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£59.45Avifauna (Brass Band) Joshua Tyler Jameson
This highly descriptive work was commissioned by the National Youth Brass Band of America and will be a terrific concert or entertainment contest item. The music paints the picture of the lives of a variety of different birds.The composer writes:'When I began thinking about this project I was sitting in my office in the early morning, the sun having just risen. There was a gentle breeze and the only thing that I could hear (aside from my hungry whining cats) was the gentle song of the birds outside my open window. As much of my work is programmatic, almost like symphonic poems, this immediately gave me the image of a majestic sunrise with all types of birds fluttering about, almost as if out of an episode of Planet Earth. When I was commissioned by the National Youth Brass Band of America, I knew the project had to be something the ensemble could grab onto. Something they could see. Something they could relate to. There being so many types of birds in North America, I selected a handful to help tell my story...The scene where I came up with this idea seemed to be the perfect starting point. Sunrise, tiny chirps of Morning Birds floating around the twilight of dawn, swiftly moving towards the majesty of the sun cresting the horizon. A new day, the beginning of a story.As the sun rises higher in the sky, animal activity stirs, becoming lively and wild. The flowers have opened up to drink in the sun's rays, leaving them open to nectar-seeking Hummingbirds. Whizzing by at lightning speed, the hummingbirds journey from flower to flower, drinking their fill until the sun begins to set back over the horizon.When daylight fades, the enigmatic Owl floats silently through the sky. The wonder of these creatures comes not just from their beauty, but also from their mystery and their ferocity. We see images in pop culture of majestic white owls and marvel in their beauty... but to a mouse roaming the forest floor in the dark of the night, the terror of suddenly being dropped upon by a silent predator is anything but peaceful.In the dead of night, soft rolling clouds thicken as a storm begins to brew. With the ensuing rain also emerges the grotesque scavenging Vulture; marching along from carcass to carcass, tearing into the rotting leftovers of another predator's kill, gorging themselves until over-full. However, from this nightmare fuel of a bird, a new day awaits...As the dawn of another day approaches, you begin to hear the same morning birds you heard the previous day. When the light finally breaks the horizon, the soaring majesty of the Eagle drives us to the end of our story; an exciting journey told through the eyes of the winged creatures that paint the skies of North America.This is Avifauna.'To view a follow-the-score video please visit: www.youtube.com/watch?v=J2bhBpx9KvMSheet music available from:UK - www.brassband.co.ukUSA - www.solidbrassmusic.comDifficulty Level: 2nd Section +Instrumentation:Soprano Cornet EbSolo Cornet BbRepiano Cornet Bb2nd Cornet Bb3rd Cornet BbFlugel Horn BbSolo Horn Eb1st Horn Eb2nd Horn Eb1st Baritone Bb2nd Baritone Bb1st Trombone Bb2nd Trombone BbBass TromboneEuphonium BbBass EbBass BbPercussion 1-4
In Stock: Estimated dispatch 1-3 working days
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£40.00Little Christmas - Elaine Agnew
An atmospheric, contemporary piece for brass band by prolific composer Elaine Agnew. The work was originally commissioned by the North of Ireland Bands' Association as the 'B Section' test piece for the 2006 European Brass Band Championships, with funds from the Arts Council of Northern Ireland Lottery Unit and Belfast City Council.Programme notes:The night of Sunday the sixth of January 1839 was a night of madness. On this night, Ireland was hit by a devastating storm. Little Christmas focuses on the events of that day, leading to the arrival of the storm itself.The piece opens with a blast, which is quickly hushed by a motionless phrase whose silence suggests something not quite right. A solo euphonium mimics the local seer who prophesizes the coming of the storm but who is ignored by the locals, who are well used to his rantings and ravings.A brief percussion improvisation hints at an uncertainty in the air but this is quickly ignored by the following fast section with the bustle and excitement of the day's preparations.Quiet solo chromatic lines swoosh over harmonic pillars of sound before the final "dizzy" section where the band lets rip at the arrival of the storm!
