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£15.00Perseverance
DescriptionPerseverance was commissioned by Middleton Band to mark their 140th anniversary in 2016, supported using public funding by the National Lottery through Arts Council England, and featured on Middleton Band's CD of the same name.The title is taken from the original name of the 1876 band, the Middleton Perseverance Drum and Fife Band. According to the band's historical records, the Drum and Fife band was formed by six Middleton youngsters eager to learn music but short of funds. Following a whip round, they visited a music shop in Oldham where they purchased a 'one key flute' for six shillings and sixpence, and ('later on') a drum.This determination to make music despite the odds has been a characteristic of the band ever since; at the end of the second world war the band was again down to six players, who rebuilt the 'Middleton Borough Band' back to twenty-six players. After a period of some considerable success throughout the sixties and seventies culminating in winning the National Third Section title in 1983 the band hit hard times again in the late eighties and was down to only four members in 1987 before again being brought back to life. In recent decades the band has built a strong relationship with the East Lancashire Railway, another organisation which has battled sometimes mighty obstacles in its struggle to survive, and has maintained a thriving and successful youth band.The band's will to survive through adversity is reflected in the music, which builds from a sextet of four brass and two percussion players three times, only to fall back to the sextet twice. In the central slow movement the bass drum plays a 'heartbeat' rhythm as the remaining players remember those lost in the war. The relentless pace of the final section culminates in the band triumphing over the adversity which has curtailed the previous two sections. As a former member of Middleton Band (and one of the team that regained the National Third Section title in 2007) it is my pleasure to dedicate this work to the 'Pop and Ale Boys', Middleton Band.You can read more about the piece here.To view the accompanying video by Andy Marshall, designed to precede the piece, clickhereand find out more about the link between the video and the music here.Recording with Score VideoPerformance NotesIn performance the four brass members of the sextet (soprano, solo horn, solo trombone and solo euphonium) should stand at the sides of the band - soprano and horn behind the cornets, trombone and euphonium behind the trombones. Percussion may stand with them at the conductor's discretion, but only if the band has TWO snare drums and TWO concert bass drums available, as these are also needed at the back of the band in the tutti sections. In the second sextet snare drum should be muffled with a heavy cloth OR have the snares turned off (not both).Percussion and mutesPercussion required:snare drum (muffled with a heavy cloth at one point)concert bass drum, kit bass drum, hi-hat, suspended (crash) cymbal2 x tom-tomswood blockclash cymbals3 x timpanitam-tamglockenspielSoprano cornet, repiano and 2nd cornets, flugel and all trombones require metal straight mutes. Soprano, Solo Cornet 3/4, Repiano 2nd and 3rd cornets require cup mutes. Solo Cornet 1/2, Repiano, 2nd and 3rd cornets require harmon mutes.
Estimated dispatch 7-14 working days
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£34.95
SOUTHERN CROSS, The (Brass Band Set) - Brian Bowen
The Southern Cross is one of several excellent marches by Brian Bowen in which he carried on the more sophisticated pattern of British marches by Wilfred Heaton, Leslie Condon and Ray Steadman-Allen. It was written for the Box Hill (Australia) Corps jubilee celebrations in 1970 and formed part of the band's repertoire when it toured Great Britain in the same year. The first half of the march features part of the song, 'March on!' by Klaus Ostby, an early pioneer of Salvation Army music in Scandinavia. The contrapuntal layering of melodies in the trio, especially in the finale where 'March on!' sounds one more triumphant time, is notable, as is the shift to a slower, more stately tempo. The harmonic and rhythmic style also represents the more modern sounds of Salvation Army brass band music in the late 1960s and early 1970s. Right from the opening gestures, listeners at early performances knew that a page had turned in the evolution of the Salvation Army march.
Estimated dispatch 7-14 working days
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£29.95
WADE IN THE WATER (Brass Band Set) - Leonard Ballantine
Wade in the Water is a Negro Spiritual made popular in 1962 by the Ramsey Lewis Trio. Further versions followed in 1968 by Big Mama Thornton and in 1997 by Eva Cassidy. The song is thought to be a coded message for slaves escaping to freedom and tells the fugitive to walk in the water, instead of on the land, where tracking dogs cannot follow human scent. This version for brass band is in swing style.
