Results
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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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£94.99St James's - A New Beginning - Philip Harper
St James's - A New Beginning commemorates 300 years since the death of English architect Sir Christopher Wren who redesigned and rebuilt London after the Great Fire in 1666. It was used as the test-piece for the National Brass Band Championships of Great Britain (1st Section) in 2023.The piece is in four parts:I. THE GREAT FIREII. AFTERMATHIII. VISIONIV. RENAISSANCEThe bells ring the alarm and, as the capital city is engulfed by flames, panic and desperation spread. As the fire burns out, we are left to contemplate the aftermath of the inferno. Enter Sir Christopher Wren. His vision and courage were some of the most influential forces in the rebuilding of London which rose to reclaim its place as one of the great cities of the world.
Estimated dispatch 5-14 working days
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£119.99Landscapes - Bertrand Moren
Landscapes is a work structured around two main ideas. On the one hand, the music freely paints some of the superb landscapes I've seen during several of my trips around the world. Listeners should, however, not be influenced by this programmatic framework and are encouraged to build their own 'mind pictures'.On the other hand, Landscapes constitutes a test piece for each section of the brass band. Indeed, each musical landscape highlights a particular register. A small group of soloists is given the opportunity to fully display its skills in dialogue with the rest of the band (the tutti), hence the name 'concerto grosso'. Landscapes also relies on the band's different soloistmusicians when it comes to express highly complex, musically and technically challenging passages.
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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£60.99Alpine March - Bertrand Moren
Bertrand Moren composed Alpine March for the Hochwaliser Musikfest in Blatten, Switzerland in 2004. The march opens in a festive 6/8 time with lots of dynamic contrast and characteristic 6/8 rhythms. The Trio-section however is written in 2/4 time and is very lyrical. With a da capo this march, written by the winner of last year's European Brass Band Composition Contest, is brought to a thrilling close.
Estimated dispatch 5-14 working days
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£169.99The Spirit of Puccini - Hermann Pallhuber
The famous Puccini motifs in this work are taken from Tosca (E lucevan le stelle), Turandot (Nessun dorma), Gianni Schicci (O mio babbino caro) and a quite funny little persifl age of the aria Senti L'ora e vicina from Tosca. The Spirit of Puccini has testing moments for each of the principal players of the bands sections. Even although the music was inspired by this famous Italian composer, Hermann Pallhuber has succeeded in creating a piece of 'real band music' combining both the Italian influences and the modern British brass band sound.
Estimated dispatch 5-14 working days
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£43.99O Holy Night - Adolphe Charles Adam - Stephen Bulla
This terrific melody by the 19th century French composer Adolph Adam is one of the world's most famous Christmas solo melodies. It is unique due to the fact that it was the only Christmas song recorded by the legendary opera singer Enrico Caruso. This arrangement for soprano cornet and brass band will make a fantastic touching addition to any Christmas carol.
Estimated dispatch 5-14 working days
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£60.99Washington Grays - Traditional - James Curnow
Claudio S Grafulla was born on the Spanish island of Minorca in 1818 and emigrated to the United States in 1838. Although he was a composer of many original works, the one that is still regarded as one of the finest marches ever written is his Washington Grays March. This arrangement strives to recreate the original lost version written for an American Civil War brass band.
Estimated dispatch 5-14 working days
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£105.00Tuba Concerto. - Ralph Vaughan Williams
The Tuba Concerto was composed in 1953/4, after the London Symphony Orchestra invited Vaughan Williams to write a work for inclusion in the Orchestra's fiftieth anniversary concert. The first performance was given byPhilip Catelinet in the Royal Festival Hall, London on 13th June 1954 with the London Symphony Orchestra conducted by Sir John Barbirolli.The brass band arrangement is by Phillip Littlemore and is a welcome addition to the brassband repertoire.
Estimated dispatch 5-14 working days
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£47.50
Shipston Prelude - Stephen Bulla
A beautiful offertory-style addition to the brass band repertoire. This endearing traditional English melody, originally collected and harmonised by Raph Vaughan Williams, is now included in many of today's hymn books. An uplifting piece for schools or church concerts, this skilfully crafted arrangement also makes a delightful warm-up piece.
Estimated dispatch 5-14 working days
