Results
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£76.99COLDITZ MARCH (Brass Band) - Farnon, Robert - Sparke, Philip
Acclaimed Canadian composer/arranger Robert Farnon penned this distinctive march theme for the 1970s BBC television drama Colditz, which told the story of prisoners held at Colditz Castle, Germany during World War II. Philip Sparke's extended concert version is expertly scored for band - an elegant and powerful addition to any program.
Estimated dispatch 7-14 working days
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£164.99Diamond Concerto (Euphonium Concerto No.3) (Euphonium Solo with Brass Band - Score and Parts) - Sparke, Philip
Diamond Concerto was commissioned by Musikverein Morschied from Germany - Dr. Eric Grandjean, conductor - for a special concert featuring Steven Mead as guest soloist. Together they gave the world premiere on 28th April 2012 in the town theatre of Idar-Oberstein. The commission is a highlight in the 30-year friendship between composer and soloist, which has included many mutual CD projects and concerts and, now, a concerto. Sparke had Steven Mead's special euphonium sound in his head throughout the composition process and made free use of the variety of styles which the world-renowned virtuoso has made his own during his highly successful solo career.The village of Morschied lies to the west of Frankfurt am Main in the area known as the German Road of Precious Stones, which is famous for its thriving gem industry. Because of this it was decided to give the commission a local connection by choosing the title, Diamond Concerto. Each of the three movements is named after a famous diamond:Earth Star is rather stern in mood, opening with a free fantasy for the soloist over a static chord from the band. This leads to an Allegro Moderato in minor mode where small motives are gradually repeated and developed by both band and soloist.Ocean Dream uses a varied quote from the composer's Music for Battle Creek, including a melting slow melody that was originally written with Steven Mead in mind.Blue Heart was written, at Steven Mead's suggestion, in bebop style and takes the form of a jazz waltz. The quasi-improvisatory central section features a call-and-response passage for the soloist and upper woodwinds.Duration: 16:45
Estimated dispatch 7-14 working days
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£39.99Evolution (Five States of Change) (Brass Band - Score only) - Sparke, Philip
Evolution was commissioned by Kunstfactor for the 4th section of the Dutch National Brass Band Championships (NBK) 2011. It is dedicated to Jappie Dijkstra and the Music Information Centre (MUI), Arnhem, Holland, in acknowledgement of their outstanding work in developing brass band repertoire.The composer writes:The idea for the piece came when I was reading an article about a branch of Chinese philosophy which is abbreviated as Wu Xing, which has no exact translation but can mean, for example, five elements, five phases or five states of change. It is central to all elements of Chinese thought, including science, philosophy, medicine and astrology, and in simple terms tries to create various cyclic relationships between five elements in all walks of life. An example is: Earth - Metal - Water - Wood - Fire - (Earth) etc. where (in one cycle) earth bears metal, metal changes to liquid (water) when heated, water helps trees grow, wood burns to create fire, fire produces ash (earth) and the cycle continues. I was particularly interested in the cycle of emotions: Meditation - Sorrow - Fear - Anger - Joy - (Meditation) etc. and thought this cyclic principle would provide an effective emotional journey for a piece of music. So Evolution has five equal sections which loosely characterise this emotional cycle. I have tried to make the music grow organically, with minimal repetition, and each movement evolves from the musical elements at the end of the previous one, with the opening material appearing, transformed, at the end of the piece to complete the cycle.- Philip SparkeDuration: 11:15
Estimated dispatch 7-14 working days
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£106.99Evolution (Five States of Change) (Brass Band - Score and Parts) - Sparke, Philip
Evolution was commissioned by Kunstfactor for the 4th section of the Dutch National Brass Band Championships (NBK) 2011. It is dedicated to Jappie Dijkstra and the Music Information Centre (MUI), Arnhem, Holland, in acknowledgement of their outstanding work in developing brass band repertoire.The composer writes:The idea for the piece came when I was reading an article about a branch of Chinese philosophy which is abbreviated as Wu Xing, which has no exact translation but can mean, for example, five elements, five phases or five states of change. It is central to all elements of Chinese thought, including science, philosophy, medicine and astrology, and in simple terms tries to create various cyclic relationships between five elements in all walks of life. An example is: Earth - Metal - Water - Wood - Fire - (Earth) etc. where (in one cycle) earth bears metal, metal changes to liquid (water) when heated, water helps trees grow, wood burns to create fire, fire produces ash (earth) and the cycle continues. I was particularly interested in the cycle of emotions: Meditation - Sorrow - Fear - Anger - Joy - (Meditation) etc. and thought this cyclic principle would provide an effective emotional journey for a piece of music. So Evolution has five equal sections which loosely characterise this emotional cycle. I have tried to make the music grow organically, with minimal repetition, and each movement evolves from the musical elements at the end of the previous one, with the opening material appearing, transformed, at the end of the piece to complete the cycle.- Philip SparkeDuration: 11:15
