Results
-
£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
-
£66.88Dance Spirit (Brass Band) Rob Wiffin
Dance Spirit is a three movement suite of dances comprising Stomping Dance, Waltz Interlude and Duende linked by solo dancer cadenzas. In it I attempted to capture some of the elements of this most fundamental of human activities, the urge to move our bodies to the rhythm of the music.Stomping DanceThe suite starts with perhaps the most basic dance feeling - the desire to stomp our feet to the music - unrefined, no knowledge of steps needed. The heavy stomp is not always present in the music here, and sometimes you can sense the dancers trying something a little more refined, but it is always lurking in the background, ready to draw us back to the elemental rhythm of the beat.Waltz InterludeOf course, dance does not always have to have heat, it can be elegant and restrained, emphasising fluidity of line and movement. In the waltz it is occasionally suspended by the held poses before the motion starts again. Unlike the outer movements, the Waltz Interlude is cool, danced in moonlight rather than under the sun. The two dancers sometimes move as one and at other times the man provides a frame for the more intricate arabesques of his partner.DuendeDuring my time living in Spain I went to watch some flamenco dancing. I was expecting the normal tourist cliches but the dancers were serious students of Flamenco 'Nuevo y Viejo' (new and old). They performed with passion to some pounding asymmetric rhythms and their performance was the inspiration for Duende. 'Duende' as a term is hard to define. It is a spirit of performance - that moment when you are right in the middle of the creative spirit of the music. It is about soul and a heightened state of emotion. Federico Garcia Lorca wrote: "I have heard an old maestro of the guitar say, 'The duende is not in the throat; the duende climbs up inside you, from the soles of the feet.' Meaning this: it is not a question of ability, but of true, living style, of blood, of the most ancient culture, of spontaneous creation."Duration: Approx. 13.45 minutesDifficulty Level: Major WorkThis PDF download includes the full score and parts.Sheet music available at www.brassband.co.uk (UK) or https://satradecentral.org (USA)
In Stock: Estimated dispatch 1-3 working days
-
£33.43E lucevan le stelle (Cornet/Euphonium Duet with Brass Band) Puccini arr.Bushnell
Tosca is an opera in three acts by the Italian composer Giacomo Puccini. The opera is set in June 1800 in Rome, and tells the story of the Kingdom of Naples and the threat to its control of Rome by Napoleon's invasion of Italy. Some of Puccini's best-known arias can be found in Tosca.The opera is based on Victorien Sardou's dramatic play of the same name (La Tosca). Puccini saw the play at least twice in 1889 and begged his publisher, Giulio Ricordi, to obtain the rights to turn it into an opera, which were secured in 1891 - although Puccini relinquished the rights to Alberto Franchetti before being recommissioned in 1895. Puccini wrote "I see in this Tosca the opera I need, with no overblown proportions, no elaborate spectacle, nor will it call for the usual excessive amount of music." It took four years to write, with Puccini arguing with his librettists (Luigi Illica and Giuseppe Giacosa) and his publisher. Although the first performance was delayed by a day due to the unrest in Rome at the time, the opera was premiered on 14 January 1900 at the Teatro Costanzi in Rome. The critics reviews were indifferent, but it was an immediate success with the public. The opera is through-composed, with the different musical elements weaved from piece to piece. Puccini used the Wagner's leitmotif concept to identity different parts of the opera.Taken from Act 3, E lucevan le stelle is sung by Cavaradossi, a painter, who has fallen for the singer Tosca. The corrupt Chief of Police, Baron Scarpia, longs for Tosca himself and, upon suspecting Cavaradossi of helping a political prisoner escape, he takes the opportunity to get rid of Cavaradossi and blackmail Tosca into being with him. The guards lead Cavaradossi to the roof of Castel Sant'Angelo, where he is told he has 1 hour to live before being executed. He asks to write a letter to Tosca, overcome by memories, he sings E lucevan le stelle (And the stars shone). It was selected by the tenor Wynne Evans as one of the most romantic songs for his top ten arias for Classic FM. He described it as "another tenor classic, both tragic and beautiful."This arrangement (for cornet and euphonium duet with brass band) includes alternative parts for horns in F and lower brass in bass clef.A recording of the original song can be found here: www.youtube.com/watch?v=EAqHQMX7GHY
