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£149.99A Tribute to Henk Badings - Rob Goorhuis
The motivation for composing this test piece for the Concert Division Brassband of the 2001 WMC was Rob Goorhuis's deep respect for one of the greatest Dutch composers of the 20-th century who also enlarged the wind band repertoire in a most valuable way. Goorhuis wanted to light up the "soft and kind" side of the brassband and wrote about this composition : "The basis is a theme of twelve tones wich Badings once played at an International Organ Improvisation Contest in Haarlem.My organ teacher participated in that contest and so the theme remained somehow in the back of my mind." The composer worked out a series of variations and clustered them into bundles ofthree and so the melody kept its diversity while remaining easy to recognise.
Estimated dispatch 5-14 working days
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£54.99A Spanish Christmas Carol - Patrick Millstone
Rondeau of the Shepherds," so ran the official title of the famous Dutch Christmas carol 'Midden in de winternacht'. In 1948 wrote Dutch poet and writer Harry Prenen this text. The melody is known by the 17th/18th- century organ composers of suites Daquin, Balbastre and Dandrieu. "Rondeau of the Shepherds" was subtitled "Catalan Christmas Carol". The song itself is because its origins in a Spanish (Catalan probably) Christmas song from the late Middle Ages, "El Desembre congelat. The motives of this song (shepherds, flutes, drums) demonstrate knowledge of the Bible and give a picture of the late medieval Christmas experience. . Perfect as an uptempo intermezzoin a church service.
Estimated dispatch 5-14 working days
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£69.99Pastime with Good Company - King Henry VIII - Philip Sparke
The English King, Henry VIII (1491-1547), is mainly remembered for disposing of his wives on a regular basis and breaking with the Catholic Church when the Pope Clement VII refused to grant him a divorce so he could marry Anne Boleyn. He was, however, a gifted athlete, dancer and composer, writing many songs, poems and consort pieces (though not Greensleeves, as is often believed). Pastime with Good Company is undoubtedly the best-known of these, written in the first years of the 16th century while he was still a handsome prince, newly married to Catherine of Aragon and the envy of Europe. The lyrics tell of the joys of hunting, dancing and singing andwould have been sung as part of the court entertainment.
Estimated dispatch 5-14 working days
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£57.50Erin's Isle - Philip Sparke
Erin's Isle was commissioned by euphonium player Micah Parsons and premiered by him in June 2024. The idea was to write a slow melody with an Irish flavour and the title is a romantic, 19th century name often used to refer to the island of Ireland itself. The work opens with fluttering, muted cornets, under which a tentative theme appears. This leads to an accompanied cadenza for the soloist, out of which the main theme emerges. This is a long and expansive melody, which winds through several related phrases with a folk-like flavour. A change of key heralds snatches of the theme by the band with interjections from the soloist, leading to a second cadenza. Eventually the band takes up the main theme again, over which the euphonium weaves an elaborate counter melody. The fluttering cornets return to allow the soloist to close the work with a brief and flowery coda.
Estimated dispatch 5-14 working days
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£94.99Wigerathorp - Jan de Haan
Brass Band Gloria Dei, the group that commissioned this work, has its roots in the Frisian town of Gerkesklooster (the Netherlands), where the settlement Wigerathorp used to be. In the 13th century, a monastery was erected here, named Jeruzalem. This inspired the composer to base the work on the well-known melodious hymn Jerusalem by Sir Hubert Parry. Gercke's Overture - the monastery was built by order of landowner Gercke Harkema - is followed by a slow movement in which the founders of the monastery, The Monks of Claercamp, take shape through the Gregorian chant Veni creator spiritus. In the last movement, Monastery Jerusalem, the main theme develops in all its glory.
Estimated dispatch 5-14 working days
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£154.99Cantabile - Philip Harper
"As long as we live there is never enough singing." - Martin Luther Philip Harper composed this piece in response to his personal concern about the direction of new music for brass band. His goal with this 5 movementCantabile, was to compose a piece which fully complied with all that is asked of a top-level test in the 21st Century, but also to reconnect with more traditional values such as lyricism in melody and richness of blendedbrass sound. Each of the 5 parts seek to capture this idea.
Estimated dispatch 5-14 working days
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£154.60Circius - Torstein Aagaard-Nilsen
The work is important for me because it was my first piece to be performed outside Norway. Black Dyke Band/David King performed it and did a recording of it in 1991. In the original score I quote a Swedish bishop (Olaus Mangnus) who lived in the 15th century. He travelled around Scandinavia and drew maps - very important historic material. When he came to the north of Norway (where I come from) he decribed the wind from the north as Ciricus: (something like) Worst of all winds is Circius, that revolves (?= turn upside down) heaven and earth. (Well, not a good translation Im afraid). The fast sections reflects the mighty winds from the north. In the middle section, I borrowed afolksong-like tune (by C. Elling, a Norwegian composer). The text (by Kristoffer Janson) tells about old times when the fishermen used open boats: they had to put their lives in the hands of God.
Estimated dispatch 5-14 working days
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£104.99Viking Age - Thierry Deleruyelle
The Viking age lasted from the late eighth, to the middle of the eleventh century. During this period, Scandinavian warriors and merchants explored, plundered and left their mark on numerous territories. This work is based on a series of four notes that appear in different forms, consisting of 4 movements: Northern Men, Explorer, Raids and Heritage. It is an impressive and spectacular piece, with lots of interesting and playful parts for all sections. This is a perfect contest piece or an outstanding work for thematic concerts.
Estimated dispatch 5-14 working days
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£139.99The Raid - Oliver Waespi
This piece tells the story of a conflict between the communities in the valleys around Srenberg, a village in Entlebuch in the Swiss canton of Lucerne.An old legend from the 14th century tells of an attack on Srenberg by marauding Obwaldners who stole the local cattle. It's full of spectacular effects and impressive rhythmical and dynamic sequences. Ideal as a contest piece.
Estimated dispatch 5-14 working days
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£94.99
The Devil's Bridge - Bertrand Moren
The "Teufelsbrucke" (devil's bridge) is a very old bridge connecting the Goschenen and Andermatt valleys in the canton of Uri, central Switzerland. Legend has it that in the 13th century the people of Uri made a pact with the devil to build a bridge across the canyon. When the people only delivered a goat in payment of the soul demanded by the devil he was angry and decided to knock down the bridge. An old woman painted the sign of a cross on the rock the devil was intending to destroy the bridge with and the devil, unable to lift it, disappeared forever. The rock remains to this day at the northern entry of the Gotthard tunnel.
Estimated dispatch 5-14 working days
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