Results
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£21.95Adam Zero, Suite from (Brass Band - Study Score)
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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£29.95
The Land of the Long White Cloud (Score Only)
Dating from 1979, The Land of the Long White Cloud (Aotearoa) was Philip Sparke's first test-piece. It was commissioned by the New Zealand Brass Band Association for their 1980 National Championships (their centenary year) and set for the European Brass Band Championships, the same year, at the Royal Albert Hall in London. Aotearoa was the name given to New Zealand by its Polynesian settlers whose first sight of the islands was a long, flat cloud lying low over the land. The work has no specific programme although many have seen pictures of the surging ocean in the opening bars. A faster dance-like section leads to a slow, haunting solo for soprano cornet; this is taken up by the whole band before earlier material returns. The dance-like tune is, this time, given a fugal treatment and the opening bars return to close the work.Philip Sparke was born in London and studied composition, trumpet and piano at the Royal College of Music, where he gained an ARCM. It was at the College that his interest in bands arose. He played in the College wind orchestra and also formed a brass band among the students, writing several works for both ensembles.At that time, his first published works appeared - Concert Prelude (brass band) and Gaudium (wind band). A growing interest in his music led to several commissions, his first major one being this featured piece for the Centennial Brass Band Championships in New Zealand - The Land of the Long White Cloud. He has written for brass band championships in New Zealand, Switzerland, Holland, Australia and the UK, including three times for the National Finals at the Royal Albert Hall.In September 2000, he was awarded the Iles Medal of the Worshipful Company of Musicians for his services to brass bands and in 2005 Music of the Spheres won the National Band Association/William D. Revelli Memorial Band Composition Contest. In 2011, he received the BUMA International Brass Award for his contribution to brass music.His conducting and adjudicating activities have taken him to most European countries, Scandinavia, Australia, New Zealand, Japan, Taiwan, South Korea, Canada and the USA. In May 2000, he took the major step of becoming a full-time composer by founding his own publishing company, Anglo Music Press. The company is devoted to publishing his brass band, concert band, fanfare band and instrumental publications as well as recordings dedicated to his latest works.
Estimated dispatch 7-14 working days
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£25.00Zephyrus. March for Brass Band
Recommended - Suitable for all bands The Big Blow, was a formal record attempt to create the largest brass band in the world. It took place at Butlin's Resort, Skegness on 20 January 2007, and it's main goal was to raise money in support of the work of Brass Band Aid, and specifically to provide long-term sponsorship for two children in the village of Adet in Ethiopia. The Music Company (UK) Ltd were one of the Official Partners of The Big Blow, providing the performance piece for the record attempt. Andrew Duncan wrote 'Zephyrus' to mark the occasion. The title takes its name from the Greek God of the West Winds - Zephyrus. Zephyrus is a traditional British brass band march with an interesting African-feel lilt to the trio. This is enhanced by optional percussion instruments including djembi and bongos, which can alternatively be covered by standard drum kit. The Music Company are pleased to continue their support of Brass Band Aid by offering a donation to this worthy charity for every set of this music sold. Includes score & parts
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£22.50Petite Suite de Ballet (Score Only)
This composition consists of four 'miniatures', simple in construction, yet not without technical demands upon the players.The music is for a ballet which so far exists only in the imagination! Like most ballet, it has a touch of the fantastic, and must be interpreted with a light, deft touch.The first movement, Parade, brings many characteristics on to the stage, marching perkily, leggily, with almost puppet-like movements.In the next movement, Pas Seul (Solo Dance), one lone figure holds the stage, with a mixture of grace and sauciness. At the end he (or she) runs off with a snap of the fingers.The third movement is a Minuet. A chosen few, richly garbed, perform this stately, courtly dance, while the rest of the company look on at some ritual in which they are not allowed to join.The final Ensemble commencing with the return of the lone figure, gradually brings the whole company to the stage. Various groups come forward for a few moments, and then rejoin the general pattern of the dancing. Towards the end a stately procession is formed, but this finally breaks up in a sudden flurry of leaping and capering, and in a moment, as though at some magic call, the dances have disappeared, whilst the sonorous tones of the final bars of music follow them with a rather disapproving air.Our little fantasy in over.
