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£57.95Symphony in Two Movements (Brass Band - Score only) - Gregson, Edward
Selected as the Championship Section test piece for the National Brass Band Championships of Great Britain 2025This work was jointly commissioned by the National Youth Brass Band of Great Britain (NYBBGB) and the National Youth Brass Band of Wales (NYBBW), the latter with funding from T Cerdd (Music Centre Wales), to celebrate their 60th and 30th anniversaries respectively. The first performances were given at Cadogan Hall, London, in April 2012, by the NYBBGB, conducted by Bramwell Tovey; and at the Great Hall, Aberystwyth University, in July 2012, by the NYBBW, conducted by Nicholas Childs.When I was approached about a joint commission to write a new work to celebrate the anniversaries of these two outstanding youth bands I was delighted to accept, and decided to respond by writing a work apposite for the magnitude of these special occasions, namely a 'symphony for brass'.Through a long journey of writing music for brass band, which commenced with Connotations (1977), and continued with Dances and Arias (1984), Of Men and Mountains (1991), The Trumpets of the Angels (2000) and Rococo Variations (2008), I arrived at what I regard as the most important work of the cycle to date, combining as it does serious musical intent with considerable technical demands. It is perhaps my most abstract work for brass band, avoiding any programmatic content.The symphony lasts for some 19 minutes and is structured in two linked movements. The form is based on that used by Beethoven in his final piano sonata (Op.111), which is in two movements only: a compact sonata-form allegro, followed by a more expansive theme and four variations. Prokofiev also adopted this model in his 2nd Symphony of 1925.The opening Toccata of this Symphony is highly dramatic but compact, whilst still retaining the 'traditional' structural elements of exposition, development and recapitulation; indeed, it also has the 'traditional' element of a contrasting second subject - a gentle, lyrical modal melody first heard on solo cornets.In contrast, the longer and more substantial second movement Variations is built around a theme and four variations. The slowly unfolding chorale-like theme accumulates both added note harmony and increasing instrumentation, whilst the four variations which follow are by turn mercurial (fast, starting with all the instruments muted), march-like (menacing, with short rhythmic articulations underpinning an extended atonal melody), serene (a series of 'romances' for solo instruments alongside echoes of the chorale) with an emerging theme eventually bursting into a climax of passionate intent; whilst the final variation is a dynamic scherzo (concertante-like in its series of rapid-fire solos, duets, trios and quartets) with the music gradually incorporating elements of the main ideas from the first movement, thus acting as a recapitulation for the whole work. It reaches its peroration with a return to the very opening of the symphony, now in the 'home' tonality of F, and thus creating a truly symphonic dimension to the music.Most of the melodic material of the symphony is derived from the opening eleven-note 'row', which contains various intervallic sets, and although the work is not serially conceived it does use some typical quasi-serial procedures, such as canons, inversions, and retrogrades. The symphony uses somewhat limited percussion, in line with a 'classical' approach to the sound world of the brass band, alongside a use of multi-divisi instrumentation, whereby each player has an individual part rather than the traditional doubling within certain sections of the band.- Edward GregsonDuration: 19.00
Estimated dispatch 7-14 working days
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£104.99Lakeland Variations (Brass Band - Score and Parts) - Sparke, Philip
Composer Philip Sparke used the region of Seeland, located in the north-west part of Switzerland, with its three lakes (Morat, Neuchatel and Bienne) as the starting point for his Lakeland Variations. The work comprises an introduction and five variations based on motifs contained in the opening bars. The three lakes are represented by the three notes of the opening timpani solo, the intervals of which, a quarter and a second (together with a cornet figure), form the basis of all the following variations.Duration: 10:30
Estimated dispatch 7-14 working days
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£57.00A Glorious Fanfare (Brass Band - Score and Parts) - Cesarini, Franco
Franco Cesarini was commissioned to write A Glorious Fanfare by the Band Association of the Zug Canton in Switzerland (Zuger Blasmusikverband), to celebrate the centenary of the Association (1922-2022). The composition is the third in a trilogy of scintillating concert opening pieces (which make up opus 38), together with A Triumphant Fanfare and A Joyful Fanfare. A majestic fanfare entrusted to the trumpets introduces the piece. Subsequently a cantabile variant of the same theme is presented leading to a finale with rich and impressive sounds. An ideal opening piece that will delight your audience! Duration: 3.30
Estimated dispatch 7-14 working days
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£49.95Mountain Day (Brass Band - Score and Parts) - Himes, William
Mountain Day was inspired by the composer's firsthand experiences walking, hiking, biking and skiing the majestic Rocky Mountains of Colorado, USA.The soaring and noble opening theme is in fact a musical representation of what a mountain silhouette might look like when traced on a musical staff. This overture features four continuous sections with virtually all of the themes having come to the composer's mind while in the Colorado Rockies:dawn - a slow unfolding of sun on the mountainsascent - a joyful and energetic hiking tunesummit vista - an expanded version of the opening themedescent - a lyrical walking tune, bursting with fulfilment and the love of lifeThis work was commissioned in 2014 by the Western State Colorado University - Colorado Brass Band for their 40th anniversary in honour of Mr. John Kincaid, conductor emeritus, mentor and friend.
