremerhaven with choreography by Sergei Vanaev.Bliss extracted a concert suite from the ballet, conducting its first performance with the City of Birmingham Symphony Orchestra on 28 October 1948. For his own suite, arranged for brass band in 2023, Dr Robert Childs chose three dances linked to the seasons, book-ending them with the ebullient 'Fanfare Overture' and 'Fanfare Coda'. After Adam has grown to manhood, his Fates clothe him in a costume synonymous with confident youth, appropriate for the virile, ardent 'Dance of Spring'. In the 'Approach of Autumn', Adam, now wearing a sombre costume, has grown older: his Fates have streaked grey in his hair and put lines on his face. But they had earlier raised Adam to the zenith of his power, and the 'Dance of Summer' depicts him in the prime of life, in music of sweeping grandeur. The 'Fanfare Coda' signals that the next cycle of life is about to begin.Duration: 10.30
Estimated dispatch 7-14 working days
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£84.99Festivus Americas (Brass Band - Score and Parts) - Bulla, Stephen
Dedicated to the North American Brass Band Association, this is music that is full of energy and dynamic extremes. In form it draws from the overture style, although the themes are self-existing and the piece is programmatic. Working well as a festival opener, it sets a mood of excitement. Following the rhythmic fanfares of the opening, the first theme is presented in the cornets followed by a return to the same rhythmic material. A second theme appears in the horn section and is developed, changing into a darker and sinister form of the same motif. Eventually a Maestoso section is reached, full of sustained block chords in the cornets and trombones, as the rest of the band counters with cascading lines that weave straight through the brighter instruments. Duration: 5.00
Estimated dispatch 7-14 working days
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£112.00Zampa (Brass Band - Score and Parts) - Herold, Ferdinand - Wilkinson, Keith M.
The opera, Zampa, was first performed in Paris in 1831 and over the next 50 or so years enjoyed frequent performances and remained extremely popular. Since the dawn of the 20th century the popularity of the opera has waned somewhat but the overture has continued to be one of the composer's most famous works and is a staple of the orchestral repertoire.This brass band transcription was prepared for Brass Band Of The Western Reserve and it has been extremely well-received on their concerts.
Estimated dispatch 7-14 working days
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£59.95The Pacemakers (Brass Band - Score and Parts) - Gregson, Edward
Concert OvertureThis work was commissioned in 1970 for a brass band championship sponsored by WD and HO Wills, whose slogan was The Pacemakers. The title was added after the work was finished and has nothing to do with the content or character of the piece which, as Paul Hindmarsh remarks, is 'arguably the most satisfying in purely musical terms of all of Gregson's early compositions for band'.The Overture is cast in a sonata form exposition, with a slow central section, giving the opportunity for expressive cornet and euphonium solos. The final section begins with a strict fugal exposition which leads to a recapitulation of the opening material and a powerful climax built on the opening pyramid of fifths, which remains unresolved.Duration: 11:00
Estimated dispatch 7-14 working days
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£89.95Christmastime (Brass Band - Score and Parts) - Holmlund, Andreas
Christmastime was written at the request of Windcorp Brass Band (one of the top contesting bands in Sweden) for their annual Christmas concert. Taking the form of an overture, this music contains passing references to many well-known festive songs, and features Hark! The Herald Angels Sing, The First Nowell, Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas and O Come, All Ye Faithful
Estimated dispatch 7-14 working days
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£49.95Mountain Day (Brass Band - Score and Parts) - Himes, William
Mountain Day was inspired by the composer's firsthand experiences walking, hiking, biking and skiing the majestic Rocky Mountains of Colorado, USA.The soaring and noble opening theme is in fact a musical representation of what a mountain silhouette might look like when traced on a musical staff. This overture features four continuous sections with virtually all of the themes having come to the composer's mind while in the Colorado Rockies:dawn - a slow unfolding of sun on the mountainsascent - a joyful and energetic hiking tunesummit vista - an expanded version of the opening themedescent - a lyrical walking tune, bursting with fulfilment and the love of lifeThis work was commissioned in 2014 by the Western State Colorado University - Colorado Brass Band for their 40th anniversary in honour of Mr. John Kincaid, conductor emeritus, mentor and friend.
Estimated dispatch 7-14 working days
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£32.95Saddleworth Festival Overture (Brass Band - Score only) - Richards, Goff
Commissioned by the Saddleworth Arts Festival and specially published for the Fourth Section Finals of the National Brass Band Championships of Great Britain, held at the Royal Albert Hall, London, October 1985.2013 Butlins Fourth SectionDuration: 9.15
Estimated dispatch 7-14 working days
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£69.95Saddleworth Festival Overture (Brass Band - Score and Parts) - Richards, Goff
Commissioned by the Saddleworth Arts Festival and specially published for the Fourth Section Finals of the National Brass Band Championships of Great Britain, held at the Royal Albert Hall, London, October 1985.2013 Butlins Fourth SectionDuration: 9.15
Estimated dispatch 7-14 working days
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£54.20BLACK DARK AND GOLDEN LIGHT (Brass Band) - Fernie, Alan
Concert Overture for Brass Band. Grade: Easy.
Estimated dispatch 7-14 working days
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