Score-At the turn of this century it was the habit of all the royal families of Europe to gather annually for social and state occasions. The great houses of England Austria Spain Germany Russia Sweden Denmark Italy et al were in reality one clan since royal blood was only bred to royal blood in those days.At these fashionable assemblies matches were made courtships begun hunts were staged balls dinners and receptions filled thenights and intrigue was rampant. Sarajevo a city in central Yugoslavia provided the setting for the royal outing in the spring of 1914. Pomp and splendor attended the ruling heads of state who officiated at ceremonies and ledparades. All this magnificence is captured in Morton Gould's 'Sarajevo Suite ' written originally for a CBS documentary television series entitled 'World War I.'This adaptation for Concert Band wasmade from the composer's original score by Louis Brunelli.

When the Second World War began the British March King Kenneth J. Alford (pseudonym for Major F. J. Ricketts R.M.) was increasingly in bad health and had composed relatively little music recently. As Hitler's armies marched victoriously across Europe Britain was soon alone facing the Nazi peril. Alford's great contribution to the war effort was the composition of two of his great masterpieces ARMY OF THE NILE celebrating the first Allied victories over the Germans in North Africa and EAGLE SQUADRON. The latter of these marches celebrates American airmen who travelled to England during the early years of the war (before the entry of the United States into the conflict) tovolunteer for service with the Royal Air Force serving with great distinction during the Battle of Britain. Alford skillfully weaves a number of well-known tunes into the fabric of the music including the Royal Air Force March and The Star-Spangled Banner while also including a reference to the Siegfried motive from Wagner's Ring of the Nibelung. Mark Rogers' edition of this classic march includes a handsome full score and concert size set of parts.

The Royal Duke (?Le Duc royal?) est un arrangement de The Duke of Gloucester?s March (?La Marche du Duc de Gloucester?) de Jeremiah Clarke (1674-1707). Ce compositeur anglais né à Londres est essentiellement connu pour ses œuvres pour clavier et notamment The Prince of Denmark?s March (le célèbre Trumpet Voluntary) qui fut pendant très longtemps attribué à son contemporain Henry Purcell. Jeremiah Clarke a composé de nombreuses charmantes pièces dont The Duke of Gloucester?s March. Peu de temps après avoir terminé l?arrangement de cette marche Rob Wiffin circule dans l?Est londonien et passe devant un pub appelé « The Royal Duke ». Letitre de l?arrangement était trouvé.The Royal Duke est une pièce au caractère majestueux. Elle est donc parfaite pour débuter un concert. L?arrangement de Rob Wiffin reste fidèle à la version originale tout en révélant les couleurs et les textures sonores de l?Orchestre d?Harmonie.

La plupart des pays ayant institué la tradition des musiques militaires ont développé un style de marche caractéristique. Ainsi il est relativement aisé de distinguer une marche américaine d?une marche militaire française ou une marche allemande d?une marche espagnole. À l?intérieur du cadre structurel rigide d?une marche on réussit à percevoir même les plus subtiles différences de rythme d?harmonie et de tempo qui caractérisent les traditions de chaque pays.Il existe un ou plus exactement deux styles de marche typiquement anglais : celui des marches militaires représenté par des compositeurs tels que Kenneth J. Alford et celui des marches cérémonielles ou de concert quiatteindra l?excellence avec les marches orchestrales d?Elgar et Walton entre autres.Royal Salute (?Salut royal?) est une marche de difficulté moyenne qui perpétue cette grande tradition. On y retrouve des éléments typiques : des mélodies et contremélodies amples et un trio nobilmente.

(The Trumpet Voluntary)-Jeremiah Clarke (vers 1674-1707) fait partie de la génération de compositeurs anglais succédant à celle d?Henry Purcell. On sait très peu de choses sur ses débuts musicaux. En 1685 il entre en tant que choriste à la chapelle royale d?Angleterre un ensemble de musiciens liturgiques au service de la cour. À partir de 1692 il est organiste à Winchester College avant de retourner à Londres où il est nommé chef des chœurs de la Cathédrale Saint-Paul. The Prince of Denmark?s March (?La Marche du Prince du Danemark?) est sans aucun doute la plus connue des œuvres de Clarke. Composée à l?origine pour clavecin elle est incluse plus tard par Clarke dans unrecueil de pièces pour instruments à vent.

A masterpiece of classical literature this marvelous work adapts beautifully for concert band in the expert hands of Jay Bocook. The woodwinds and brass share the spotlight on Introduction and Royal March of theLions. Next the tubas are featured on The Elephant. Mallet percussion are featured on Fossils and the entire ensemble gets a workout on the Finale. In addition to providing quality literature for yourstudents audiences are sure to find this enjoyable. (5:30)

Here is a terrific march for young players written in the traditional British style. The opening strains are folk-like in nature with underlying modal harmonies while the stately trio is reminiscent of the processional style of Elgar and other British composers. The ?New Forest? refers to a region in southern England established as a royal hunting preserve by William the Conqueror around the year 1079 which has remained largely unchanged since ancient times.

