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£74.99Olympus - Philip Harper
Selected as the test-piece for the 3rd Section Regional contests of the National Brass Band Championships 2012The music begins with a depiction of the exciting Opening Ceremony where noisy fanfares and sudden swells add to the cosmopolitan flag-waving clamour. Without a break the music leads to The Chariot Race, a fast compound-time gallop withthundering hooves in the basses and percussion, and a heroic melody introduced by the tenor horns. Chariot racing was the main equestrian event in the Ancient Greek Games, which were founded in memory of King Oenomaus. In the Greek legend he suffereddefeat in a chariot race to his son-in-law and Zeus' grandson, Pelops, but much of the music is bitter-sweet to symbolise the fact that Pelops had to cheat to win drawing parallels with some of the issues still facing modern-day athletics. A slow, mystical passage follows, describing The Temple of Zeus at Olympia. The statue of Zeus, who was honoured throughout the Ancient Games' history, was housed inside the temple and was one of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World. Themusic depicts this period of the dawn of one of mankind's most ancient civilisations and there is a series of solo passages above a drone. The next section is called The Olympic Flame and a broad and lyrical anthem-like melody develops slowly in the euphoniums, which gradually ascends until the horns can take it over before passing upwards again to the cornets (Higher). The musicbursts into bright life at the lighting of the flame and the regular rhythmic pattern which has been established goes through an accelerando (Faster). The final section is called The Olympic Truce and aims to capture the cooperative spirit of the ancient practice of ending wars for the duration of the games. The anthem-like melody makes an affirmatory return (Stronger) and the work ends asit began with a blaze of colour and a real sense of optimism and global celebration. "Citius, Altius, Fortius" (Faster, Higher, Stonger)NOTES ON PERFORMANCEPercussion requirements: 1 to 3 players (3 Timpani, Snare Drum, Tenor Drum, Cymbals, Glockenspiel, Triangle)
Estimated dispatch 5-14 working days
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£74.99Kingdom of Dragons - Philip Harper
The 'Kingdom of Dragons' is Gwent in South Wales, known in ancient times as the Kingdom of Gwent, and more recently home to the Newport Gwent Dragons Rugby Union team. This piece was commissioned by the Gwent Music Service with additionalfunding from Ty Cerdd - Music Centre Wales to celebrate the 50th anniversary in 2010 of the formation of the Gwent Youth Brass Band. Although the music is continuous, it is divided into four distinct sections, each one representing one of theunitary authorities which make up the County of Gwent. I. Monmouthshire, which has a large number of ancient castlesII. Blaenau Gwent, an historic area of iron and coal miningIII. Torfaen, where Pontypool Park is a notablelandmarkIV. Newport, the largest city in the region. The music begins with a two-bar fanfare, which sets out all the thematic material of the piece. The mood of pageantry that follows describes some of the ancient castles inMonmouthshire, with rolling tenor drums and fanfaring cornets. After a majestic climax the music subsides and quite literally descends into the coal mines of Blaenau Gwent. The percussion provides effects that suggest industrial machineryclanking into life, and the music accelerates to become a perilous white-knuckle ride on the underground railroad. There is a brief respite as a miner's work-song is introduced and, after a protracted build-up, this is restated at fortissimo beforethe music comes crashing to an inglorious close, much like the UK's mining industry itself. The middle sonorities of the band portray the tranquillity of Pontypool Park, a place of great natural beauty. Brief cadenzas for cornet and euphoniumlead to a full band reprise of the pastoral mood. At the end of this section we find ourselves at the top of the park's 'Folly Tower' from which the distant castle turrets of Monmouthshire are visible. Pontypool RFC was one of eleven clubs inthe first Welsh league in 1881 and a brief but bruising musical portrayal of the formidable Pontypool front-row, the 'Viet Gwent' leads into the work's final section. This portrays Newport, a symbol for progress and optimism for the future, idealsshared by the Gwent Youth Band itself. The music is a vigorous fugue which advances through various keys and episodes before the final triumphant augmented entry which brings the work to a magnificent conclusion. NOTES ONPERFORMANCEPercussion requirements: (3 players) Timpani, 2 Tenor Drums, 2 Tom toms, Snare Drum (sticks and brushes required), Bass Drum, Clash Cymbals, Suspended Cymbal, Hi-hat, Sizzle Cymbal, Tambourine, Metal block with metalbeater (eg hammer), Rattle (eg football rattle), Glockenspiel, Xylophone
Estimated dispatch 5-14 working days
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£67.50Columbus - Thierry Deleruyelle
Columbus is a brilliant and dynamic overture for brass band, with a soft and melodious central passage. In addition to the many American towns that hold the name, Columbus is a European space laboratory that is part of the International Space Station. Launched in 2008 by the American space shuttle Atlantis, it makes it possible to carry out continuous scientific experiments in fundamental physics, life sciences, fluid physics, etc. Several hundred experiments take place within Columbus every year. Commissioned by the Brass Band Bourgueillois, this piece celebrates the 10th anniversary of the launch of the band at the instigation of its conductor, Michael Auclert. The ensemble brings together musicians from the various wind bands of the Bourgueillois region and beyond. Thus, just like the space laboratory that inspired this work, the Brass Band Bourgueillois also serves as a laboratory, albeit a musical one, within a territory that is discovering this ensemble and its original repertoire.