In Stock: Estimated dispatch 1-3 working days
-
£34.95New Dawn, A - Christopher Bond
A New Dawn (2013) was commissioned by and written for British tenor horn virtuoso Owen Farr in late 2013, to provide the title track of his new CD album. With a specific brief, the work was to include a bold ear-catching 'fanfare-esque' opening to bring maximum impact to the opening of the album, before settling in a rhythmic groove which allows the new tempo and reduced texture to settle before the entry of the tenor horn, who's initial four bar motif is what forms the basis of much of the work. Following this, structurally, the work follows with a set of variations, carefully demonstrating the capabilities of the instrument and indeed the player. Bar 90 sees the return of the bold opening gestures, this time followed with a harmonic transformation, before a recapitulation at bar 120 which sees a return to the original tenor horn material and an increase in intensity, volume and virtuosity through to the close. A New Dawn was premiered by Owen Farr and the Cornwall Youth Brass Band on 30th December 2013, and was recorded by Owen and the Cory Band in March 2014, featuring as the title track on his CD release of the same name.
Estimated dispatch 10-14 working days
-
£19.95As A Cloud... - Jonathan Bates
'As A Cloud..' is a work for Solo Baritone and Piano composed for Nick Wilson in 2021. The inspiration for the work comes from the words of the poet William Wordsworth and his much loved text "I wandered lonely as a cloud". In the process of writing this work, the dedicatee's desire was to have a work to reflect his passion for the Lake District - a part of Northern England which Wordworth (and several other renowned poets of the time) became synonymous with; the group of writers becoming known as 'The Lake Poets'. Musically, this programmtic work reflects the words from Wordsworth's text, painting each line of the first stanza in a variety of settings and moods before the work floats away with an audio extract from the poem itself.
In Stock: Estimated dispatch 1-3 working days
-
£116.00Decennium - Eric Swiggers
'Decennium' was composed in 2003 as a commission by the municipality of Berheze for its tenth anniversary. The composition describes the history of this town in the Province of Brabant, consisting of 6 different villages: Heesch, Heeswijk, Dinther, Nistelrode, Loosbroek and Vorstenbosch. The composition starts with a slow introduction, Adagio Misterioso, suggesting the atmosphere in long-ago days when the area consisted mainly of swamps, meres and low woods. (The word 'Bern' is a synonym of 'Born' meaning source or water, whereas 'Hese' is derived from 'Haisjo' meaning brushwood ). Above the dark sounds we hear far away trumpet signals announcing the Middle Ages. After a piercing crescendo, we hear the full sound of festive trumpets. A medieval dance, as was to be heard in the Heeswijk castle, follows. This dance gets a more and more stirring character and finally turns into a merry popular dance ending with a burst of laughter reproduced by descending scales with the muted trombones and trumpets. A slow transition with a quotation from a Gregorian plainsong (Domine Deus) and church bell ringing, referring to the Abbey of Berne, brings us to a romantic Larghetto. This part describes the quiet rural life in a beautiful natural surrounding. The last dying note contrasts with the threatening ostinato, referring to the rise of the industrialization, which provoked quite some resistance with the local people. Once more we hear the 'Domine Deus' but much more powerful this time. When the resistance calms down, the work concludes with an Alla Marcia. The first notes of the main theme could be heard all through the composition and now we hear the complete main theme again. The new town is born. A festive conclusion refers both to the tenth anniversary and the optimism and confidence as to the future.