 Le cérémonial protocolaire des cours royales d'Europe et la solennité du rituel immuable de la relève de la garde ont été les facteurs principaux d'inspiration que le compositeur a souhaité transcrire sur la partition : Une Dynastie et un Etat indissociables, Influencé par l'appartenance à une unité d'exception et à la Maison Grimaldi aux sept siècles d'histoire, il était inéluctable pour le créateur de faire entendre une citation de l'hymne national monégasque, Cette oeuvre, au caractère solennel, fût composée tout spécialement pour l'avènement du Prince ALBERT II de Monaco, Le titre de MARCHE DE LA GARDE D'HONNEUR a pour origine le nom donné à la garde composée d'une dizaine d'hommes et assurant quotidiennement la sécurité et les services d'honneur de la famille princière, / Orchestre D'Harmonie

Droga do Nieba-The Way to Heaven est une commande des services de musique de la Royal Air Force. 2015 a marqu? le 75e anniversaire de la Bataille d?Angleterre qui eut lieu de juillet ? octobre 1940 et durant laquelle les courageux pilotes de chasse de laRoyal Air Force entrav?rent les ambitions d?Hitler d?envahir le Royaume-Uni. The Way to Heaven commence par des motifs tremblants pour bois et des fanfares de cuivres qui se d?veloppent vers une apog?e ; ensuite une modulation introduit une courte citation de l?hymne national polonais Mazurek Dbrowskiego. Alorsque ces id?es s?affaiblissent on entend le signal pour d?coller en urgence puis le son rauque des moteurs Merlin de l?escadron mis en marche avant que les avions ne s?alignent pour d?coller. Ceci m?ne au mat?riel th?matique principal de l??uvrequi d?peint le vol vers le ciel de l?escadron 303 alors qu?il monte pour intercepter les Messerschmitt 109 entrants. Une br?ve allusion ? l?hymne national polonais m?ne ? la fin triomphante de l??uvre.

Always regal and stately, this collection of British military marches includes - 'The British Grenadiers,' 'Royal Air Force March Past,' 'A Life on the Ocean Wave,' 'The Vanished Army (They Never Die)' and finishes with 'Colonel Bogey.' You can't help but to join the distinguished parade with these cherished marches. (3:00) / Orchestre D'Harmonie

A spectacular dive via an extended chromatic scale immediately submerges us in a charged and somewhat archaic-feeling atmosphere. Trumpets horns and trombones resound in rhythmic patterns buttressed by restless motifs in the percussion. A second theme in the woodwinds begins much calmer but is quickly pushed aside by that same brass offensive. This introduction is the musical expression of the sometimes tumultuous early history of the town of Peer in Belgium. It closes with a D scale played over two octaves and repeated three times symbolizing the church steeples that dominate the townscape. Peer has the credentials of a town and people should know about it.There followsa rhythmic turbulent passage: in the course of history Peer has not been spared the ravages of war arson occupation epidemic and other evils. In contrast a slow pastoral lyrical part expresses the periods of peace and prosperity the town has known as well as the serene geographic setting that still characterizes the place. Various instruments in groups are developed in solo style while the accompaniment displays vast painterly images of sound. Now and then an exotic intonation is heard: a variety of peoples and cultures have left their mark on the town.This episode of tranquility and peacefulness comes to a sudden end when via a surprising almost chaotic transitional passage we are in effect transported back to our own time. A hopeful festive march expresses the confidence in the future that the Royal Concert Band of Peer exudes. This confidence is wholly justified: under the direction of conductor Willy Fransen the 95 members of the concert band have experienced an extended period of good fortune and the 75 musicians of the youth band - and the 45 little musicians of the mini-band - are involved in thriving operations.

Lux Futura. Lux Futura (Light of the Future) was commissioned by the Royal Wind Orchestra Delft and is inspired by the letters ?D-E-L-F-T? using the letter notation system by Béla Bartók. In this ?Delft? cell, there is referral to the ?Trinitas?, the bourdon bell of the Old Church in Delft, that only tolls during a funeral of a member of the Dutch Royal Family. The Delft melody switches to the ?Agneta March?, which is a reference to the history of the Royal Wind Orchestra Delft. Further on the love theme, played by the bass instruments represents the love of the inhabitants for their city throughout space and time. In the middle movement, the beauty of the city is depicted by the cor anglais (English horn) solo, as an ode to the lovely city of Delft. When performed, one can choose to use sound city samples recorded in Delft to create a truly magnificent spectacle.

LOL (Laugh Out Loud) is a wacky fast-and-furious barn-burner reminiscent of a circus march or ???screamer.??? It was written for the Naden Band of the Royal Canadian Navy in celebration of their 75th anniversary andas an opportunity to display their dazzling technical facility and humor. Cartoon-like Trombone glissandi flying woodwinds dizzying brass and laughing rhythms create a zany and thrilling off the wall highlight to any occasion. Dur: c. 2:50.

This 1965 comedy classic from director Blake Edwards featured an all-star cast an outlandish story and terrific music by Henry Mancini. This entertaining medley will be a crowd-pleaser even for those who havent seen the movie. Includes:Overture; He Shouldnt-a Oughtnt-a Swang On Me; Theyre Off; Push the Button Max; The Sweetheart Tree; The Royal Waltz; and The Great Race March.

This 1965 comedy classic from director Blake Edwards featured an all-star cast an outlandish story and terrific music by Henry Mancini. This entertaining medley will be a crowd-pleaser even for those who haven't seen the movie. Includes: 'Overture'; 'He Shouldn't-a Hadn't-a Oughtn't-a Swang On Me'; 'They're Off!'; 'Push the Button Max'; 'The Sweetheart Tree'; 'Royal Waltz'; and 'The Great Race March'.