Variants on a Shaped Note Tune was commissioned by the Homewood Middle School Band (Homewood AL) and was premiered at the Alabama Music Educators Association Conference in January 2006. The title refers to a traditionalearly American singing style based on reading a system of shapes rather than musical notes. Based on the Scottish tune “Pisgah” from the shape note songbook The Sacred Harp the Variants begin simply with astatement by unison clarinets. From there begins a series of distinctive variations featuring an ingenious mix of styles tempos and instrumentation. Destined to become a staple on required contest lists for years to come thiswork provides an exceptional complement for any program or festival. Dur: 5:00 (Includes Full Performance CD)

“Cathedral Grove” is a magnificent park on Vancouver Island in British Columbia Canada containing some of the oldest and largest trees in the world. It is the towering majestic pillars of these ancient giants andthe quiet serenity of this place that inspired this music. Evocative and impressionistic in nature Robert Buckley's writing depicts the richness of the colors and textures and the diffused light shining through the canopy ofleaves above. At times hauntingly lyrical and other times prayer-like and reverent but always filled with awe and beauty. (Includes optional part for acoustic guitar or harp). Dur: 3:05Recorded by the Troy UniversitySymphony Band - Mark Walker conductor

Whilst making no claims to be stylistically authentic this little piece aims to capture the infectious spirit of mariachi a word whose origins are lost in the mists of time but which describes not only the performers (on guitars vihuelas violins trumpets and harp) but also the music itself. Their music speaks of love passion politics life in the country and revolutionary heroes but is unerringly uplifting in style and immediately recognisable as the spirit of Mexico. A chance to add that Spanish flavour to your concerts.

The Odyssee tells the story of Odysseus the undaunted hero. In times long ago the blind poet Homer wrote this famous epic. The 'Odyssey' follows the 'Iliad' the story of the bloody war between the Greek and the Trojans. This battle endsafter ten years thanks to the Odysseys famous trick. the Trojan Horse. The Odyssey is not a war epic but a story about perseverance loyalty adventure and the survival instinct of its ingenious hero. In The Odyssey Homer describes howOdysseus the king of Ithaca had to endure another ten years of affliction after the ten years of war in Troy before he could finally return to his home land. During those years his wife Penelope had to try and keep her many admirers away.These men not only wanted het hand but also the kingship. To prove her husbands worth she played a trick: 'As soon as I have finished weaving this shroud for my father-in-law Laertes I will choose one of you to become my husband' she promisedthem. But during the night she secretly loosened what she had woven during the day prolonging the time until Odysseus would finally return. After twenty long years when he finally stood at the door she wondered: Is this really my husband? Ishe an imposter? Cunningly she asked him to move the bed because only she and her husband know that the bed was immovable and was build around an old three trunk! Odysseus was deeply moved: this really was his wife his Penelope! Nearly threethousands years later the loyalty and strength of this character and all the dangerous adventures that Odysseus survived thanks to courage and intelligence still moves us today. Odyssee by Jan Bosveld is not just an adventure story butrather a characteristic piece in which memories of Homers story can be heard. The composition opens with a firm stirring theme describing our hero Odysseus in detail: This man is not to be taken lightly. The further development of thisshort introduction completes this character sketch: trustworthy perseverant and a genius. After that we can picture Odysseus on the lonely beach of Ogygia. Do the trumpets depict his memories of the war of Troy? Does he think of his wife as werecognise the weaving loom of Penelope in the murmuring eighth? In the solemn plaintive part that follows we can imagine Penelope feeling lonely sitting in the womens room with her servants.One of the girls plays the harp but that does notclear the sombre atmosphere. Then we can imagine seeing the sorceress Circe who changed Odysseus men into swine. After she gives a simple magic sign something follows that reminds us of the sound of pigs grunting. Then the Odysseus theme resounds:the hero comes to savi his comrades. Assisted by Hermes he forces Circe to lift the spell. The piece ends the same way as it began with an animated theme: Odysseus is still the same undefeated and not to be taken lighty!

