Results
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£42.00Confluence (Parts only) - William HImes
Confluence was commissioned by the River City Brass Band for a series of concerts entitles Always a River, dedicated to the musical heritage of the American states linked by the Ohio River: Pennsylvania, Ohio, West Virginia, Kentucky, and Illinois (the state where William Himes resides). The title relates to the fact that the Ohio River is created by the confluence of two rivers - the Allegheny and the Monongahela - at Pittsburgh, the home of the River City Brass Band conducted at the time of writing by Robert Bernat.
Estimated dispatch 7-9 working days
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£42.00Hymn at Sunrise (Score only) - Ray Steadman-Allen
The idea for this work was prompted by a poem - Hymn Before Sunrise - which describes the majesty of a mountain in darkness, the sounds of a nearby waterfall and so on. Nothing came of the exposure to these pictures except for general thoughts about the dawn of day and a series of movements expressing a personal response to the wonder of creation in an imaginary moment in time. The movement titles, which were added later, are intended to underline a prevailing sense of worship, wonder and exaltation. The music is pure, not pictoral, though listeners may conjure their own images. An actual hymn - Tallis' Cannon - is incorporated. There are five movements: 1. Thanksgiving: A short prelude in two parts. First a brief passage of 'dawn music' before things become more vigorous: fanfare-like music ushers in the trombone section's presentation of the Tallis tune. A broad band version concludes the movement. 2. De Profundis: A slow movement shot through with anxious questionings featuring flugel and trombone. The mood lightens a little in the centre where the soprano cornet is featured and the movement ends serenely. 3. Celebration is characterised by rhythmic drive, this is buoyant with plenty of incident pointed up by the percussion. 4. Invocation: Melodic in nature and sober in mood, the first section is a series of short solos mingled with chorale-like statements. Central to the movement is a chorale-prelude style presentation of the Tallis tune. The third section reintroduces the earlier solo music by the full ensemble. Dissolving, the music enters the last movement without a break. 5. Paean: Marked allegro con spirito there is, quite rightly, a fair amount of fun in the rejoicing. Snatches of Tallis are heard, then comes a gentle passage with a cornet solo leading to fanfare music and recapitulation. Two recitatives are succeeded by a coda which brings the work to a sonorous and exultant conclusion.
Estimated dispatch 7-9 working days
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£52.00Hymn at Sunrise (Parts only) - Ray Steadman-Allen
The idea for this work was prompted by a poem - Hymn Before Sunrise - which describes the majesty of a mountain in darkness, the sounds of a nearby waterfall and so on. Nothing came of the exposure to these pictures except for general thoughts about the dawn of day and a series of movements expressing a personal response to the wonder of creation in an imaginary moment in time. The movement titles, which were added later, are intended to underline a prevailing sense of worship, wonder and exaltation. The music is pure, not pictoral, though listeners may conjure their own images. An actual hymn - Tallis' Cannon - is incorporated. There are five movements: 1. Thanksgiving: A short prelude in two parts. First a brief passage of 'dawn music' before things become more vigorous: fanfare-like music ushers in the trombone section's presentation of the Tallis tune. A broad band version concludes the movement. 2. De Profundis: A slow movement shot through with anxious questionings featuring flugel and trombone. The mood lightens a little in the centre where the soprano cornet is featured and the movement ends serenely. 3. Celebration is characterised by rhythmic drive, this is buoyant with plenty of incident pointed up by the percussion. 4. Invocation: Melodic in nature and sober in mood, the first section is a series of short solos mingled with chorale-like statements. Central to the movement is a chorale-prelude style presentation of the Tallis tune. The third section reintroduces the earlier solo music by the full ensemble. Dissolving, the music enters the last movement without a break. 5. Paean: Marked allegro con spirito there is, quite rightly, a fair amount of fun in the rejoicing. Snatches of Tallis are heard, then comes a gentle passage with a cornet solo leading to fanfare music and recapitulation. Two recitatives are succeeded by a coda which brings the work to a sonorous and exultant conclusion.
Estimated dispatch 7-9 working days
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£42.00Trittico (Score only) - James Curnow
Trittico was commissioned by the Swiss Brass Band Association for their national championships in 1988. A trittico is a tripych or group of three paintings or musical compositions based on a common theme and presented or performed together. The present work is a set of three extended variations on the American shaped-note hymn Consolation. The work opens in grand style with motives based on intervals of the hymn tune. The opening motif, and smaller fragments of it reappear throughout the piece and serve as an underlying element alongside the theme itself. The first variation is essentially a scherzo which echoes the minor mood of the theme. The hemiolic opposition of compound and duple time is used to good effect and, again, the main motif is never far away. This is music with energy and forward movement. The second variation gives the soloists a chance to shine. The mood is tranquil, yet there is always some activity and the musical material pre-echoes the third variation. The third variation is another scherzo-like section, the main theme accompanied by a rhythmic ostinato. Toward the conclusion there is a short aeleatoric passage - a variation within a variation allowing half the band to make their own variaitions in a cachophony of sound. An energetic coda draws together several elements to round off a work brim full of drive, energy, and self-propelled enthusiasm. Duration: 13:30
Estimated dispatch 7-9 working days
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£52.00Trittico (Parts only) - James Curnow
Trittico was commissioned by the Swiss Brass Band Association for their national championships in 1988. A trittico is a tripych or group of three paintings or musical compositions based on a common theme and presented or performed together. The present work is a set of three extended variations on the American shaped-note hymn Consolation. The work opens in grand style with motives based on intervals of the hymn tune. The opening motif, and smaller fragments of it reappear throughout the piece and serve as an underlying element alongside the theme itself. The first variation is essentially a scherzo which echoes the minor mood of the theme. The hemiolic opposition of compound and duple time is used to good effect and, again, the main motif is never far away. This is music with energy and forward movement. The second variation gives the soloists a chance to shine. The mood is tranquil, yet there is always some activity and the musical material pre-echoes the third variation. The third variation is another scherzo-like section, the main theme accompanied by a rhythmic ostinato. Toward the conclusion there is a short aeleatoric passage - a variation within a variation allowing half the band to make their own variaitions in a cachophony of sound. An energetic coda draws together several elements to round off a work brim full of drive, energy, and self-propelled enthusiasm. Duration: 13:30
Estimated dispatch 7-9 working days
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£42.00Unholy Sonnets (Score only) - Philip Wilby
Pieces for voice and brass band are rare, so Unholy Sonnets, with provocative words by Mark Jarman, occupies an unusual place in the repertory. The four movements are: 'Time to admit my altar is a desk', 'Two forces rule the Universe', 'There was a pious man', and 'If God survives us, will His kingdom come?' Also available with piano.
