Par VAN DER ROOST JAN. From Ancient Times is a major work for brass band, inspired largely by the music of the Franco-Flemish School of the Renaissance. Hints of Gregorian chant and middle age dances pay tribute to music from even earlier times. The foundation of this spectacular work rests on truly ‘ancient times’ while the tonal language is of a much more modern nature! / Niveau : 6 / Pièce de concert / Répertoire / Brass Band

Par GOODALL HOWARD. Shackelton's Cross was inspired by a painting created in 1957 by the English artist Edward Seago (1910-1974). The title refers to a cross which was erected to the memory of Sir Ernest Shackleton, who led a number of explorations to the Antarctic. Shackleton died in 1922 whilst on a Polar expedition, and the cross can be found on a promontory at the entrance to the bay at Grytviken Whaling Station in South Georgia. The painting is owned by HRH The Duke of Edinburgh, and was part of an exhibition at Buckingham Palace from October 2011 to April 2012. Originally scored for oboe, trumpet and small orchestra, Daniel Hall's sensitive arrangement follows the composer's alternative version for solo trumpet and organ, created for Crispian Steele-Perkins (trumpet) and David Goode (organ). / Répertoire / Ensemble de Cuivres

Arr. Menno Haantjes. Par DE HAAN JACOB. This playful three-part suite is largely based on symmetry. This of course is largely due to the relations of the arrangement of the themes; however, on the other hand, to the larger structures in form. The first part, (Prelude et Scherzo) has a solemn opening. Followed by it a related scherzo with many changes in time, this too is composed in a symmetrical form. In the second movement, Choral Dorian, the theme of the prelude is reversed and used in chorale in Dorian tonality. The suite comes to a close with Rondo d'Avignon. An annual theatre festival in a French city on the Rhone inspired this suite. It is a lively movement, symmetrically bought to a finish with a repeat of theprelude from the first movement. / Niveau : 2 / Pièce de concert / Répertoire / Brass Band

Par DE HAAN JACOB. Dreaming of love. This is the theme of the folksong on which the composition was based. Its characteristic melody inspired Jacob de Haan to this instrumental romance with a transparent structure consisting of an introduction, the folk-melody, a development of the theme, the folk-melody accompanied by ornamental triplets followed by the final bars. / Niveau : 2 / Pièce de concert / Répertoire / Brass Band

Par BOUTHIER CHRISTIAN. The energetic activities of three craftsmen at a local crafts market inspired the composer Christian Bouthier to write this work in three movements. The clockmaker gets many curious visitors at his stand. He patiently and proudly shows the precision work of his beautiful clocks and lets all of them tick - the small ones and large ones. The cooper (barrel-maker) skillfully puts together fine-looking, sturdy barrels of the best types of wood. From afar, you can hear the cooper hammering. In the final movement things are hectic at the blacksmith because the local horse-riding society has just arrived. Many horses are provided with new shoes. The experienced blacksmith hits thehorseshoes into the proper shape on his anvil; now the horses can spiritedly trot and gallop on the way back. A fascinating new addition to the concert band repertoire. / Niveau : 2 / Pièce de concert / Répertoire / Brass Band

Arr. Henk Hogestein. Par MOZART WOLFGANG AMADEUS. Salzburg, birthplace of Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart, inspired Dutch composer Henk Hogestein to write this musical tribute. Mozart was born in this charming Austrian town in January 1756. He was a musical prodigy - at the age of four he began receiving lessons from his father Leopold and at the age of six he was composing smart minuets and other short pieces. The composition Charming Salzburg is based on a theme from Mozart's opera Die Zauberflöte, which he completed in 1791. The greatest composer of his day - the greatest of all time according to some - the brilliant Mozart wrote some of the world's best operas with Die Zauberflöte was his last. / Niveau : 2 / Musique pour célébration / Répertoire / Brass Band

Arr. Ron Sebregts. Par CLAPTON ERIC. Eric Clapton’s CD Unplugged is one of the top-selling albums of all time. The collection of hits inspired Ron Sebregts to create the medley The Cream of Clapton. It consists of Sebregts favourite songs by this legendary blues and rock guitarrist, singer and songwriter. This medley is guaranteed to be an audience and band favorite for many years to come! / Niveau : 4 / Pop and rock / Recueil / Brass Band

Par VAN DER ROOST JAN. Après Excalibur et Stonehenge, Albion est la troisième oeuvre majeure pour Brass Band de Jan Van der Roost inspirée par l’Angleterre du Moyen Âge. Bien que l’oeuvre ne soit pas construite autour d’une histoire précise, ce poème symphonique a toute l’ampleur d’une épopée. L’ouverture de l’oeuvre semble dépeindre la conquête d’Albion (premier nom connu de l’Angleterre), transportant l’auditeur à l’époque du roi Arthur et de ses légendaires chevaliers de la Table Ronde. Trois groupes de cornets dispersés au sein de la formation et trois tambours différents reflètent, en autant de tonalités et de tempos, les périodes de guerre qui plongent l’Angleterredu début du Moyen Âge dans la tourmente. Des accords sombres et majestueux, exposés dans le registre grave, créent un contraste et donnent au son d’ensemble un caractère trouble et confus. Lorsque les tambours se retrouvent dans un même rythme, l’ensemble de la formation interprète pour la première fois à l’unisson le 'Thème d’Albion'. Un allegro energico plein d’agitation apporte soudainement plus d’élan et de dynamisme. Des thèmes virtuoses et guerriers se succèdent, donnant au passage un caractère tumultueux. Cette suite de thèmes se conclut également avec le 'Thème d’Albion', soutenu cette fois-ci par une structure harmonique plus complexe. S’ensuit un passage intermédiaire calme et serein, permettant à plusieurs solistes d’exploiter et de révéler leurs qualités musicales. Après tout, Albion n’a pas connu que des périodes de troubles et de misère. Et le roi Arthur n’est-il pas considéré comme celui qui a apporté paix et stabilité au pays ? Cette lente succession de fragments en solo progresse avec une fluidité presque évidente vers un passage où l’orchestre interprète en choeur les accords majestueux des mesures d’ouverture de l’oeuvre. Le Brass Band sonne comme un orgue et le 'Thème d’Albion' vient tout naturellement conclure cette oasis de paix retrouvée. Dans le finale impressionnant, plusieurs éléments thématiques / Niveau : 6 / Pièce de concert / Date parution : 1905-06-23/ Répertoire / Brass Band