Contest March. Par SPARKE PHILIP. Philip Sparke wrote this march for the famous brass band contest held ever year on Whit Friday in Oldham and Saddleworth. Given the competition’s long history (over 120 years), he consciously composed this piece in a very traditional march form. The title, The Conqueror, refers to Alexander the Great’s nickname as well as being something every band aspires to be! / Niveau : 4 / Marche de concert / Répertoire / Fanfare

Par VAN DER ROOST JAN. Mercury is a concert march composed in a typically British idiom. In 1990, Jan Van der Roost wrote this piece on the occasion of the 15-year anniversary of his own band: Brass Band Midden Brabant. Like many British marches, the main theme is written in a minor key. Powerful and virtuoso themes characterize the first part of this march, while the trio melody is much more melodical, offering the tenor register to display its lyrical skills. Follows a dynamic passage for trombones and trumpets/cornets, leading to a 'grandioso' version of the main trio melody and thus concluding this march in a magnificent way. / Niveau : 4 / Marche / Répertoire / Fanfare

Par SPARKE PHILIP. Lively and upbeat in nature, The Centurion follows the conventional British march format. It is not technically demanding yet a successful performance will need skill and commitment from every player in the band. The Centurion will make an ideal opening piece for any indoor or outdoor concert and will be a popular item with both players and audiences alike. / Niveau : 4 / Marche / Répertoire / Fanfare

Par VAN DER ROOST JAN. Dieses ruhige Stück mit seinen breiten Tönen wurde ursprünglich für Brass Band geschrieben, im Auftrag von Robert Leveugle, dem Vorsitzenden der Brass Band, dem der Komponist angehört: die Brass Band Midden Brabant (Belgien). Unmittelbarer Anlass war die Besichtigung der wunderschönen Kathedrale der englischen Stadt Canterbury, in welcher über Jahrhunderte hinweg so viele gute Kompositionen erklungen sind. Später orchestrierte Jan Van der Roost das Stück neu für Symphonisches Blasorchester, wobei er die reichhaltige Klangfarbenpalette dieser Formation voll ausnutzte. Neben Solo-Abschnitten für verschiedene Instrumente gibt es einige massive Tutti-Passagen, die dasBlasorchester wie ein riesiges Organ klingen lassen. Übrigens: Eine optionale Orgelstimme verleiht diesem Stück noch mehr Klangfülle, -farbe und Kraft, sodass es noch breiter und großartiger klingt. / Niveau : 4 / Musique pour célébration / Répertoire / Fanfare

Par VAN DER ROOST JAN. In the most literal sense: a piece for an occasion. The actual occasion was Jan de Haan’s twentieth anniversary as a conductor of the top Dutch brass band, “Soli Deo Gloria” (Leeuwarden). To mark the occasion, the band commissioned the Belgian comopser Jan Van der Roost to create a surprise piece: without knowledge of the person being celebrated, a suitable source of inspiration was sought for. After some thought the chorale-theme from Camille Saint-Saëns organ symphony was chosen, a piece with which Jan de Haan has a special bond. Apart from this chorale, Homage is also based on the names of notes taken from ‘Jan de Haan’ and ‘Soli Deo Gloria’, resulting in the tonerow: DEGAH. Both elements are combined together and form a grand climax towards the end of the piece when the whole band unites in the Saint Saëns’ theme. / Niveau : 5 / Musique pour célébration / Répertoire / Fanfare

Par VAN DER ROOST JAN. This suite was composed by Jan Van der Roost on the occasion of the 110th anniversary of the ‘Koninklijke Sint Martinusfanfare’ (Royal Saint Martinus Fanfare Band) from Halle (Belgium). The composer was required to create a suite in three movements based on three images associated with the ‘Sint Martinusfanfare’ from the small town of Halle in the province of Brabant. The first movement (Andante Pomposo) describes Martin, a soldier in the Roman army. In Andante Moderato we see the image of Martin, who become a Christian and chooses to devote his life to God. In this movement, the composer was inspired by the Brabantine gothic art of the Sint Martinus Basilica in Halle. Thecontrast between the dark Basilica and the statue of Our Lady between the soaring pillars will vividly come to life for audiences of this descriptive piece. The final movement, Allegro Molto Vivace’, could have been an image for a frivolous peasant in the Halle carnival. In a triptych about St. Martin it is more fitting to refer to it as an apotheosis, the crown on the pastoral work of Martin, Bishop of Tours, Patron Saint of the Fanfare Band and the Basilica of Halle. / Niveau : 4 / Pièce de concert / Répertoire / Fanfare

Par VAN DER ROOST JAN. Homage wurde von Jan Van der Roost im Auftrage der Brass Band Soli Deo Gloria aus Leeuwarden geschrieben. Direkter Anlass dazu war das 20-jährige Jubiläum von Jan de Haan als Dirigent dieses Ensembles. Als Inspiration diente dem Komponistendas Choralthema der Orgelsymphonie von Camille Saint-Saëns, ein von Jan de Haan geschätztes Werk. Nebst diesem Choral basiert Homage ebenfalls auf den Notenbezeichnungen aus ‘Jan de Haan’ und ‘Soli Deo Gloria’, was die Notenreihe DEGAH ergab. Beide Elemente werden durcheinander verwendet, bis sich schließlich die ganze Band im Finale mit dem Saint-Saëns-Thema wieder zusammenfindet. / Niveau : 5 / Musique pour célébration / Répertoire / Fanfare

For Jazztrio and Concert Band. Par SCHAARS PETER KLEINE. For Jazztrio And Concert Band / Niveau : 4 / Pièce de concert / Répertoire / Fanfare

Elegy For Band. Par SPARKE PHILIP. The initial idea was for a millennium piece, which it is, but rather than add to the many celebratory pieces that have understandably been written to salute the 3rd millennium, Philip Sparke thought it would perhaps be appropriate to think about the aspects of life that are constantly with us (such as faith and philosophy) rather than the exciting changes that the year 2000 has undeniably wrought. This calm meditative work will bring a moment of serenity and reflection to any concert. / Niveau : 4 / Musique pour célébration / Répertoire / Fanfare

Par VAN DER ROOST JAN. As the title suggests, this is a fiery and energetic, dynamic overture. Jan Van der Roost was commissioned to write the piece by the Japanese ‘Band of the NEC-Tamagawa Plant’ on the occasion of its 40th anniversary. From the first measure, the brass section sets the scene with rhythmical motives. Gradually we hear melodic and playful themes, often supported by (poly)rhythmic figures. A fermate in the trombone section prepares the way for the final theme, which virtuosically leads into a reprise of the first fanfare. The dynamic circle closes! / Niveau : 5 / Pièce de concert / Répertoire / Fanfare