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£110.00
Legend - Geert Jan Kroon
Other than the title, there is no real story that connects this piece to eyeballs or werewolves. There is no real legend that precedes this work. The legend will evolve in the listener's mind while listening to this piece. For me, it started with the title. It was dreamed up by my son. He also suggested a musical gesture, which I then used to build all the musical materials in this piece. I have sought to capture a dark atmosphere with a sense of excitement. Although, there are some not so dark moments in the piece which serve as a musical contrast. I would like to invite every listener to imagine a world where there exists a legend of a bleeding eyeball and a blind werewolf. And if you do dream up a great story, please let me know and share it with each other!
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£64.95Lift High The Cross - Jonathan Bates
DURATION: 12'00. DIFFICULTY: 2nd+. 'Lift High The Cross' was commissioned by the Armagh Brass Band Summer School in Northern Ireland to celebrate the 350th anniversary of the First Presbyterian Church in Armagh in 2023. The extended work utilises 2 hymn tunes; 'Lift High The Cross' and 'How Lovely Is Thy Dwelling Place' as it's core and - despite it's nature as either an extended concert work or test piece - aims to pay tribute to the warm and welcoming way in which the church and it's community has welcomed brass music of all genres across the years, notably through it's connection for over 25 years with the Foden's Band (UK).
In Stock: Estimated dispatch 1-3 working days
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£89.95Songs of Ascent - Jonathan Bates
DURATION: 14 minutes. DIFFICULTY: Championship. 'Songs of Ascent' was composed for the Royal Northern College of Music Brass Band, as part of their programme for the 2019 RNCM Festival of Brass. In my view, the festival itself is the leading showcase for original contemporary music for the medium (in a concert setting) in the world and therefore an ideal place to explore new ideas and sounds, which was a notion fundamental to the construction of this work. The piece is subtitled 'Out of the Depths, I cry to you, O Lord'; the opening line of Psalm 130 (which forms part of a set of 15 psalsm, 120-134 known as the Songs of Ascent") which forms the main inspiration for much of the musical material. Following an extended opening for four individual tuba lines, there are a number of solos for members of the band off stage, with bleak and deep accompaniment lines, reflecting the words of Psalm 130. Amongst these 'songs of ascents', the most common and strong themes are repentance and redemption; with the central core of this work emerging 'from the depths' to reveal one of very few calming and reflective passages of the work utilising the tune of 'Guide Me O Thy Great Redeemer' in a new setting, featuring the Solo Horn and Bass Trombone, before returning to the ethereal and dark timbres that form much of the music up to this point. In terms of compositional technique, this work is solely based on a set of 4 9-note scales in their various unique transpositions (below). Each of these scales provide a set of 2 whole tone scales, 6 minor triads, 6 major triads and is built on 9 augmented triads. Whilst most of the music in this work is based melodically on the set of notes (heard right at the outset in the motif in the tuba line), the central section delves into the harmonic capabilities of these 'modes', using a number of the 7 'keys' which can be derived from the minor & major chords derived in each scale. All 4 scales are used independantly to each other, with whole sections of the work focussing on each mode. 'Songs of Ascent' was selected as the set work for the Championship Section at the Butlin's Mineworker's Championships in 2020.
In Stock: Estimated dispatch 1-3 working days
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£34.95Water Lilies - Jonathan Bates
DURATION: 5'00". DIFFICULTY: 1st Section+. 'Water Lilies' is a setting of a short poem by the American War poet Sara Teasdale from 1937. Teasdale's evocative writing is steadily becoming a renowned influence for composers - particularly in the choral scene, and this was where my first introduction to her work was founded in a work by Eriks Esenvalds entitled 'Stars'. . The percussion writing in this depicts a gentle ripple on a lake as water lilies float by at dusk, whilst the band writing explores a deep and personal interpretation of Teasdale's words which whilst on the face seem quite dark and brooding, yet really seem to express a feeling of longing and determination. . Water Lilies . If you have forgotten water lilies floating . On a dark lake among mountains in the afternoon shade, . If you have forgotten their wet, sleepy fragrance, . Then you can return and not be afraid. . But if you remember, then turn away forever . To the plains and the prairies where pools are far apart, . There you will not come at dusk on closing water lilies, . And the shadow of mountains will not fall on your heart. . Sara Teasdale (1937). .
In Stock: Estimated dispatch 1-3 working days
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£74.99Cornet Concerto No.1 - Jonathan Bates
My 'Cornet Concerto No.1' was composed for Lode Violet and Brass Band Willebroek in 2018 and features 2 movements, entitled 'Dystopia' and 'Utopia'. . The nature of the music in the opening section, 'Dystopia', is very jagged, disjointed and unsettling, as the soloist almost battles against the constant churning of the mechanical accompaniment, trying to persevere with it's own ideas and styles without being dragged into conforming to it's surroundings. The movement is based largely on the 3 note interval heard right at the outset of the piece (C, D & G#, a series of notes that lends itself so well to different modes, scales, harmonies and intervals) and this forms much of the rhythmic and harmonic structure of the opening section.Whilst this movement acts as a virtuoso feature to demonstrate the extended capabilities of both the soloist and instrument, I feel the accompanying ensemble plays an equal role in the narrative of 'dystopia', and features a number of demanding and prominent episodes for soloists within the accompanying band. A short and heavy coda concludes the movement, with a sense of real pain and sorrowfulness as the music fades away into darkness. . 'Utopia' opens in an instantly more hopeful nature, with the soloist introducing the first real 'theme' of the movement, taken up shortly by the accompaniment. Throughout this movement, there are a number of timbral and melodic references back to the darkness of 'dystopia', but transformed into a much more positive outlook and soundworld. There is a moment of quiet reflect (using the initial 3 note cell as a basis) before flying head first into a frenzied wild 'tarantella' like section, full of joy and energy which tests the dexterity and light-natured approach to virtuosity (much unlike the heavier material in the 1st movement) of the soloist. Primarily, the concept of this finale is fun - joy, happiness, and freedom from restraint, so the addition of a quirky 'tongue-in-cheek' habanera section offers a brief moment of respite from the craziness of the tarantella. To conclude the work, there is an extended cadenza for the soloist which is built on several motifs heard throughout the concerto, which leads the band into a dramatic and energetic final few bars.. Jonathan Bates. (2018). .
