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£36.00Edward Gregson: The World Rejoicing
DescriptionComposer's NoteIn searching for a common link between the brass band traditions of the various European countries that commissioned this work, I considered the fact that hymns have always played an important role in the relationship that brass bands have with their particular communities; and thus I turned to a well-known Lutheran chorale, Nun danket alle Gott (Now thank we all our God), written around 1636 by Martin Rinkart, with the melody attributed to Johann Cruger. A number of composers have incorporated this chorale into their music, most famously J.S.Bach in his Cantatas no. 79 and 192, and Mendelssohn in the Lobsegang movement of his 2nd Symphony (the harmonization of which is usually used when this hymn is sung).It seemed fitting therefore for me to return to a compositional form I have used many times before (Variations) and to write a work based on this hymn. I have used it in a similar way to that which I employed in my Variations on Laudate Dominum of 1976 - that is, rather than writing a set of variations using elaborations of the complete tune, I have taken various phrases from the chorale and used them within the context of other musical material, applying an overall symphonic process of continuous variation and development. The structure, or sub-divisions of the work, which is through composed and plays without a break, is as follows: Prelude, Capriccio, La Danza 1, Processional, La Danza 2, Arias and Duets, Fuga Burlesca, Chorale, and Postlude.The work is also partly autobiographical - in the manner say of Strauss's Ein Heldenleben - in that I have incorporated into the score brief quotations from many of my other major works for brass band. In that respect, The World Rejoicing sums up a particular facet of my life as a composer, and reflects the admiration I have always had for what is surely one of the great amateur music-making traditions in the world.The World Rejoicing is dedicated 'in loving memory of my brother', Bramwell Logan Gregson, who sadly passed away in the Autumn of 2018.Edward Gregson
Estimated dispatch 7-14 working days
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£72.00
I Byen Samarkand - Nordstoga-Hovland - Svein H. Giske
Odd Nordstoga is an award winning Norwegian artist who has been active since the 1990's, working in the popular-/folk music genre. I have listened to a lot of Odd Nordstogas music, in particular the Heim te mor-album. When preparing for Askoy Brass Band's participation at Siddis Brass in 2008, I came across I byen Samarkand, another of Nordstogas tunes. This was from the Pilegrim album. I thought it had an exciting mix of expressions and included it in the band's repertoire for the Siddis Brass competiton.Pilegrim was initially a commision by the Bergen International Festival back in 2005, based on lyrics by author Ragnar Hovland and Odd Nordstoga's music. - Svein H. Giske -
Estimated dispatch 7-14 working days
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£70.00
Episodes and Echoes - Peter Meechan
Episodes and Echoes is a concerto in three movements for tuba. The title of the work relates directly to the way the composer approached writing the piece.aAlthough the work is scored with piano and wind band accompaniments, Episodes and Echoes was originally written for tuba and brass band. I had several problems to overcome - the brass band contains 4 tubas, and 2 euphoniums, all of which could obscure the solo line, so I decided to write for the soloist in a manner that meant they were either playing alone, in episodes, or repeating/echoing phrases.aIn addition to this, the composer combined the characteristics of the tuba with other instruments: in the second movement the tuba is similar to a singer performing an aria and a recitative, and third movement a bass guitar.Episodes and Echoes was commissioned by, and dedicated to, Les Neish who premiered the work in 2005, accompanied by the Beaumaris Brass Band, conducted by Gwyn Evans.