Estimated dispatch 10-14 working days
-
£12.00Ave Maria
DescriptionJohann Sebastian Bach (1685 - 1750) was a German composer and musician of the Baroque period. Bach's compositions include the Brandenburg Concertos, the Goldberg Variations, the Mass in B minor, two Passions, and over three hundred cantatas of which approximately two hundred survive. His music is revered for its technical command, artistic beauty, and intellectual depth. Bach's abilities as an organist were highly respected during his lifetime, although he was not widely recognised as a great composer until a revival of interest in and performances of his music in the first half of the 19th century. He is now generally regarded as one of the greatest composers of all time.Charles-Francois Gounod (1818 - 1893) was a French composer, best known for his Grand Operas, most famously 'Faust', written in 1859 and his 'St Cecilia Mass' written in 1854. However possibly his most performed work is his arrangement of the latin text Ave Maria based on a work by Bach.You can listen to a computer realisation of the score while following the music below:
Estimated dispatch 7-14 working days
-
£35.00
Devil's Duel - Peter Meechan
Devil's Duel takes its inspiration from the story of the infamous Niccolo Paganini whose virtuosity was astounding. He began playing the violin at age seven, and by the age of 13 had the reputation of being the leading Italian violinist of his time. People began to speculate about Paganini's great talent, and began to wonder about his gift. He became known as a "Hexensohn" or witch's brat.Paganini's demonic reputation became so widespread that his talent was often attributed to the belief that he had help from the devil. Later in life, Paganini would tour Europe, though rumours of supernatural guidance never ceased. He would give concerts, and often "duel" with other virtuosi - "winning" by improvising during the contest (or concert!) by adding octaves, thirds, and sixths, and often playing more notes in a second than thought humanly possible.Devils Duel uses the famous music of Paganini's Caprice no.24 as its musical material, and sees the euphonium soloist duelling with various instruments in the band with displays of virtuosity in the fast music, and cunning in the slow.Devil's Duel was commissioned by David Thornton, to whom this is dedicated. The premiere was given by David Thornton, Nicholas Childs, and the Black Dyke Band at Leeds Town Hall, 26 May 2006.
Estimated dispatch 12-14 working days
-
£30.00Leviathan - Paul Denegri
Leviathan began its evolution as a workshop work inspired by the poem written by Heathcote Williams entitled; Whale Nation. At the time of this workshop the tentet brass repertoire existed of extremely well written original or arranged works of a lighter nature but there was a shortage of works with a greater emotional depth and edge, hence Leviathan's early conception as an atmospheric and emotive work. The workshop piece explored whale sound and song and was a 25-minute work in two parts. After many years of the workshop sketches sitting dormant the new work Leviathan is a much shorter and concise work. It contains only one of the original melodic themes of the workshop work. Leviathan is driven and underpinned by melodic and rhythmic elements. It is a programmed work following the awe inspiring majestic might and beauty of whales through to a hunt scene, the chase and the ultimate demise of earth's largest mammal.
-
£30.00Meanwhile - Jock McKenzie
Just imagine being free of stress, anxiety, time pressures, workload & the general 'busy-ness' of everyday life... For the lucky few that may find themselves in this position, the clock keeps ticking for the rest of us. "Meanwhile" seeks to represent the relentless challenges of the 'everyday'. It is a full-on, driving swing number, very much in the style of a big band chart. In my orchestration of this piece I have deliberately treated the brass dectet somewhat similarly to that of a big band / jazz orchestra. The two 'rows' of four trumpets and four trombones are employed in the typical way, with the horn representing a unison / octave saxophone section. The tuba busily walks around the harmonic foundation of the piece. This piece was conceived out of the chaos of an overcrowded school music department. In one room I was rehearsing a brass ensemble whilst the other side of a (very) thin wall was a saxophone group attempting to make themselves heard over our dulcet tones. The brass ensemble would stop regularly to receive pearls of wisdom from yours truly, MEANWHILE the saxes could be heard in these gaps, plodding through their material. This seemed to go on interminably. In this piece the independent horn line represents the work weary saxes; occasionally breaking through the textures of the other brass lines. J.M.
View Music