Auteur-compositeur plus aimé de l'Amérique est présenté dans cette medley exceptionnelle pour symphonic band. John Higgins a sélectionné certains des mélodies plus grands de Berlin et chacun a donné une touche rafraîchissante dans son propre style habile / Orchestre D'Harmonie

Written in 1943-44 as a ballet for Martha Graham, Appalachian Spring is one of Aaron Copland's most celebrated compositions and winner of the Pulitzer Prize in 1945. In this edition for concert band, Robert Longfield has skillfully adapted the most striking and beautiful sections from the orchestral suite. The work ranges in scope from delicate and soloistic to the overpowering force of the full ensemble, culminating with Copland's signature setting of 'Simple Gifts?.A wonderful opportunity for band members and their audiences to enjoy this beloved music from one of America's pre-eminent composers. / Ensemble A Vent Partition Et Parties

Par SPARKE PHILIP. This work was commissioned for The Berkshire Young Musicians Trust (England), who required a testing piece for the woodwind section of their concert band. The piece opens with a strong unison passage based on the interval of a fifth and develops with a passionate legato. This is followed by the main vivo section of the work based on the earlier 'fifth' figures. A bridge passage leads to a short chorale figure and a rhythmic climax which dissolves into a plaintive solo for oboe over staccato clarinets. Following a recapitulation of the main theme the oboe returns triumphantly before the opening unison passage reappears to provide a stirring coda. / Niveau : 4 / Pièce de concert / Répertoire / Concert Band ou Harmonie

Par COURT DOUGLAS. New Horizons was written to commemorate the opening of the Sinclair Secondary School in Whitby, Ontario, Canada. The school operates under the philosophy 'Quality education today - for tomorrow' and is looking toward new directions in education for the 21st century. The school offers a wide range of learning opportunities where the integration of curriculum stresses academics, athletics and the arts. This piece was performed at the official opening of the school in May of 1995. / Niveau : 2 / Pièce de concert / Répertoire / Concert Band ou Harmonie

Par VAN DER ROOST JAN. A spectacular dive via an extended chromatic scale immediately submerges us in a charged and somewhat archaic-feeling atmosphere. Trumpets, horns and trombones resound in rhythmic patterns, buttressed by restless motifs in the percussion. A second theme, in the woodwinds, begins much calmer but is quickly pushed aside by that same brass offensive. This introduction is the musical expression of the sometimes tumultuous early history of the town of Peer in Belgium. It closes with a D scale played over two octaves and repeated three times, symbolizing the church steeples that dominate the townscape. Peer has the credentials of a town, and people should know about it. There followsa rhythmic, turbulent passage: in the course of history, Peer has not been spared the ravages of war, arson, occupation, epidemic and other evils. In contrast, a slow, pastoral, lyrical part expresses the periods of peace and prosperity the town has known, as well as the serene geographic setting that still characterizes the place. Various instruments in groups are developed in solo style while the accompaniment displays vast, painterly images of sound. Now and then an exotic intonation is heard: a variety of peoples and cultures have left their mark on the town. This episode of tranquility and peacefulness comes to a sudden end when, via a surprising, almost chaotic transitional passage, we are in effect transported back to our own time. A hopeful, festive march expresses the confidence in the future that the Royal Concert Band of Peer exudes. This confidence is wholly justified: under the direction of conductor Willy Fransen, the 95 members of the concert band have experienced an extended period of good fortune, and the 75 musicians of the youth band - and the 45 little musicians of the mini-band - are involved in thriving operations. / Niveau : 6 / Pièce de concert / Répertoire / Concert Band ou Harmonie