Estimated dispatch 7-14 working days
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£35.00
These Mist Covered Mountains - Peter Meechan
These Mist Covered Mountains was commissioned by Keith Johnson (KMJ Recordings) for soprano cornetist, Mandy Crowther, to whom the piece is dedicated.In an age where we seem to be inundated with endless news cycles of various wars that we as a nation are involved in, and also those that we are not, it seems that war is now a constant, and we are in a never ending state.This short piece is intended to represent the cyclic nature of war, and the way that war never seems to have a true conclusion.
Estimated dispatch 12-14 working days
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£109.99The Road to the West - Carl Wittrock
As he did before in the often played and commonly appreciated 'Lord Tullamore', in which he poetically depicted the landscape and the cultural elements of a small Irish village, in his composition 'The Road to the West' Carl Wittrock has sketched pioneer existence in America in a cinematic manner.In 'The Road to the West' the composer has tried to capture images of pioneer life during the period dating from 1850 to 1890, the days of the so-called Wild West.In those days, the Wild West used to be the territory west of civilization, the domain of cowboys, trappers, and other fortune hunters. In short, ample ingredients for a captivating story.In the firstscene a lonely adventurer struggles against nature and the elements. After an exciting adventure he passes through 'the Plains', where majestic views alternated by colossal mountain ranges display an almost unimaginable beauty.After weeks of isolation civilization is reached again. 'The Saloon' is the perfect meeting place here news is exchanged and hilarious scenes regularly take place.
Estimated dispatch 5-14 working days
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£228.70Ascension For Brass Band and Percussion - Fredrick Schjelderup
"Ascension" was commissioned in 2014 for the Norwegian school band, Hellen Skoles Musikkorps for their 60th anniversary.The piece is based on two themes, processed through rhythms, chords and solos in various time signatures.The title, "Ascension" which means rising, is central for the main thematic material and describes the band's hard work for a coming event (concert or a contest) where the musical level is ascending/rising.
Estimated dispatch 5-14 working days
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£115.60Ubi Caritas - Thomas Caplin - John Philip Hannevik
Thomas Caplin is a Swedish professor of choral conducting. He works at the Inland Norway University of Applied Sciences in Hamar. He composed this beautiful opus for choir based on the ancient text Ubi caritas.The text is often used during Maundy Thursday, describing Jesus washing the feet of his disciples: Where charity and love are, there God isIn this arrangement, a smaller group of players are soloists. The arrangement will work well if the group can be placed on a gallery or at the back of the concert hall.
Estimated dispatch 5-14 working days
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£228.70Echoes From..... - Kjetil Djønne
The essence of what a school band is, has inspired me in this composition. A hub between musicians of all ages and a place where young people can feel belonging. Several of the values in a school band have a positive impact on how musicians grow and mature. They learn about culture and discipline, as well as experiencing unity and mastery. A school band always has a goal, and achieving goals together, without reserves, is priceless. High ambitions and a common will to improve are recognizable in many school bands. In my opinion Skodvin Skulemusikk got these values: unity, affiliation, effort and ambition.The piece portrays the echo that rings in the hall before the applause after a concert. The echo in the hallways during breaks, or in the rehearsal room during rehearsal. The echo, or consequence, of all the work that is done by both musicians and parents. The echo of a unity and belonging that can last a lifetime.
Estimated dispatch 5-14 working days
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£127.30Model T - Sammy Nestico - Idar Torskangerpoll
Sammy Nestico's legendary car ride in an old T-Ford has long been a classic in the wind band repertoire. Now, the brass bands also can enjoy this car ride.In the piece Nestico uses percussion and wind players to make a sonic landscape where the listener easily hears how an old veteran car is started, with some problems, and then is accelerated into narrow country lanes.This is a piece for bands looking for programmatic music of a certain character. It's a big crowd-pleaser which appeals to most listeners, especially those who are into nice, old cars.
Estimated dispatch 5-14 working days
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£59.99Meditation - Hans Leo Hassler - Philip Sparke
This timeless melody by Hans Leo Hassler (1564-1612), is now chiefly remembered because of its inclusion in J S Bach's St. Matthew Passion, (hence its title) where it is treated to a variety of rich harmonisations. It is mostly sung to Paulus Gerhardt's words, O Sacred head! sore wounded.This setting features the flugel and horns, who first play a lyrical descant to the famous hymn tune and then the melody itself, against a Bach-like obbligato in the accompaniment.
Estimated dispatch 5-14 working days
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