Estimated dispatch 7-14 working days
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£159.99Omaggio (Euphonium Concerto No.4) (Euphonium Solo with Brass Band - Score and Parts) - Sparke, Philip
Omaggio was commissioned by Steven Mead in celebration of his 60th birthday and in memory of his father, Rex. He gave the premiere of the brass band version in Rome in March 2022, accompanied by the Italian Brass Band conducted by Filippo Cangiamilla. The concert band premiere took place on 6th July that year as part of the 2022 Spanish International Tuba Euphonium Conference, accompanied by the Banda municipal de msica de Malaga.The concerto is set in 3 continuous movements, which are united by a recurring syncopated interval of a fifth. The first movement, Fantasia, opens with this motive accompanying an extended monologue for the soloist. This is followed by a lengthy bridge passage by the band, which is eventually joined by the soloist, who guides the music back to the opening soliloquy, leading to an energetic central section. This develops until the opening material again returns to introduce the second movement, Ballad, which revolves around an expressive melody for the soloist, interspersed by accompanied cadenzas. The third movement, The King Triumphant, pays homage to Steven's late father, Rex, and its title alludes both to Rex's name (Rex being Latin for king) as well as his love of Eric Ball's Salvationist masterpiece, The Kingdom Triumphant. The finale is an energetic tour-de-force featuring an acrobatic 6/8 melody, which is interrupted twice by the magnificent hymn tune, Helmsley, which Ball uses so effectively in The Kingdom Triumphant. A galloping coda brings the work to a close.
Estimated dispatch 7-14 working days
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£69.99Sarabande and Polka (from Solitaire) (Brass Band - Score and Parts) - Arnold, Malcolm - Sparke, Philip
In 1956 Sir Kenneth MacMillan created a one-act ballet for the Sadler's Wells Theatre Ballet, London. He selected the music from the two sets of English Dances which Sir Malcolm Arnold had written in 1950 and 1951 to great acclaim. The composer wrote two new dances, a Sarabande and a Polka, especially for the ballet, which was premiered at Sadler's Wells Theatre in June 1956. The two new dances have taken on a life of their own in the concert hall and are typical Arnold: the Sarabande contains one of his most memorable melodies and the Polka shows him at his quirky, tongue-in-cheek best. Duration: 5.30
Estimated dispatch 7-14 working days
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£94.99October (Brass Band - Score and Parts) - Whitacre, Eric - Sparke, Philip
The continuing popularity of Eric Whitacre's dramatic and evocative music is evident in concert programming everywhere, with his symphonic, choral and operatic works. October is arguably his most notable symphonic work, now adapted in this stunning version for brass band.
Estimated dispatch 7-14 working days
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£134.99Sinfonietta: The Town Beneath the Cliff (Brass Band - Score and Parts) - Sparke, Philip
Sinfonietta: The Town Beneath the Cliff was commissioned by Holmestrand Ungdomskorps from Vestfold in Norway. The work is in four movements: a spectacular fanfare followed by a moto perpetuo-like toccata. The third movement Hymn is a beautiful piece of music allowing the band to show its musicality and sound. The last movement Scherzo Finale opens with a short phrase from Holmestrand's own town song, Holmestrandsangen, which comes again in full at the end of the piece, accompanied by a florid passage based on the opening theme.Duration: 13.45
Estimated dispatch 7-14 working days
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£59.99Salute to the Victor (Brass Band - Score and Parts) - Sparke, Philip
Salute to the Victor is in traditional march form and contains, as a tribute to Victor Grieve who was a devotee of English music (in particular that of Sir Edward Elgar), a short quote from Elgar's Sea Pictures in the trio. Salute to the Victor was commissioned by Helen, Alex and James Grieve for the Golden Kangaroos (Hornsby Concert Band) from Sydney, Australia, in memory of their parents, Louise and Victor Grieve, Founder and Director. Duration: 4.00
Estimated dispatch 7-14 working days
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£59.99Winter Wonderland (Brass Band - Score and Parts) - Bernard & Smith - Sparke, Philip
This enduringly popular seasonal song has long been a Christmas favourite, even though the lyrics don't mention 'Christmas' at all. The words were by Dick Smith (1901-1935) and the music by Felix Bernard (1897-1944). The inspiration was reportedly a visit by Smith to Honesdale's (his hometown) Central Park when it was covered in snow. The first recording was made by Richard Himber's Ritz-Carlton Orchestra in 1934. The same year Guy Lombardo and his band, The Royal Canadians, took the song to number 2 in the US Billboard Chart, where it stayed for 9 weeks. It has since been recorded by over 150 artists, the most successful versions being by Perry Como and the Andrews Sisters, both released in 1946.Duration: 4.00
Estimated dispatch 7-14 working days