This large-scale three-movement work commissioned by Ray Cramer and the Indiana University Wind Ensemble embodies the transformation of silence into sound. The opening movement is sparse utilizing mallet percussion harp andpiano to create a floating sense of timelessness. Featuring extensive solo flute this floating texture gradually builds over several minutes ultimately launching itself into a grandiose warm harmonically consonant blanket ofsound. The second movement continues the focus on solo flute and again opens slowly gradually gaining momentum but at a faster pace than in the first movement. The music spirals upward and outward but instead of reaching aplateau winds itself out and comes to a grinding halt in the upper range of the ensemble. Five brief solemn chords conclude the movement which immediately erupts into Movement III music of unceasing unsettling motion propelled by a driving ostinato which is repeatedly interrupted by bittersweet moments of lyricism all the while pushing toward an unforgiving climax. The movements may also be performed separately. There is no explicit narrativeto the piece though many particular elements do have personal quasi-biographical significance. Ultimately this is music of both personal and musical transformation.NOTE: This work is available as a rental item directlyfrom the composer. For details e-mail rental@stevenbryant.com. The score is also available separately for purchase from Hal Leonard.

The Odyssee tells the story of Odysseus the undaunted hero. In times long ago the blind poet Homer wrote this famous epic. The 'Odyssey' follows the 'Iliad' the story of the bloody war between the Greek and the Trojans. This battle endsafter ten years thanks to the Odysseys famous trick. the Trojan Horse. The Odyssey is not a war epic but a story about perseverance loyalty adventure and the survival instinct of its ingenious hero. In The Odyssey Homer describes howOdysseus the king of Ithaca had to endure another ten years of affliction after the ten years of war in Troy before he could finally return to his home land. During those years his wife Penelope had to try and keep her many admirers away.These men not only wanted het hand but also the kingship. To prove her husbands worth she played a trick: 'As soon as I have finished weaving this shroud for my father-in-law Laertes I will choose one of you to become my husband' she promisedthem. But during the night she secretly loosened what she had woven during the day prolonging the time until Odysseus would finally return. After twenty long years when he finally stood at the door she wondered: Is this really my husband? Ishe an imposter? Cunningly she asked him to move the bed because only she and her husband know that the bed was immovable and was build around an old three trunk! Odysseus was deeply moved: this really was his wife his Penelope! Nearly threethousands years later the loyalty and strength of this character and all the dangerous adventures that Odysseus survived thanks to courage and intelligence still moves us today. Odyssee by Jan Bosveld is not just an adventure story butrather a characteristic piece in which memories of Homers story can be heard. The composition opens with a firm stirring theme describing our hero Odysseus in detail: This man is not to be taken lightly. The further development of thisshort introduction completes this character sketch: trustworthy perseverant and a genius. After that we can picture Odysseus on the lonely beach of Ogygia. Do the trumpets depict his memories of the war of Troy? Does he think of his wife as werecognise the weaving loom of Penelope in the murmuring eighth? In the solemn plaintive part that follows we can imagine Penelope feeling lonely sitting in the womens room with her servants.One of the girls plays the harp but that does notclear the sombre atmosphere. Then we can imagine seeing the sorceress Circe who changed Odysseus men into swine. After she gives a simple magic sign something follows that reminds us of the sound of pigs grunting. Then the Odysseus theme resounds:the hero comes to savi his comrades. Assisted by Hermes he forces Circe to lift the spell. The piece ends the same way as it began with an animated theme: Odysseus is still the same undefeated and not to be taken lighty!

Par COURT DOUGLAS. Conductors of beginning bands are always looking for fresh material that will be fun for the band while the students continue sharpening their playing skills. You and your students will certainly have a great time with this new Grade 1 piece by Douglas Court. Cast in a relaxed “island” style, it’s a great way to help young musicians understand the need for smooth tonguing and playing phrases that connect numerous notes with a continuous air stream. With Seaside Calypso in the folders you can continue teaching while you prepare for the concert. Easy-goin’! / Niveau : 1 / Musique légère originale / Répertoire / Concert Band

Cette ?uvre a été composée en commande de l?Aikodai Meiden High School Symphonic Band à l?occasion de son 50e concert annuel ce qui a inspiré le titre. L?amitié profonde entre Hiroki Ito ? le chef d?orchestre ? et Satoshi Yagisawa est à l?origine decette fanfare jubilatoire d?une durée approximative de deux minutes pièce d?ouverture idéale pour votre concert. La composition originale était pour un orchestre extrêmement grand de 200 musiciens comprenant aussi une banda séparée uneharpe et d?autres instruments spéciaux. Cette nouvelle version a été réarrangée pour formation standard par le compositeur lui-même.