Estimated dispatch 12-14 working days
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£75.00As Above, So Below - Jay Capperauld
An original composition for brass band and brass quintet by Jay Capperauld was commissioned by John Wallace and The Wallace Collection with the support of the PRS Foundation's Beyond Borders. This major work enjoyed its world premiere at The Cumnock Tryst on 30 September 2017 at Cumnock Old Church, performed by The Wallace Collection and Dalmellington Band, conducted by Martyn Brabbins.If you would like to perform this work, please don't hesitate considering The Wallace Collection to provide the brass quintet elements - if you would like to discuss potential performances, please contact us on [email protected] NotesBased on the Hermetic maxim "As Above, So Below", the phrase comes from the cryptic text of The Emerald Tablet, which was purportedly written by a mysterious character who is thought of as an amalgamation of Greek and Egyptian Gods, Hermes Trismegistus. The text first appears in Arabic between the 6th and 8th Centuries and is intended to outline the primitive and hidden sources that constitute the basis of all matter in the universe. The phrase "As Above, So Below" implies an essential "oneness" of all matter and a correlation between the physical elements and supernatural entities that make up our surroundings. The philosophies expressed within The Emerald Tablet have become a founding principle of Alchemy, Occultism, Witchcraft, Theosophy and various other ancient gnostic systems of belief, and this work attempts to explore these forms of so-called "secret knowledge" in a ritualistic trance-like Adagio steeped in the esoteric.The Brass Band is placed at the centre of the stage while the solo Brass Quintet are spread antiphonally around the concert hall and are placed above both the Brass Band and the audience in an attempt to create a direct dialogue between the Above and the Below. Therefore, the piece endeavours to explore the meaning behind the text of The Emerald Tablet as well as the phrase 'As Above, So Below' in a music context while giving particular attention to the 'SOLVE' (Latin for 'Separate' which correlates to the Above) and 'COAGLUA' (Latin for 'Join Together' which relates to the Below) that is depicted in the image of the Baphomet by the French occultist author, Eliphas Levi, which is a visual representation of the phrase 'As Above, So Below'.Additional Note of InterestIt was not until the work was complete that the role of the main melody became clear when an unexpected and inadvertent correlation between this melody and that of the Latin Dies Irae presented itself. The plainchant nature of As Above, So Below's melody became a defining feature of the piece and when compared to the melody of the Dies Irae (a similar melody reminiscent of that contained within As Above, So Below), some interesting and unsettling implications unveiled themselves.The findings of a comparison can be interpreted as follows:Both melodies adhere naturally to the plainchant idiom, which in itself strongly relates to a supernatural (or quasi-religious) element in both cases.Both melodies originate in the key of D; the Dies Irae resides in the Dorian Mode on D while the As Above, So Below melody inhabits the D Octatonic Scale.Both melodies can be divided into three distinct phrases, although the melody to As Above, So Below can be divided into three phrases in a number of ambiguous ways.The most striking and unnerving connection is that, by pure chance, the Latin text to the Dies Irae fits perfectly under both melodies giving an entirely specific context to how the melodies are perceived.By understanding the As Above, So Below melody as an alternative to that of the Dies Irae and by interpreting it in the same context, the connotations of the Dies Irae's otherworldliness, and the suggestion of a dialogue with the supernatural and death adds a richer dimension to the As Above, So Below melody which in turn solidifies the esoteric concept of this work.In conclusion, this unanticipated and purely accidental relationship between both melodies is worthy of note more so from an emotional and contextual perspective rather than from any analytical evaluation concerning the music itself - it is the circumstance of the so-called "secret knowledge" that has presented itself within the inner workings of As Above, So Below.
In Stock: Estimated dispatch 3-5 working days
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Le Canal En Octobre - Frederic Paris - Len Jenkins
The tune that forms the basis of this arrangement for brass band was recommended to us by a good friend who plays concertina and melodeon in the traditional English Folk genre. Its delightfully simple melody is based on a French Schottische composed by Frederic Paris and is frequently played at folk music sessions where it is instantly recognised and internationally known. As a folk tune used for dancing, the piece would consist of Tune A and Tune B which would each be repeated several times in succession. In this arrangement for brass, that basic order of the melodies has been varied, and includes a brief foray into a minor key to maintain audience interest. It is not a difficult piece and should be within the capabilities of a fourth section band. However, it is recognised that not every brass band possesses a Marimba, and that part can be played on a Glockenspiel, with appropriate adjustment to fit the available range of the instrument.
