SKU: CN.R10002

SKU: CN.R10163

Carmen can be considered to be Bizet's crowning achievement. Geoffrey Brand's skillful arrangement brings two of Bizet's most popular themes within the reach of technically less-advanced players.

Carmen can be considered to be Bizet's crowning achievement - as well as transforming the French 'opera-comique' in the process. It is odd therefore that the majority of critics condemned the libretto and music after the first performance. Luckily, history has changed that verdict and recognized a masterpiece. Geoffrey Brand's skillful arrangement brings two themes within the reach of technically less advanced players.

SKU: CN.S11260

Geoffrey Brand's arrangement of Berlioz's Shepherds' Farewell form L'Enfance du Christ is restrained, delicate, and contemplative. In this arrangement for small wind orchestra, the instruments are called upon to display their softer persuasive sounds in order to retain the sensitive nature of this tender music.

L'Enfance du Christ (The Childhood of Christ), written between 1850 and 1854, is the nearest that Berlioz got to writing an oratorio. It is in three parts; he called it a 'sacred trilogy.' Throughout, the music is restrained, delicate, and contemplative. In its original version, The Shepherds' Farewell is scored for chorus accompanied by two oboes, two clarinets, and strings. With these selected colors, Berlioz achieves a masterpiece of delicacy and serenity. In this arrangement for small wind orchestra without chorus, the wind instruments are called upon to display their softer persuasive sounds in order to retain the sensitive nature of this tender music. This arrangement may be used with chorus utilizing the original chorus parts. The key is one half tone lower than the original setting.

SKU: CN.S11121

Michael Brand takes the opening bars of Haydn's well known Symphony but gives the audience a few extra surprises along the way. The piece gives plenty of opportunities for comic interplay between Conductor, Tuba player, and Percussion in particular.

SKU: CN.R10192

Hear the sounds of marching bands, choirs, and the music of Broadway in this exciting concert march. Inspired by an actual parade in New York, Michael Brand brings us this spectacular original march. Perfect in any setting throughout the year.

In June 1997 I was in New York and had a free weekend. On Sunday morning I was awoken early by a great deal of banging and saw that barriers and roadblocks had been erected throughout Central Park. Why? I soon heard the answer: a great parade. When the Americans put together a parade they really mean it! This one lasted 3 hours and brought the center of New York to a standstill. Bands, dancers and choirs marched past in celebration of the Jewish faith. New York Parade is completely original but its starting point in my imagination was a marching band, a choir and Broadway. The marching band starts in the distance, passes by and as it moves away we hear the next block of performers singing, almost chanting, a hymn (called Jewish Song). The groups suddenly turn into Broadway, as a song from an imaginary show intervenes but then the band and choir return in counterpoint and all three themes come together.

SKU: CN.R60343

A wonderful arrangement of the original chorale for brass that transitions into several lively variations. Brand's compact band series allows for flexibility in scoring for your ensemble.

SKU: CN.S11287

A wonderful arrangement of the original chorale for concert band that transitions into several lively variations. Brand's compact band series allows for flexibility in scoring for your ensemble.

SKU: CN.S11258

Michael Brand's arrangement follows the original dance styles of Warlock's string composition but adds tambour-like drums to accentuate the dance rhythms and steps.

Both title and thematic material of the Capriol Suite are derived from a famous book on dance steps published in 1589 in France. It indicated the rhythms, the steps associated with them, the manner of playing pipes and tabors, and adds nearly fifty dance tunes of the period. It was from these tunes that composer Peter Warlock selected material for his Capriol Suite for String Orchestra.

SKU: CN.R10099

This lovely tune is arranged to give nearly everyone chance to shine: flute, oboe, trumpet, horns, saxes, tuba and percussion. Each variation is scored with new colours and textures, ending with a chromatic version of which Percy Grainger might have been proud!

SKU: CN.S11192

Hear the sounds of marching bands, choirs, and the music of Broadway in this exciting concert march. Inspired by an actual parade in New York, Michael Brand brings us this spectacular original march. Perfect in any setting throughout the year.

In June 1997 I was in New York and had a free weekend. On Sunday morning I was awoken early by a great deal of banging and saw that barriers and roadblocks had been erected throughout Central Park. Why? I soon heard the answer: a great parade. When the Americans put together a parade they really mean it! This one lasted 3 hours and brought the center of New York to a standstill. Bands, dancers and choirs marched past in celebration of the Jewish faith. New York Parade is completely original but its starting point in my imagination was a marching band, a choir and Broadway. The marching band starts in the distance, passes by and as it moves away we hear the next block of performers singing, almost chanting, a hymn (called Jewish Song). The groups suddenly turn into Broadway, as a song from an imaginary show intervenes but then the band and choir return in counterpoint and all three themes come together.

SKU: CN.S11267

This arrangement of the entire March from A Moorside Suite brings this refreshing music to concert bands of all levels. It should be played with full appreciation of its splendid sense of purpose and direction, from the bold fanfare-like opening, based on a pair uplifting leaps of the interval of a fourth, in which every instrument takes part, right through to the exaltant flourish in the final bars marked Allegro vivace. Truly, a March to lift the spirits!

Gustav Holst (1874-1934) can claim a distinction shared with a relatively small number of composers in that his music is more performed now than it was during his lifetime. A Moorside Suite, Holst's only work for brass band, is in three movements, Scherzo; Nocturne; March; and was written as the set work for the National Brass Band Championships of Great Britain in 1928. It has become recognized as one of the truly great original works for brass band. This arrangement of the entire March brings this refreshing music to concert bands of all levels. It should be played with full appreciation of its splendid sense of purpose and direction, from the bold fanfare-like opening, based on a pair uplifting leaps of the interval of a fourth, in which every instrument takes part, right through to the exaltant flourish in the final bars marked Allegro vivace. Truly, a March to lift the spirits!