In Stock: Estimated dispatch 3-5 working days
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£70.00
Fire in the Sky - Peter Meechan
Fire in the Sky takes its inspiration from the stunning town of Montreux in Switzerland. I was commissioned to write the work 5 days before I visited this Montreux and was at work forming ideas for the piece as I arrived on the shore of Lake Geneva and its amazing views of the Alps.Whilst the scenery is without doubt some of the most incredible views I have ever witnessed, it was the history of the town that set Fire in the Sky in motion. Whilst there, it occurred to me that many of my musical heroes had lived or performed there, and three of them in particular had a strong connection with the town. Miles Davis, Igor Stravinsky and Freddie Mercury graced Montreux - the large convention centre, where the famous summer jazz festival is held, named its two halls after Davis and Stravinsky, and there is a quite breathtaking statue of Mercury in the town too.Each musician also commemorates an anniversary in 2011, the year of the premiere of Fire in the Sky; it is 40 years since the death of Stravinsky and both Miles Davis and Freddie Mercury died in 1991, making it 20 years since their deaths. So it seemed fitting to write a piece that in some way acknowledges them, and is a kind of personal "thanks" for all they have given, and continue to give, me.The title comes from the famous Deep Purple song, Smoke on the Water - whose second line is "Fire in the Sky" and is a reference to the night the town's casino was set alight by a Frank Zappa fan. The piece tries to recreate the atmosphere of that night, paint a picture of fire in the sky (and smoke on the water) and also uses small "nuggets" of the music of my three greatest musical heroes, Miles Davis, Freddie Mercury and Igor Stravinsky.Fire in the Sky was commissioned by the Tomra Brass Band, Norway, and is dedicated to Stijn Berbe and Nick Ost - both of whom are connected with the band (teaching and conducting), and both have been close friends - personally and musicaly - for many years. I am indebted to them for the opportunity to write this piece.
Estimated dispatch 12-14 working days
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£60.00General Series Band Journal August 2013 Numbers 2123-2126
No. 2123 Carol Setting - Joy to the world! (Lieut. Colonel Norman Bearcroft)'Joy to the world' is a melody often attributed to Handel, but it is a bringing together of a couple of brief snippets of themes from his oratorio, 'Messiah'. These were put together by Lowell Mason to form the tune, 'Antioch', which we use for this carol. The carol has been arranged in majestic style by Lieut-Colonel Norman Bearcroft.No. 2124 Night of Joy (Andrew Wainwright)'Night of Joy' is based on a traditional Spanish Christmas song entitled 'Cantemos a Maria' ('Let's sing to Mary').No. 2125 Dedication (Dr Kenneth Downie)A setting of Colonel Brindley Boon's beautiful song of dedication, 'I dedicate myself to thee' (Musical Salvationist, November 1950).No. 2126 Cornet Duet - Synergy (Captain Martin Cordner)This piece celebrates the Biblical principle of believers working together in the Body of Christ and incorporates the song with words by Catherine Baird 'We're in Gods Army and we fight together with the composers own melody to Philip Paul Bliss's words 'Whosoever heareth! shout, shout the sound.
Estimated dispatch 7-14 working days
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£29.95Hinemoa (Score Only)
Hinemoa, the beautiful daughter of Amukaria, a great Maori chief, had seen Tutanekai, a chief and brave warrior from the island of Mokoia, only once, during a tribal gathering; yet she knew she loved him dearly. Amukaria counselled his daughter to forget this man, whose flute-playing Hinemoa heard as it came, soft but clear, across the lake which separated them.At night she went to the shore and listened. The sound of the flute spoke to Hinemoa, giving her courage. When Tutanekai managed to get a message to Hinemoa, her mind was made up.On the next moonless night she entered the dark, cold waters of the lake, using empty gourds as floats. She was determined to swim the long distance to her lover. Tutanekai's flute-playing kept her going, until at last she reached the shores of Mokoia.Great was the joy when the lovers at last met, the rocks echoing Tutanekai's cry - 'HINEMOA'.
Estimated dispatch 7-14 working days
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£40.87Verklarte Nacht (Brass Band) Arnold Schoenberg arr. Rob Bushnell
Composed in just three weeks in 1899, Verklarte Nacht (Transfigured Night) is a string sextet in one movement by Arnold Schoenberg. Whilst known better for tone rows, his dodecaphonic music and the Second Viennese School, Schoenberg was a master of harmony (writing a number of books on the subject) and, in his early life, was inspired by the music of Brahms and Wagner. This is his best-known tonal work. Its description as a tone poem is not surprising given it takes its inspiration from Richard Dehmel's poem of the same name, as well as Schoenberg's strong feelings towards his future wife, Mathilde Zemlinsky, sister of his teacher, Alexander von Zemlinsky.The work is said to have five sections, one for each of the stanzas in the poem. The poem, from 1896, describes a man and woman walking through a dark forest on a moonlit night. The woman shares a secret with him, that she is pregnant but not with his child. The man reflects upon this before warmly accepting (and forgiving) the news.The work premiered on 18 March 1902 in the Vienna Musikverein by the Rose Quartet. As was normal at the time, Schoenberg produced a string orchestra version that was premiered on 29 November 1916 in Prague, conducted by Zemlinsky, which was later revised in 1943 to better support the soloists, also adding more articulation and tempo markings.Whilst the piece was controversial at the time, both musically and due to the poem's "inappropriate" subject matter, Richard Dehmel himself was impressed, writing "I had intended to follow the motives of my text in your composition, but soon forgot to do so, I was so enthralled by the music."This arrangement is for the British-style brass band, with alternative parts for horns in F and bass-clef lower brass.To view a recording of the original composition please visit www.youtube.com/watch?v=vqODySSxYpc.Difficulty Level: 2nd Section +Duration: approx. 