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Savoy Christmas Medley - Traditional - Len Jenkins based on an original arrangement by Debroy Somers
The Savoy Christmas Medley is a well-known and often played piece originally arranged from traditional music by Debroy Somers a big-band bandleader in the 1920's. William Henry (Debroy) Somers was an ex-army bandmaster who formed the Savoy Orpheans dance band, resident at the famous Savoy Hotel between 1923 and 1927. Whilst there are several editions of this music for full Brass Band, this latest arrangement has been tailored to suit a brass quintet with optional percussion. In many cases the availability of players around the festive season, or the space to accommodate a full band in some of the venues for Christmas engagements or for fundraising, means that a Quintet can be the preferred option. In order to achieve a good Quintet arrangement, it is necessary to achieve the same quality and diversity of sound as a full band but within a smaller group. A challenging objective which we believe has been achieved in this publication. In common with our developing practice, the arrangement is scored for both Brass Band and Concert Brass instruments.
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£45.00Andromeda - Dan Price
Following the popularity of Dan's concert opener Starburst , this sequel provides yet another exciting addition to the concert repertoire, equally at home as a finale or as a concert opener. The work is dedicated to Samantha Harrison and Elland Youth Band, who gave the premiere performance as part of their 2019 European Youth Brass Band programme in Montreaux, Switzerland. Listen: Duration: 00:04:00 Grade: 3/3.5
Estimated dispatch 5-7 working days
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£25.00Prelude 1946
For seventy years, the North West Area Brass Bands Association has been representing bands in the North West of England and surrounding areas. Their members come from Cheshire, Derbyshire, Greater Manchester, Isle of Man, Lancashire, North Wales, Staffordshire and Yorkshire. Prelude 1946 was commissioned to mark this special land-mark year. Taking inspiration from John Williams 1988 Olympic Spirit, the work opens with a heraldic fanfare before moving into its stately main theme, which gradually builds into a triumphant climax. An ideal concert opener for those of you who want to start off a concert with some American-style flair. Duration: 00:03:45 Grade : 3
Estimated dispatch 5-7 working days
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£48.76Angel Voices (Rhapsody for Soprano Cornet & Band) Brian Bowen
This solo for soprano cornet and brass band was written by the late Brian Bowen for the New York Staff Band in 1989 when Gordon Ward was its very fine soprano cornetist. The title comes from a song by Ernest Rance (music) and Reginald Woods (lyrics) published by The Salvation Army in 1955. In this rhapsody Rance's melody is first alluded to by the horns at the pick-up to bars 19-21, then more fully with the soloist's entry to bar 51 (but in minor mode until bar 55). Much of the original music is ethereal in nature, maybe reflecting the angelic hosts. Published by BrookWright Music in 2023, the score now carries the inscription 'To the memory of Linda Ward' - Gordon Ward's wife who very sadly died in November 2021. The first commercial recording of the rhapsody was released in 1990, performed by Gordon Ward and the New York Staff Band on its Music Makers CD (TRCD 1049), available to listen to here: https://on.soundcloud.com/nHch1 PDF download includes score and parts. Sheet music available from: UK - www.brassband.co.uk USA - www.solidbrassmusic.com Difficulty Level: 2nd Section + Instrumentation: Soprano Cornet Soloist Eb Solo Cornet Bb Repiano Cornet Bb 2nd Cornet Bb 3rd Cornet Bb Flugel Horn Bb Solo Horn Eb 1st Horn Eb 2nd Horn Eb 1st Baritone Bb 2nd Baritone Bb 1st Trombone Bb 2nd Trombone Bb Bass Trombone Euphonium Bb Bass Eb Bass Bb Percussion
In Stock: Estimated dispatch 1-3 working days
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£34.95Behold the Power of God - Christopher Bond
Behold the Power of God (2010) was written for and premiered by the Cornwall Youth Brass Band in dedication to their Musical Advisor at the time; the late Cornish composer Goff Richards who later described the work as 'a remarkable piece of writing'. The work's title, while implying a religious meaning, actually references Goff's name, with his full name Godfrey translating as 'God-peace' and Richards meaning 'Power'. Two energetic outer sections fall either side of a more lyrical middle section featuring the solo cornet. The perfect opening item at any concert.
Estimated dispatch 5-10 working days
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