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£59.95Blitz - Derek Bourgeois
The dictionary definition of Blitz is any sudden, overwhelming attack, particularly from the air. It is shortened form of the German word Blitzkrieg, literally meaning a lightning war. The piece is a test of skill, nerve and stamina, culminating in an aural 'Blitz' of great ferocity. The tempo markings in this piece are intended merely as a guide to performers. The composer is particularly anxious that they should not be considered inviolate. Commissioned with funds provided by the Arts Council of Great Britain for the finals of National Brass Band Championships held in the Royal Albert Hall, London, on the 3rd October, 1981.
Estimated dispatch 5-14 working days
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£94.95Of Men and Mountains - Edward Gregson
Of Men and Mountains was commissioned by the Netherlands Brass Band Championships for their tenth anniversary contest in Drachten in December 1990. In July the previous year, Edward Gregson and his wife took the Trans Canadian Railway from Toronto to Vancouver. The journey through the Rocky Mountains was the starting point for Of Men and Mountains. Gregson writes that: 'its high peaks and shafts of sunlight breaking through the clouds, its canyons and ferocious rapids made me understand a little more about the majesty of nature and the fragility of humanity. The eternal struggle between man and nature was personified in the building of this incredible railway... hence my title (after Blake).' The work is dedicated to the memory of Eric Ball, who died shortly before the writing of the work was commenced. Of Men and Mountains is in one continuous movement with a duration of approximately 17 minutes. Its form is difficult to describe because of its motivic and accumulative nature, but it is essentially a symphonic tone poem in search of a theme, which eventually comes in its final and complete state in the majestic ending after an ever-increasing paced scherzo. Of Men and Mountains has been selected as the test pieces for the 2023 National Brass Championships of Great Britain at the Albert Hall.
Estimated dispatch 5-14 working days
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£59.99Jesu, Joy of Man's Desiring - Johann Sebastian Bach - Philip Sparke
Bach's appointment as the Cantor at Leipzig's Thomaskirche in 1723 required him to produce a new cantata for every Sunday service. Jesu, Joy of Man's Desiring is taken from his Cantata No.147 and is unusually elaborate, treated more like an aria than a chorale. It is perhaps the best-loved cantata movement from Bach's entire output and is a certain crowd pleaser for your concert programme.
Estimated dispatch 5-14 working days
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£104.99Theme and Variations - Oliver Waespi
Theme and Variations is another brilliant test piece from the pen of Oliver Waespi, one of the most popular brass band composers of today. It is a challenging but rewarding piece which offers plenty of opportunity for several soloists to show off their skills. Theme and Variations is based on one theme that is explored throughout the piece, resulting in spectacular and colourful variations. A beautiful musical kaleidoscope!
Estimated dispatch 5-14 working days
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£60.99He Shall Feed His Flock - Georg Friedrich Händel - Wil van der Beek
It is interesting to recall that Handel wrote Messiah, his most famous work whilst at the lowest point of his career, suffereing from fianantial hardship and depression. It was only composing that distracted him from this misery. In He Shall Feed His Flock,based on texts of Isaiah and Matthew, we hear praise for the peace that the Messiah has brought to earth.
Estimated dispatch 5-14 working days
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£134.99Origenes - Carlos Cárdenas
Or genes (Origins) was commissioned by the European Brass Band Association as a test piece for the challenge section of the 38th European Brass Band Championship in Freiburg, Germany 2015. It is a spectacular piece from the pen of CarlosCardenas, who belongs to a new generation of composing talent. The clave, a rhythmic pattern, which originally comes from African music, was the inspiration for this innovative piece, all motifs and structures being derived from it. The six parts feature a wide spectrum of percussion instruments, reveal animpressive range of new sound combinations and yet are very accessible for the audience.
Estimated dispatch 5-14 working days
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£91.99Time Remembered - Philip Sparke
The initial idea was for a millennium piece, which it is, but rather than add to the many celebratory pieces that have understandably been written to salute the 3rd millennium, Philip Sparke thought it would perhaps be appropriate to think about the aspects of life that are constantly with us (such as faith and philosophy) rather than the exciting changes that the year 2000 has undeniably wrought. This calm meditative work will bring a moment of serenity and reflection to any concert.
Estimated dispatch 5-14 working days
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£60.99The Chronicles of Narnia - Harry Gregson-Williams - Paul Murtha
The Disney hit movie The Chronicles of Narnia tells the story of four children who travel through a magical wardrobe to the land of Narnia and learn of their destiny to free it with the guidance of a talking lion. Much of the fantastic mystical atmosphere of the movie comes from Harry Gregson-Williams fantastic soundtrack. This medley features the highlights of the original soundtrack and it is sure to be a magical success in any concert.
Estimated dispatch 5-14 working days
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£60.99
Cowboy Suite - Alan Laken
In the tripartite 'Cowboy Suite' Alan Laken takes us to the Wild West, the domain of cowboys, indians, trappers and other fortune hunters. Around 1890 the west coast of America was reached, which in effect meant the end of the Wild West. Its stories, however, survived and have been a source of inspiration for many books, films, and, of course, music. Some characters, such as Jesse James, Billy the Kid, and Buffalo Bill are forever linked to these tales. In the 'Cowboy Suite' we first hear the 'Hoedown'. At the end of an exhausting workday the labourers used to lay down their tools, among others the 'hoes' and spontaneously began to play music on the instruments which they then possessed (guitars, fiddles, and banjos) and to dance. After being jolted on the 'Wagon Trail' we reach the third part, the 'Cowboy Roundup'. In this last part it becomes clear that as a cattle driver it is imperative to stay firmly seated in the saddle. As the cattle are rounded up, i.e. driven together, spectacular things happen.
Estimated dispatch 5-14 working days
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£66.00Ballet for Band - Joseph Horovitz
Composer Joseph Horovitz will celebrate his 90th birthday in May, with 2016 already seeing a welcome retrospective of some his finest works at the RNCM Brass Band Festival in Manchester in January.It included Ballet for Band, written in 1983 at the set-work for the National Final at the Royal Albert Hall, and which has since become one his most popular major test-pieces - played on numerous occasions throughout the banding world. It is a wonderfully elegant, mischievous composition - a brass band ballet, not of programmatic intent but of fertile imagination; beautifully crafted with a delicacy of touch as light on its feet as any arabesque.The composer has admitted that he had a clear vision of the characters that inhabit his score, yet has never divulged any details - leaving the bands and listeners, as he says, "...to exercise their own imaginations rather than being influenced bymine!"
Estimated dispatch 5-14 working days
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