SKU: BT.AMP-028-130

The piece reflects the composer's fascination with the origins of the universe and deep space in general. The title comes from a theory, formulated by Pythagoras, that the cosmos was ruled by the same laws he had discovered that govern the ratios of note frequencies of the musical scale. (‘Harmonia’ in Ancient Greek, which means scale or tuning rather than harmony - Greek music was monophonic). He also believed that these ratios corresponded to the distances of the six known planets from the sun and that the planets each produced a musical note which combined to weave a continuous heavenly melody (which, unfortunately, we humans cannot hear). In this work, these six notesform the basis of the sections MUSIC OF THE SPHERES and HARMONIA. The pieces opens with a horn solo called t = 0, a name given by some scientists to the moment of the Big Bang when time and space were created, and this is followed by a depiction of the BIG BANG itself, as the entire universe bursts out from a single point. A slower section follows called THE LONELY PLANET which is a meditation on the incredible and unlikely set of circumstances which led to the creation of the Earth as a planet that can support life, and the constant search for other civilisations elsewhere in the universe. ASTEROIDS AND SHOOTING STARS depicts both the benign and dangerous objects that are flying through space and which constantly threaten our planet, and the piece ends with THE UNKNOWN, leaving in question whether our continually expanding exploration of the universe will eventually lead to enlightenment or destruction.

Dit werk weerspiegelt de fascinatie van de componist voor het heelal. Het begint met een hoornsolo met de naam t = 0, waarmee sommige wetenschappers de oerknal aanduiden. Dan volgt een weergave van de oerknal zelf. Het volgendegedeelte, The Lonely Planet, is een meditatie over het ongelooflijke samenspel van omstandigheden dat leidde tot het ontstaan van de Aarde. Asteroids and Shooting Stars beschrijft objecten in de ruimte. Het werkeindigt met The Unknown, waarmee we in het ongewisse blijven over de gevolgen van onze verdere verkenning van het universum. In 2005 won Philip Sparke met Music of the Spheres de National Band Association/William D.Revelli Memorial Band Composition Contest.

Mit diesem großartigen Werk, das dem Auftraggeber der Yorkshire Building Society Band am Europäischen Brass Band Wettbewerb 2004 in Glasgow als Selbstwahlstück zu einem weiteren Titel verhalf, beweist Philip Sparke einmal mehr seine außergewöhnlichen kompositorischen Fähigkeiten. Dieses Werk über die Ursprünge des Universums führt uns vom Urknall, vorbei an einsamen Planeten, Asteroiden und Sternschnuppen schließlich ins Unbekannte - die ungewisse Zukunft. Ein Glanzstück und eine echte Herausforderung für jeden Spitzen-Brass Band!

La fresque Music of the Spheres (“La musique des sphères”) souligne la fascination qu’éprouve le compositeur pour les origines de l’univers. L’orchestration est proche de la musique de film. Le climat musical est ample, sonore et contrasté.

Music of the Spheres evidenza il fascino che le origini dell’universo esercitano su Philip Sparke. Il titolo proviene da una teoria del matematico greco Pitagora, secondo la quale il cosmo è retto dalle stesse leggi che governano i rapporti di frequenza tra le note della scala musicale. Questa composizione inizia con un assolo di corno chiamato t = 0, nozione che definisce il momento del big-bang. The Lonely Planet (Il pianeta solitario) è una meditazione sulle circostanze che hanno portato alla creazione della terra. Asteroids and Shooting Stars (Asteroidi e Stelle cadenti) descrive i molteplici oggetti che si muovono nello spazio e che rappresentano unrischio per il nostro pianeta. Le battute finali portano verso l’ignoto (The Unknown) sollevando una domanda la cui risposta resta in sospeso: la nostra continua avanzata nell’esplorazione dell’Universo porter un giorno alla scoperta o alla distruzione?

SKU: BO.B.3340

ISBN 9788480207591.