Estimated dispatch 5-14 working days
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£84.99Pulse - Thomas Doss
Pulse is a solo work for euphonium and brass band. As the title suggests, this piece is very rhythmic in nature. Pulse represents life and vitality, which also characterises the work. The tempo remains virtually constant throughout the piece. Even during the cadenza, played by the euphonium, the pulse of the timpani continues to beat steadily. Even though the piece stays at a constant tempo, it can be performed at half speed.
Estimated dispatch 5-14 working days
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£174.99The Turing Test - Simon Dobson
Alan Turing is considered the father of modern computational science and much, if not all, of our modern computer technology and the connectivity that we now take for granted is born of the work of this one great, but troubled man. His famous test was designed to prove whether artificial intelligence (AI) could successfully imitate human thought. The single movement of The Turing Test is essentially non-programmatic, but it does seek to show something of the emotion and colour of Turing's life in its different sections. The composer employs bi-tonality and complex rhythms to show opposing worlds colliding. At the end of each test, we must decide: has true AI beenborn?
Estimated dispatch 5-14 working days
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£115.60Tuba Tornado - Hans Offerdal
This piece explores the life span of a tornado and which instrument is better suited for that than just the tuba? The piece has three movements: I - Impatient Storm Cell II - Cumulus Clouds III - Multiple Vortex Tornado This piece presents challenges in dynamics and articulation, as well as in the interplay with the soloist. The piece is based on a scale of seven pitches (as 'Tornado' has seven letters) and is notated as a concert Eb major scale with three accidentals. Only these seven notes are played throughout the piece. Playing time appx. 10 minutes.
Estimated dispatch 5-14 working days
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£76.99
Haexdonck - Guido De Ranter
This work was commissioned by the municipality of Kapelle-op-den-Bos on the occasion of the 150th anniversary of canon Jaak Muyldermans. Haexdonck is the old spelling of the present day region of "Oxdonk" where Jaak Muyldermans lived. In this three-part work the composer describes the different human aspects of canon Muyldermans' rich life. The first part, slow and dreamy, describes the writer/poet. The second dissonant part with much percussion describes his time as an army chaplain during the Great War. The third hymn-like part depicts his time as a priest. This work by Guido De Ranter, a newcomer to composition,is suitable for competitions or concerts.
Estimated dispatch 5-14 working days
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£60.99
The Challenger - Bertrand Moren
As the title suggests, this piece would be a good venture for those who like to tackle challenges - whether they are life's grand challenges or somewhat simpler tasks such as performing this sonorous, impressive and demanding march. The technical and rhythmical effects contribute to this bravura work which will keep both the audience and the musicians spellbound.
Estimated dispatch 5-14 working days
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£134.99Dreams - Bertrand Moren
This composition by Bertrand Moren presents various dreams which could have an effect on a dreamer's life. Its very high level of difficulty provides a great challenge for the conductor and musicians. You will be taken through a living Nightmare, with spine-chilling passages as dissonant chords alternate with aggressive percussion. Daydream is a patchwork of solos with all the brass band soloists playing serene and soft melodic lines with a virtuosic trombone cadenza. Finally, Visions portrays visions of insanity reflected by violent and discordant descending motifs leading to visions of joy presented in a sparkling and cheerful finale.
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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