Estimated dispatch 7-14 working days
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£75.00Cantata for brass band and percussion. Composed by Andrew Duncan
Cantata was commissioned by The Fodens Band who gave the first performance in 2014. Cantata was used as the test piece for the Scottish Open in 2014 and was played by the Whitburn Band as their own choice piece at the European Brass Band Championships in 2016. Cantata is in three movements and fully explores the textures, technique and musicality of a top section brass band and its soloists. Composer: Andrew Duncan Difficulty: Championship Section Duration: 16 mins Score and parts Publisher: The Music Company Released: 2014
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£30.00Czardas by Vittori Monti Arranged for Brass Band by Andrew Duncan with Eb bass/Tuba solo
An arrangement of the classic gypsy violin solo, Czardas by Vittori Monti for E Flat Bass/Tuba soloist and brass band. This entertaining piece will be enjoyed by concert audiences and has an optional challenging cadenza. Composer: Vittori Monti Arranger: Andrew Duncan Difficulty: Championship to 2nd Section Duration: 4 mins Publisher: The Music Company UK Ltd. Score and parts Also see: Czardas for Brass Quintet (tuba solo) Czardas for Solo Tuba & Piano
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£35.00Divertimento for Tenor Horn and Brass Band composed by Andrew Duncan
Divertimento for tenor horn was written for Sandy Smith and the Grimethorpe Colliery Band for their tour of Australia in 2001. This has a fast paced technical and lyrical solo piece for the Tenor Horn and is suitable for intermediate to advanced players (previous working title Spring's Awakening). Composer: Andrew Duncan Difficulty: Championship to 2nd Section Bands Duration: 4 mins Score and parts Publisher: The Music Company Ltd UK Also see: Divertimento for Tenor Horn & Piano
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£30.00Eriskay Love Lilt for Brass Band composed by Andrew Duncan. A Traditional Hebridean Air. Cornet solo
Eriskay is a tiny island in the Outer Hebrides in Scotland lying between the larger islands of Barra and South Uist. Eriskay Love Lilt is a soulful, haunting melody, typical of many traditional songs from the Outer Hebrides. This arrangement is for cornet soloist and brass band. Composer: Andrew Duncan Difficulty: Championship to 2nd Section Score and Parts Publisher: The Music Company UK Ltd. Also see: Eriskay Love Lilt for Solo Cornet & Piano
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£35.00Loch Lomond trad. for Brass Band Arranged by Andrew Duncan
A traditional Scottish treasure of tune to rouse the audience, arranged here by Andrew Duncan. Ideal for Festive concert programmes with optional highland bagpipe and electric guitar parts. Composer: Traditional Arranger: Andrew Duncan Difficulty: Grade 2 and Above Duration: 5 mins Publisher: The Music Company UK Ltd
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£125.00
Dark Arteries Suite - Gavin Higgins
Dark Arteries was commissioned by Rambert Dance Company and first performed in May 2015 with the Tredegar Town Band sharing the stage with Rambert dancers. Dark Arteries is a personal and at times highly wrought response to the Miners Strike and its aftermath. It is in three movements, the first and last are expansive, with widely contrasting sound worlds, from dark, brooding melodies and the haunting sounds of solo flugel horn to wild syncopations on cornets, suggestive of an imposing, but often bleak mining landscape.In 2016 Higgins re-worked Dark Arteries into a virtuoso concert suite, which captures the essence of the work in three connected movements.Dark Arteries Suite was premiered by the National Youth Brass Band of Great Britain, conducted by Bramwell Tovey at the Barbican Centre, London, 22 April 2017.
In Stock: Estimated dispatch 1-3 working days
