Results
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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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£94.9920,000 Leagues under the Sea - Philip Harper
Frenchman Jules Verne was a pioneer in science fiction during the late 19th Century, penning some classic stories such as Journey to the Centre of the Earth and Around the World in 80 Days - both of which have already been the subject of brass band test-pieces. It was therefore natural for me to choose Verne's 1869 watery magnum opus as the subject for this piece to which there are five sections, as well as an introduction and a finale.I. THE NAUTILUS. After a mysterious introduction we are introduced to The Nautilus - a fantastical submarine.II. THE CORAL KINGDOM. We visit awe-inspiring underwater coral formations.III. SQUID ATTACK. The Nautilus is attacked by a school of giant squid, or 'devilfish'.IV. CAPTAIN NEMO. Captain Nemo is a loner and an eccentric. Some say he is a madman. Soloists of the band help to uncover the character of this enigmatic but powerful figure.V. MAELSTROM. The Nautilus is dragged into the ocean's deadliest whirlpool but Captain Nemo lives to fight another day.
Estimated dispatch 5-14 working days
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£69.99The Pioneers - Philip Sparke
In The Pioneers Philip Sparke salutes the bicentenary of an expedition by two all time American heroes - Meriwether Lewis and William Clark. They were commissioned by US President Thomas Jefferson to find the headwaters of the Missouri and a route to the Pacific following the Louisiana Purchase, which doubled the size of the USA. They set out as the 'Corps of Discovery' from Louisville, Kentucky, in May 1804 and not only did they succeed in reaching the Pacific through hostile territory, but also found their way back - in 3 years! The piece is not descriptive of the journey but gives the composer the opportunity to celebrate the 200th anniversary of this amazing feat. Add atouch of the wild-west to any concert with this exciting work.
Estimated dispatch 5-14 working days
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£54.95The Journal of Phileas Fogg - Peter Graham
Commissioned in 2012 by Dr Nicholas Childs for the National Childrens Brass Band of Great Britain, Peter Graham has taken elements of Jules Vernes epic work, Around the World in Eighty Days, as the outline for a series of adventures recorded inan imaginary diary by the hero of the story, Phileas Fogg. The ensuing journey takes Phileas by boat and train to Paris (where he passes the Moulin Rouge), Russia (where he is chased by Cossacks), Vienna (at night), Spain (where he is a spectator ata bull fight) and a final circumnavigation by sea (when foreign lands are evoked), before he arrives back in London with rich memories of his trip.
Estimated dispatch 5-14 working days
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£54.99The Irish Dancemaster - William Vean
During the eighteenth century a person called 'the Dance Master' made his appearance in Ireland. He was a travelling dance-teacher, who moved from one village to another to teach the people there how to dance. They were often flamboyant personalities, gorgeously dressed and holding a staff in one hand. In order to teach their pupils the difference between their right and left leg, the dance master used to tie a small bunch of straw or hay to their leg and then would order them to either lift their 'hay-leg' or their 'straw-leg'. The dancing masters used to stay in one particular village for about six weeks (if they were not claimed by a neighbouringvillage), after which they continued their journey. Having a famous dance master gave a village a certain distinction and did not seldom lead to boasting and pride. Also on account of the popularity of Celtic music in general at the moment, William Vean was inspired to writing 'The Irish Dance Master'. He 'teaches' you two dances, the Reel and the Jig. In between these two dances there is a short breathing space, during which a traditional Irish rhythm can be enjoyed.
Estimated dispatch 5-14 working days
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£169.99Explorers on the Moon - Paul Raphael
Composed by Paul Raphael, Explorers on the Moon, the sequel to his 2017 work Destination Moon, was composed in 2019 to commemorate the 50th anniversary of the 1969 Moon Landings. It is inspired by the Belgian author Herge and his most famous creation, Tintin. The music uses Herge's story from 1950 almost twenty years prior to the first ever moon landing - following Tintin and his fellow adventurers as they become the first humans on the Moon. This fantastic piece is split into three parts, titled 'Space', 'Nightmare Land' and 'The Journey Home' and is one of the most spectacular contest pieces in recent years.
Estimated dispatch 5-14 working days
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£89.95
Journey To The Centre Of The Earth - Peter Graham
Estimated dispatch 5-14 working days
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£117.00Epic Journey to Torshavn - Andrew Pearce
Epic Journey to Torshavne is an impressive concert work, commissioned by Gouden Spiker Festival 2016. The journey begins At Sea as trombones announce first sighting of the island. A stirring theme in basses creates mystery and anticipation as the island gradually appears. A lively theme in 3/2 introduces Folk Dance & Celebration conjuring dramatic images of early settlers, followed by a calmer rendition entitled People of Torshavn. A brass chorale segues into Finale with a fast reprise and brass chords underscore the splendour of the island.
Estimated dispatch 10-14 working days
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£25.00...and the winter moon rises
Description...and the winter moon riseswas inspired by a winter's evening car journey across the Pennines from Manchester to Huddersfield, through the brass band heartland of Saddleworth. There was recent snow on the ground, and the sun had just set. A bright clear moon was rising into a sky coloured with orange from the setting sun, and the moonlight made all the snow and ice sparkle.The work is the fourth movement of a larger 5 movement suite entitled "North!", but can be (and has been) performed in isolation. This work was a finalist in the 2012 Ohio Brass Arts Festival composition competition.Performance NotesThe percussion parts should be playable by three players; the "arco" parts of the vibraphone parts should be played by drawing a cello or double bass bow up the side of the bar. Motors should be left off throughout.Three of the brass players are asked to double on triangles for the first part of the piece; ideally these should be of different sizes giving clearly different sounds. The easiest solution is to tie a triangle to the music stand, rather than try to hold it and then swap instruments later in the piece.Click below to watch a playback preview of the score!
Estimated dispatch 7-14 working days
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£35.00
The Pohutukawa Stands - Peter Meechan
The earthquake that hit Christchurch in February 2011 took the lives of 181 people. Being asked to write this work in their memory was an honour, but I didnat want it to simply be performed as a memorial. I wanted to compose a work that conveyed the sadness and grief for those lost - a work of remembrance - but also a piece of music that represented peace, hope and strength.The title and dedication come direct from the commissioners of the work, Woolston Brass Band. The Pohutukawa Trees stay standing and secure, defiant of the earthquake, in Christchurchas aGarden Citya, and the Pohutukawa tree also has special significance beyond their physical appearance.According to Maori mythology, the spirits of the dead travel to Cape Reinga on their journey to the afterlife to leap off the headland and climb the roots of the 800 year old Pohutukawa tree and descend to the underworld to return to their traditional homeland of Hawaiiki-a-nui, using the Te Ara Wairua, the 'Spirits' pathway'.The Pohutukawa Stands is dedicated to the lives lost in the Christchurch earthquake.
Estimated dispatch 12-14 working days
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