English comments:
My dedication to the string instruments has been a constant throughout my compositional career and I knew that sooner or later the time would come to compose a concerto for violin and orchestra. That moment came in the autumn of 2002 and after ten months of uninterrupted work I finished it in August of 2003. It is a work structured similarly to the traditional concertos. An important impetus for the elaboration of my concerto was due to the ill-fated violinist Ginette Neveu. Her version of Sibelius' Concerto has always stayed with me. For this reason the first movement, Moderato-Allegro, begins with a contemplative atmosphere similar to that of Sibelius' Concerto in which the principal thematic ideas appear tentatively. These ideas, two rhythmic and two melodic, are reaffirmed through a broad development that culminates in an orchestral fullness. A calm, mysterious passage recalls the introduction and after becoming blurred, three bars burst in leading to the rapid section of the movement. Soloist and orchestra engage in a dialectic struggle of a dramatic nature. The agitation subsides leaving only a tranquil and suggestive clarinet phrase. This will be taken up by the soloist who leads up to the movement's most dramatic moment playing an accelerating triplet figure supported by an orchestral pedal in crescendo. From here the soloist's cadenza emerges beginning with soft double notes. It finishes with an ascending progression and the soloist settles into the high register to elicit the orchestra's intervention in a soft and transfigured atmosphere. Once internalised the second movement, Adagio poco sostenuto e leggero begins. It has a solemn character and opens with two trumpet calls answered by the violoncellos and the contrabasses. The violin soloist introduces and plays two nostalgic themes, the first in the low register and the second, more extensive, in the middle register. The soft and delicate Misterioso e leggero begins with the violin singing on high. The rhythm of the constant quaver figures gradually accelerates until the soloist provokes a dramatic full orchestra as in a cadenza. Once again, the Calmo, in which the soloist with less and less orchestral attire serenely bids farewell. A rising series of double stops by the soloist serves to initiate the Finale-Scherzo. In 6/8 rhythm and with the character of a rondo it carries us along in a carefree, virtuosic ambiance. The principal motives, brief and concise, emerge from the happy, playful theme presented by the soloist. With an intricate progression of rapid sixths in double stops it reaches a tense and somewhat combative moment. However this resolves itself in a diminuendo that the soloist peacefully takes up with the notes re-la to commence the cadenza. This culminates in a series of tied notes to reintroduce the principal theme. A moment of melodic suspension serves as a farewell before the brief and jovial final coda. --The author

Comentarios del Espanol:
A lo largo de mi carrera compositiva mi dedicacion a los instrumentos de cuerda ha sido constante y sabia que, tarde o temprano, llegaria el momento de componer un concierto para violin y orquesta. Este llego en otono de 2002 y, tras diez meses de trabajo ininterrumpido, lo termine en agosto de 2003. Se trata de una obra estructurada de manera similar a los conciertos tradicionales. Un importante impulso a la elaboracion de mi concierto lo debo al recuerdo de la malograda violinista Ginette Neveu. Su version del concierto de Sibelius ha permanecido siempre dentro de mi. Por ese motivo, el primer movimiento Moderato-Allegro se inicia con una atmosfera contemplativa cercana a la del mencionado Concierto, en la que aparecen cautamente las principales ideas tematicas. Con un amplio desarrollo se llega a un lleno orquestal en el que estas ideas -dos ritmicas y dos melodicas- quedan reafirmadas. Un pasaje calmo y misterioso rememora la introduccion. Tras desdibujarse, irrumpen tres compases que nos llevan a la parte rapida del movimiento. Solista y orquesta establecen un combate dialectico de caracter dramatico. La inquietud desaparece hasta una tranquila e insinuante frase del clarinete. Esta sera recogida por el solista, quien, a base de una figuracion de tresillos cada vez mas rapidos apoyada por un pedal de la orquesta in crescendo, conduce hacia el momento mas dramatico del movimiento. De aqui nace la cadenza del solista, que se incia con suaves notas dobles. Finaliza con una progresion ascendente y el solista se coloca en el registro agudo para llamar la intervencion de la orquesta dentro de una atmosfera suave y transfigurada. Interiorizado es el segundo movimiento Adagio poco sostenuto e leggero. Con dos llamadas de las trompas respondidas por los violonchelos y contrabajos inicia el Adagio de caracter grave. El violin solista introduce y canta dos temas nostalgicos. El primero en el registro grave y el segundo, mas amplio, en el medio. Inicia el Misterioso e leggero, de caracter suave y delicado. Con el violin cantando en agudo. La constante figuracion de corcheas acelerara poco a poco el ritmo hasta que el solista a modo de cadenza provocara un dramatico lleno orquestal. De nuevo el Calmo, donde el solista, cada vez con menos ropaje orquestal, se despide serenamente. Una subida de dobles cuerdas a cargo del solista sirve para iniciar el Finale-Scherzo. Este, en ritmo de 6/8 y con caracter de rondo, nos transporta en un clima virtuosistico y despreocupado. Del tema alegre y jugueton presentado por el solista nacen los principales motivos, breves y concisos. Con una intrincada sucesion de rapidas sextas en doble cuerda se llega a un momento crispado y algo combativo que, sin embargo, se resolvera en un diminuendo que el solista recoge apaciblemente con las notas re-la para inciar la cadenza. Esta culmina con un suave rosario de notas en ligado para introducir de nuevo el tema principal. Un momento de suspension melodica sirve como despido antes de la breve y jovial coda final. La obra fue estrenada el 23 de septiembre de 2005 en el Teatre Monumental de Madrid por la Orquesta Sinfonica de RTVE con Markus Placci de solista y Uwe Mund de director. Gravacion: RNE y Canal Clasico de TVE. --El Autor.

SKU: BT.DHP-1115235-140

9x12 inches. English-German-French-Dutch.