6.40 minutesSheet music available from www.brassband.co.ukInstrumentation:Soprano Cornet EbSolo Cornet BbRepiano Cornet Bb2nd Cornet Bb3rd Cornet BbFlugel Horn BbSolo Horn Eb1st Horn Eb2nd Horn Eb1st Baritone Bb2nd Baritone Bb1st Trombone Bb2nd Trombone BbBass TromboneEuphonium BbBass EbBass BbTimpaniPercussion 1-3
In Stock: Estimated dispatch 1-3 working days
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£39.95Swing into Christmas (Brass Band - Score and Parts)
Written during Colonel Robert Redhead's tenure as Bandmaster of The International Staff Band, this bright and good-humoured selection - originally titled Sounds of the forties - was composed for the UK Territory's annual Christmas event at the Westminster Central Hall in 1993. It features lively treatments of Good King Wenceslas, Carol of the drum, Silent Night! and Deck the hall and brings fresh sparkle to these familiar carols. With the permission of the Redhead family, the work has been readied for publication. Colonel Redhead lives in retirement in Canada, and this release stands as a welcome addition to the journals.The secret to a successful presentation of this piece (and any swing number) is for the band to have a clear grasp of basic swing principles. Players should aim for a relaxed, buoyant feel built on back'beat emphasis (2 and 4), light articulation, and a sense of forward motion without rushing. Note that, apart from the intentionally straight quavers on the drum kit in sections D and E, quavers elsewhere should be swung.A drum kit will be essential as it provides the stylistic anchor throughout, setting up the tempo, supporting the back'beat, and giving the band confidence to embrace the swing style.The Glenn Miller-inspired opening cornet feature sets the tone for the whole piece and should be played with strength, clarity, and stylistic assurance. The outer movements share this brighter, punchier swing character, with crisp rhythmic definition and confident ensemble playing.In contrast, the central setting of Silent Night! adopts a slow 'shuffle' feel. This section should feel spacious and unhurried, with warm phrasing, gentle back'beat, and a laid'back rhythmic pulse. In the melody line, think breadth, and in the accompaniment, think subtlety rather than weight.
Estimated dispatch 7-14 working days
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£100.00
Journey of the Lone Wolf (score & parts) - Simon Dobson
Journey of the Lone Wolf tells the story of the hungarian composer Bla Bartk. It was commissioned by Dr. Nicholas Childs for Black Dyke Band, who gave the first performance on Sunday 26 January 2014 at the Bridgewater Hall, Manchester as part of the Royal Northern College of Music Festival of Brass.The composer's programme notes for each movement: 1. Capturing the Peasants' SongAfter the upheaval of moving to Budapest the young Bla Bartk meets Zoltn Kodly and the pair embark on summertime adventures throughout the Hungarian countryside to collect and catalogue the astonishing variety (both harmonically and rhythmically) of gypsy and folk music heard in the Balkans. The arrival of WW1 plunges Bartk's beloved Hungary into chaos.2. Night MusicBartk was at times a cold man, aloof and lonely. The odd moments of tenderness he showed are portrayed here in a series of evocative solos. His brief but intense affairs speak of a love he could only long for. Jazz is my night music and here there are hints of what Bartk may have heard in the USA later in his life.3. Flight and FightHaving been forced by the world's evils to leave his homeland of Hungary for America, Bartk, the anti-fascist, felt isolated and angry. In this movement we hear his longing for a simpler time of gypsy folk dances as well as his maturity and depth as a composer finally exploring deeper colours and darker themes. Duration: 15 minutes.Level: Championship
In Stock: Estimated dispatch 1-3 working days
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£35.00
Red Flame - Peter Meechan
Red Flame was inspired by a night spent in Groningen, Netherlands, whilst Katrina and the composer were attending the 2005 European Brass Band Championships.Queens night was in full flow outside, but whilst we were inside, there was a kind of surreal calm. However, that all changed as soon as we headed into the centre of Groningen, where the streets were full of happy people, all singing and dancing (And drinking!).The title refers to one particular drink in a bar that came to us on fire!The work was commissioned by, and dedicated to, Katrina Marzella.
Estimated dispatch 12-14 working days
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£30.00
The Queen of the Night's Aria
The Queen of the Night's aria ("Der Holle Rache kocht in meinem Herzen") is an aria sung by the Queen of the Night in the second act of Mozart's opera The Magic Flute. Translating as "Hell's vengeance boils in my heart", it depicts a fit of vengeful rage in which the Queen of the Night places a knife into the hand of her daughter Pamina and exhorts her to assassinate Sarastro, the Queen's rival,
In Stock: Estimated dispatch 1-3 working days
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