Estimated dispatch 7-9 working days
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£52.00Unholy Sonnets (Parts only) - Philip WIlby
Pieces for voice and brass band are rare, so Unholy Sonnets, with provocative words by Mark Jarman, occupies an unusual place in the repertory. The four movements are: 'Time to admit my altar is a desk', 'Two forces rule the Universe', 'There was a pious man', and 'If God survives us, will His kingdom come?' Also available with piano.
Estimated dispatch 7-9 working days
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£49.95Malcolm Arnold Variations (Score Only)
MALCOLM ARNOLD VARIATIONS was commissioned by Philip Biggs and Richard Franklin for the 20th All England Masters International Brass Band Championship held in the Corn Exchange, Cambridge on 25 May 2008. The work is dedicated to Anthony Day, long time carer of Sir Malcolm Arnold in his final years. I first met Malcolm and Anthony in 1990 and remained in constant touch until Malcolm's passing in 2006. Anthony, of course, remains a friend and plays his own role subliminally in this piece. The work is not based on any of Malcolm Arnold's own themes, rather it is a portrait of him (and by association Anthony Day) through my eyes and as a result of my friendship with both parties over some 18 years. If there is any theme as such it is the personalities of the players, the protagonist and his carer placed together by my own efforts coloured and influenced by aspects of Arnold's style and technique without recourse to direct quotation but through allusion and parody. It is of course designed as a brass band test piece but in my eyes is first and foremost a musical challenge. The pyrotechnical elements are there but always secondary to the musical thrust of the work's structure. I have long beforehand submerged myself in Malcolm Arnold's music and ultimately delivered this tribute. Music Directors will be advised to acquaint themselves with the composer's personal music, particularly the film scores, symphonies, concertos and ballets: the solutions towards a successful interpretation of my piece are all in there - and YES, I want, and sanction, this piece to be interpreted, and therein lies the challenge for those of you 'up front'! The challenge for players is that of virtuosity, ensemble and careful attention to where they are individually in relation to their colleagues - a question of balance, taste and insight. With regard to tempi, as is my usual custom, I have indicated all metronome marks with the prefix circa. I would suggest that the fast music is played at these tempos but that the more rubato moments can be allowed some freedom in expression and fluidity of line. With regard to the type of mutes to be employed - this decision I leave to the discretion of players and conductors. Structurally the work is cast as an Introduction, 20 Variations and a Finale. Some variations are self contained, others run into each other as sequences in the same tempo. In other variations, segments are repeated and developed. I could describe the overall concept as a miniature ballet or a condensed film score - there is much drama and character and the repeated elements assist this in driving the action forward. I have deliberately avoided the more extremely dark qualities of Malcolm's own music in this, my celebration of this master-composer, as I have always viewed (and evidenced by my previous Masters scores Tristan Encounters and Chivalry) that the Cambridge contest is a 'sunshine- affair' and firmly believe that Malcolm Arnold would have had it no other way too!
Estimated dispatch 7-14 working days
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£44.95Partita (Score Only)
Partita was written in 1989 to a commission from Eikanger/Bjrsvik Musikklag (Norway) who were European Champions at the time.There are three movements.1 The first movement is almost a miniature concerto for band. It opens with a relentless quaver passage in the basses, which builds until the whole band is involved. Horns and baritones are first to take centre-stage in close harmony and the euphoniums and basses follow them. These forces combine to introduce the cornets that have a 10-part fanfare to themselves before the trombones interrupt. The opening quaver figure returns, somewhat ominously, and, after the full band recalls previous material, brings the movement to a close.2. Starts with a cornet solo over a pulsating accompaniment after which the band builds to a noble tune on the trombones. The full band takes over and brings back the opening cornet tune with which the soloist, with the aid of a euphonium counter-melody, quietly ends the movement, leading directly into:3. A sparkling vivo, which opens with the fanfare-like figures throughout the band until a solo cornet, emerges with an acrobatic tune. The whole band takes this up until horns; baritones and trombones introduce an energetic second subject, which leads to a full band climax in the form of a jubilant chorale. This died away to reintroduce the opening fanfare against a new theme from the trombones, which eventually leads back to a recapitulation. We are then thrown headlong into a 12/8 presto, which hurtles to a coda, which recalls the opening themes.
Estimated dispatch 7-14 working days
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£18.00Positively Pittsburgh (Score Only)
Composed for James Gourlay and the River City Brass Band, this piece has a driving energy in a quick compound time. There is a contrasting middle section, but valves will need to be well-oiled for this one ' exciting stuff!
Estimated dispatch 7-14 working days