The Atlas Symphony for symphonic wind band is an impressive and subtle work, thematically complex, with a rich orchestration, but also great beauty. The composer was keen to draw a parallel between an atlas, where all the geographical maps of the world are collected in one book, and his score, which brings together all the facets of his musical style. Despite being written without any breaks, the symphony is structured around three main ideas. It is based upon a series of notes that will become the very essence of the piece, its building blocks. Like the works of composers of serial music, the series appears in different forms - melodic and harmonic, thematic or simply asan accompaniment. With its wealth of rhythms and contrapuntal power, this piece is a compelling concerto for orchestra. The Orchestre de la Police Nationale was the first to be attracted to this work and premiered it with excellence under the baton of composer Thierry Deleruyelle.

Die Atlas Symphony für symphonisches Blasorchester ist ein eindrucksvolles, feinsinniges Werk, mit einer komplexen Thematik und einer reichhaltigen Orchestrierung, aber dennoch anmutig. Der Komponist beabsichtigte, eine Parallele zwischen einem Atlas, der geografische Karten der ganzen Welt enthält, und seiner Partitur zu ziehen, die alle Facetten seines persönlichen Musikstils enthält. Obwohl sie ohne Unterbrechung geschrieben ist, ist diese Symphonie doch auf drei Hauptachsen aufgebaut. Sie basiert auf einer Reihe von Noten, welche die Quintessenz, das Material des gesamten Stückes bilden. Wie bei den Komponisten serieller Musik tritt diese Reihe in verschiedenenGestalten auf - melodisch oder harmonisch, thematisch oder einfach als Begleitung. Mit seinem Reichtum an Rhythmen und der kontrapunktischen Brillanz ist die Atlas Symphony ein wahrhaftes Konzert für Orchester. Das Orchestre de la Police Nationale (Frankreich) war das erste Orchester, das sich von diesem Werk verführen ließ und spielte eine brillante Uraufführung unter der Leitung des Komponisten Thierry Deleruyelle.

La Symphonie Atlas pour grand orchestre d’harmonie est une œuvre imposante et subtile, l’orchestration riche et la thématique complexe mais néanmoins gracieuse. Le compositeur a tenu faire un parallèle entre l’Atlas, ce livre où toutes les cartes géographiques du monde sont répertoriées et sa partition, qui possède toutes les caractéristiques de son style musical. Volontairement écrite d’un seul tenant, elle s’articule néanmoins en trois axes. Sa construction est basée sur une série de notes qui deviendront l’essence même de la pièce, son matériau. Tel le travail des compositeurs de musique sérielle, « la série » apparaitra sous différentes formes, mélodiqueet harmonique, thématique ou simplement d’accompagnement. Sa richesse rythmique et son pouvoir contrapuntique fait de cette pièce un véritable concerto pour orchestre. C’est l’Orchestre de la Police Nationale qui a le premier été séduit par l’œuvre et qui en a fait la brillante création sous la direction du compositeur Thierry Deleruyelle.

Atlas Symphony è un brano grandioso, di enorme bellezza, pieno di sfumature, tematicamente complesso, con una ricca orchestrazione. La sinfonia è scritta senza interruzioni e basata su una serie di note che vengono proposte nella melodia, nell’armonia e nel tema. La ricchezza di ritmi e la brillantezza dei contrappunti, fanno di Atlas Symphony un brano da concerto perfetto.

SKU: BT.DHP-0981152-140

In October 1997, Jacob de Haan visited the Swiss village of St. Moritz, where he worked as a conductor with a symphonic wind band. The Mountains around St. Moritz were covered in marvelous autumn colors. The Colors, the quietness and nature itself inspired Jacob de Haan to compose this lyrical composition.

Oktober 1997. Jacob de Haan besucht St. Moritz in der Schweiz, wo er als Dirigent mit einem Symphonischen Blasorchester arbeitet. Die Berge rings um die Stadt, die Rhätischen Alpen, leuchten in kräftigen Herbstfarben. Die Berggipfel nahe der italienischen Grenze scheinen noch einmal tief Atem zu holen, bevor der erste Schnee fällt und Horden von Touristen das Gebiet wieder bevölkern. Die Farben, die Gerüche, die Ruhe und die Natur inspirierten mich.“ Kaum wieder zu Hause, schreibt Jacob de Haan die lyrische Komposition Yellow Mountains.

En octobre 1997, Jacob de Haan se rend Saint-Moritz en Suisse. La nature a quitté ses habits d’été pour revêtir une extraordinaire palette de couleurs. Les montagnes radieuses retiennent leur souffle dans l’attente des premières neiges et le paysage tout entier diffuse un sentiment de paix et de sérénité. Le modèle est idéal et inspire Jacob de Haan cette pièce aux couleurs tonales variées. Tel un peintre, il créé une œuvre aux traits fluides et souples, où les arrondis donnent naissance des teintes chaleureuses.

Nell'ottobre del 1997, Jacob de Haan visitò il paese svizzero di St. Moritz, dove lavorò come direttore di una banda sinfonica di fiati. Le montagne intorno a St. Moritz erano ricoperte dei meravigliosi colori dell'autunno. La variet cromatica e la quiete della natura ispirarono a Jacob de Haan questa composizione lirica.