Conductors of beginning bands are always looking for fresh material that will be fun for the band while the students continue sharpening their playing skills. You and your students will certainly have a great time with this new Grade 1 piece by Douglas Court. Cast in a relaxed ?island? style it?s a great way to help young musicians understand the need for smooth tonguing and playing phrases that connect numerous notes with a continuous air stream. With Seaside Calypso in the folders you can continue teaching while you prepare for the concert.Easy-goin?!

Arr. Wil Van Der Beek. Par TCHAIKOVSKI PIOTR ILITCH. Tchaikovsky is best known for his purely instrumental compositions. However, we must not underestimate him as a composer of operas. Many of his operas such as ¬Pique Dame and Eugene Onegin are still performed regularly throughout the world. Eugene Onegin (also called Jevgeny Onegin), composed in 1877-1878, was not called an opera by Tchaikovsky himself, but “lyric scenes”. The work is entirely dominated by lyricism. However, there are two moments that contrast sharply with this lyricism: two ball scenes, for which Tchaikovsky wrote a waltz and a polonaise. After opening with a less well-known allegro dansant, this arrangement features the aforementioned waltz, which can beconsidered a beautiful Russian equivalent of the Faust Waltz by Charles Gounod. In the opera, this waltz is actually played by a military band. The arrangement concludes with the pompous polonaise (also mentioned above) which opens the last act: the ideal music to characterize high aristocracy in the salon of a palace in St. Petersburg. / Niveau : 3 / Répertoire / Concert Band ou Harmonie

Track Clear ~ Laisser passez !-Eduard Strauss the third son of Johann Strauss the Elder was born on March 15 1835 in Vienna. Originally Eduard looked for employment in the diplomatic service but he also studied music theory. He became a harpist in the Strauss orchestra in 1855. In 1862 he joined his two famous brothers Johann Jr. and Josef as a conductor of the family orchestra. Like that of his two brothers his musical output was prolific: he wrote over 320 separate dances and marches. Apart from the exuberant Bahn Frei (Track Clear) which he wrote in 1869 and a handful of other fast polkas (he excelled in this particular dance form) his music is not as well known as that of his brothers.

Tchaikovsky is best known for his purely instrumental compositions. However we must not underestimate him as a composer of operas. Many of his operas such as ¬Pique Dame and Eugene Onegin are still performed regularly throughout the world. Eugene Onegin (also called Jevgeny Onegin) composed in 1877-1878 was not called an opera by Tchaikovsky himself but ?lyric scenes?. The work is entirely dominated by lyricism. However there are two moments that contrast sharply with this lyricism: two ball scenes for which Tchaikovsky wrote a waltz and a polonaise.After opening with a less well-known allegro dansant this arrangement features the aforementioned waltz which can beconsidered a beautiful Russian equivalent of the Faust Waltz by Charles Gounod. In the opera this waltz is actually played by a military band. The arrangement concludes with the pompous polonaise (also mentioned above) which opens the last act: the ideal music to characterize high aristocracy in the salon of a palace in St. Petersburg.

Tchaikovsky is best known for his purely instrumental compositions. However we must not underestimate him as a composer of operas. Many of his operas such as ¬Pique Dame and Eugene Onegin are still performed regularly throughout the world. Eugene Onegin (also called Jevgeny Onegin) composed in 1877-1878 was not called an opera by Tchaikovsky himself but ?lyric scenes?. The work is entirely dominated by lyricism. However there are two moments that contrast sharply with this lyricism: two ball scenes for which Tchaikovsky wrote a waltz and a polonaise.After opening with a less well-known allegro dansant this arrangement features the aforementioned waltz which can beconsidered a beautiful Russian equivalent of the Faust Waltz by Charles Gounod. In the opera this waltz is actually played by a military band. The arrangement concludes with the pompous polonaise (also mentioned above) which opens the last act: the ideal music to characterize high aristocracy in the salon of a palace in St. Petersburg.