Estimated dispatch 7-14 working days
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£99.99Sparkling Brass (Brass Band - Score and Parts) - Sparke, Philip
Sparkling Brass was commissioned by Osaka Concert Brass, one of Japan's top brass bands, and premiered by them on 27th December 2018 during a concert which celebrated their 10th Anniversary. The work opens in lively mood with fanfare-style figures from the lower band which are answered by the cornets. This interplay intensifies until the mood calms suddenly to introduce a chorale which leads to a duet-cadenza for cornet and euphonium. The rhythmic mood of the opening soon returns and leads to the main theme of the work, a modal caccia which features various section of the band. A short bridge passage leads to a change of key and a new cantabile theme which is introduced by euphoniums and baritone. This is taken up by the full band after another change of key and leads back to the caccia theme. A transformed version of the opening fanfare returns to close the work.Duration: 5.30
Estimated dispatch 7-14 working days
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£79.99A Midwest Fanfare (Brass Band - Score and Parts) - Sparke, Philip
A Midwest Fanfare was commissioned by the Brass Band of Battle Creek and premiered by them during their appearance at the Midwest Clinic in Chicago on 20th December 2017 where this fanfare was the opening piece of the entire event. This piece is designed to be played with the cornets split into two teams either side of the band. It opens with the two groups answering each other antiphonally over a repeated figure in the lower band. A calmer central section introduces a euphonium solo which is then taken up by the whole ensemble. This leads back to a repeat of the opening fanfares over a rhythmic accompaniment and a short coda which brings the work to a close.Duration: 4.00
Estimated dispatch 7-14 working days
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£49.60Plymouth Sound (Brass Band - Score and Parts) - Mills, Nic
The concept of the work was to capture the beauty of the natural bay protecting the harbour at Plymouth. The work is based on two themes. The first being a lyrical melody to represent the beauty of the Sound and a march-like theme showing the military heritage the city has, through the armed forces based there. The opening fanfare immediately grabs the attention of the audience, and settles into a lyrical melody with the flutes and clarinets emulating the sea and the rolling of the waves. This jubilant piece turns to emulate a storm at sea. Then it moves into the march theme, which takes the main form for the second half of the piece, moving into a fanfare-like statement (recapitulation of the opening fanfare) to complete the piece. Overall, this is a fun work to play, with all sections of the band being tested and would be a great opener or finisher piece.Duration: 5.15
Estimated dispatch 7-14 working days
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£115.00Sinfonietta No.1 (Brass Band - Score and Parts) - De Meij, Johan
Sinfonietta No.1, written for brass band, was commissioned by the Dutch National Championships 2011 in Groningen. It also served as the test piece for the Swiss National Championships 2011 in Montreux, Switzerland. Unlike most of Johan de Meij's compositions, Sinfonietta No.1 is an abstract, non-programmatic work. It consists of three movements, in which the thematic material of the opening measures, an upward fifth jump, returns in various shapes and forms throughout the piece. The slow middle section features solo passages by cello, English horn and bassoon, all starting with the same fifth jump. The final movement presents an Elgar-like march theme, interspersed with quotes from the second movement, and ending with the opening theme of movement I.Duration: 15.00
Estimated dispatch 7-14 working days
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£87.99Centennial Salute (Brass Band - Score and Parts) - Sparke, Philip
Just based on its title, this piece has to be celebratory and up-beat, which it is! It opens with a stately fanfare, first played on the low brass before the entire band joins in. This gives way to a contrasting lyrical theme which develops until it joins up with the fanfare to complete the opening section. A lively and heavily syncopated vivo follows, cast as a traditional march, complete with a 'bass strain' and trio. After the original march theme returns, a climax leads back to a reprise of the majestic opening, which brings the piece to an appropriately triumphant close.Duration: 7:30
Estimated dispatch 7-14 working days
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£59.99Cavatina for Cornet (Cornet Solo with Brass Band - Score and Parts) - Sparke, Philip
In this solo work - a commission for an 18th birthday present - the opening mood of a brooding modal blues gives way momentarily to a more optimistic central section. Following an emotional climax and reflective cadenza, the opening material returns, but now tying in with the central section, and the piece finally ends in a more positive mood.Duration: 4:45
Estimated dispatch 7-14 working days
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