In Stock: Estimated dispatch 1-3 working days
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£120.00
Rhapsody in Black (Bra) - Andi Cook
The primary inspiration for this work comes from the composer's first encounter with the genre of Symphonic Metal - the opening track of the 2004 Nightwish album 'Once', entitled Dark chest of Wonders. The combination of full orchestra, operatically trained female vocals and the raw power of a Scandinavian metal band was a potent mix that instantly had me hooked.That same dark and powerful sound is one that a brass band can generate, and I've tried to capture that in this composition. Heavy Rock/Metal as a genre is arguably fifty years old now, but symphonic metal is a newer concept, and I feel possibly the one that can bridge the gap between two musical styles very dear to me.Composer Gilbert Vinter had explored through music the connotations that different colours held for him, and his movement Purple from 'Spectrum' gave me an idea for the structure of 'Rhapsody in Black'. Andi Cook explored the different connotations of one colour within his own life, black being an easy choice due to the personal dichotomy of the black leather jacket he wore to the rock club on Friday night and the black suit jacket and tie he wore to the concert hall the next day.To avoid repetition the word 'black' is omitted from the five movement titles, each of which is a different episode. '...as Thunder' is a furious argument between two people - the top and bottom of the band - set against the backdrop of a storm, with lightning flashing outside while barbs, insults, sarcasm, tears and even violence is traded inside. Following that '...Satin and Pearls' is an old black-and-white movie with a wistful character to it as if we're looking back a screen icon with fondness long after their career or even their life has ended. '...as the Raven's Wing.' is deliberately gothic and funereal, hinting at Edgar Allen Poe's similarly named poem, with undertones of death and afterlife. The shift into F/C Minor (band pitch) represents the descent - alive - into the grave that Poe had a paranoid fear of his entire life. Family and friends standing around grieving, oblivious as we're lowered into the earth despite frantic attempts to make ourselves heard. '...and Chrome' is an unashamed motorcycle reference with all its born-to-be-wild, open air, high speed and freedom overtones. In a deliberate contrast to what went before it continues several of the same motifs though this time in the major key. Lastly, we reprise the second movement with '...as the Night Sky' which is simply the feeling of walking home under the summer stars, with someone important - who that is, is left to the listener, but a walk under the stars is always that bit special.There's an old saying that very few things are black and white. I hope this work will prove that even black alone isn't quite as simple as it's often made out....'Rhapsody in Black' is dedicated to the composer's friend and mentor John Roberts, who shares his love of both brass and rock.
Estimated dispatch 7-14 working days
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£73.00
The Honored Dead (Bra) - John Philip Sousa - Bert Van Thienen
Sousa wrote this march for Miskatonic University in 1876. When the ill fated 1930-31 Antarctic Expedition returned with only two survivors, the march was renamed "The Honored Dead" and played for the lost souls of the expedition.
Estimated dispatch 7-14 working days
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£73.00
Jonny Makes Waves (Bra) - Max Stannard
Jonny Makes Waves is an exciting cornet solo with jazzy influences which is based around traditional sea songs. The main melody, A Life on the Ocean Wave, is the regimental march of the Royal Marines, while Heart of Oak , the official march of the Royal Navy, is quoted in the middle of the piece. These two melodies are given new harmonies and extensive quasi improvised sections by the soloists, in addition to call and response sections allowing all the band to join in. This fun filled piece is guaranteed to get your feet tapping.
Estimated dispatch 7-14 working days
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£77.00Donec Iterum Conveniant - Anton Weeren
translation: "Until We Meet Again". This choral piece was dedicated to those who have gone before us into the light. The feelings of sorrow and loss for beloved people who have passed away are solemnly translated musically in this composition. Both peace, contemplation, and reflection, as well as emotion, hope, expression, and the question of "why", are clearly expressed musically. This makes this composition particularly suitable for somber occasions, as a resting point in a program, or as warm-up music.
Estimated dispatch 10-14 working days
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£163.00Spiritus Vita - Anton Weeren
Spiritus Vita stands for "Breath of Life". The breath of life that is literally blown into instruments to produce beautiful wind music. This piece is a virtuosic fantasy for brass band. Extremely rhythmic, groovy, cheerful, flashy, and danceable, interspersed with long dramatic lines, sometimes combined with less common harmonies. The spirit and fire of life, with all its ups and downs, cheerfulness, sadness, reflection, peace, but also madness and despair. All emotions and energy expressed in this special, colorful, rhythmic composition.
Estimated dispatch 10-14 working days
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