Par SPARKE PHILIP. Five States of Change est une commande de l’institut Kunstfactor pour la 4e division des Championnats néerlandais de Brass Band en 2011. Cette oeuvre est dédiée à Jappie Dijkstra et au Music Information Centre (MUI) d’Arnhem, aux Pays-Bas, en hommage à leur rôle exceptionnel dans le développement du répertoire pour Orchestre à Vent. Le compositeur écrit : 'L’idée de cette composition m’est venue alors que je lisais un article sur un aspect de la philosophie chinoise, connu sous l’abréviation de Wu Xing*, qu’il est impossible de traduire littéralement mais qui peut signifier, par exemple, cinq éléments, cinq phases ou cinq états de changement. Toutechose dans l’univers est le fruit d’un cycle de création (ou d’engendrement) et de domination (ou contrôle). Ce concept est essentiel à tous les éléments de la pensée chinoise, y compris les sciences, la philosophie, la médecine et l’astrologie et, en termes simples, il représente les multiples rapports cycliques qui existent entre cinq éléments liés à l’univers et à toute chose dans l’univers, donc à l’homme. Évoquons le cycle de la création : Terre - Métal - Eau - Bois - Feu - (Terre) etc. La terre contient des minéraux, source de métal, le métal peut être fondu et se liquéfie, l’eau arrose et fait pousser les arbres, le bois brûle et produit du feu, le feu produit des cendres, une sorte de terre, dans une dynamique cyclique perpétuelle. Parmi tous les cycles existants, celui des émotions éveilla particulièrement mon intérêt : Méditation - Chagrin - Peur - Colère - Joie - (Méditation) etc. et je me suis dit que ce principe cyclique pourrait être à la source d’un puissant et émotionnel voyage musical. Five States of Change se compose donc de cinq parties égales qui reflètent assez librement ce cycle des émotions. J’ai essayé de faire en sorte que la musique se développe de manière fluide et naturelle, avec un minimum de répétitions. Chaque mouvement s’ouvre à partir des éléments musicaux qui parachèvent le mouvement précédent, tandis que / Niveau : 4 / Pièce de concert / Répertoire / Concert Band ou Harmonie

Arr. Cappellari A. Par ARLEN HAROLD. Arrangement and Orchestration by Andrea Cappellari. Full score and 21 parts: 1) C Instr. (Flute, Violin) / 1) Bb Instr. (Clarinet, Trumpet, Soprano Sax.) / 2) C Instr. (Violin) / 2) Bb Instr. (Clarinet, Trumpet, Soprano Sax.) / 3) C Instr. (Violin) / 3) Bb Instr. (Clarinet) / 4) C Instr. (Violin) / 4)str. (Alto Sax.) / 5) C Instr. (Violin) / 5) Eb Instr. (Alto Sax.) / 6) C Instr. (Violin) / 6) Bb Instr. (Clarinet) / 6) Eb Instr. (Alto Sax.) / 7) C Instr. (Violin, Viola) / 7) Bb Instr. (Clarinet) / 7) Eb Instr. (Alto Sax.) / Guitar / Piano 1 / PiaBass, Cello, Bassoon / Percussions / Four Hands Piano ad libitum. Performance possibile also without Piano. / TV, Film, Comédie musicale / Recueil / Ensemble Variable

Arr. Philip Sparke. Par BYRD WILLIAM. The Battell was written during the late 14th Century when England was in a mood of national celebration after victory over the Spanish and French Armadas. The movement which Byrd called Marche Before The Battell became known as The Earl of Oxford?s Marchand it appears with that title in an early manuscript copy of the Fitzwilliam Virginal Book. Written while Byrd was at the height of his powers, it still stirs the soul to this day. A perfect opener for your concert performances. / Niveau : 4 / Transcription / Répertoire / Concert Band ou Harmonie

Norwegian composer Ola Gjeilo is an emerging star in the realm of choral works, and also with music for wind band. Similar to his earlier band works Meridian and The Spheres, Serenity is based on a successful choral work. Beautifully arranged by J. Eric Wilson along with the composer, this version for wind band maintains all the wonder and magic of the original work. The opening is ethereal and somber, with sustained chords in clarinets and bowed percussion supporting a delicate oboe solo. The middle section shifts the principal modality from minor to major, and the layering orchestration and rising tessitura creates a tremendous rush of energy that leads to a triumphant climax. The closing section returns to the timbre of the opening, but now painted with hopefulness and healing. / Ensemble A Vent Partition Et Parties

Par CURNOW JAMES. Throughout the colonial period in America, country dancing was the principal recreation of all social classes. Americans had inherited this tendency from Elizabethan England, and many continental Europeans also took up English country dancing as their own. Four Colonial Country Dances feature country dance tunes that were indigenous to New England and particularly to the Boston area. / Niveau : 5 / Pièce de concert / Répertoire / Concert Band ou Harmonie

Par CURNOW JAMES. Throughout the colonial period in America, country dancing was the principal recreation of all social classes. Americans had inherited this tendency from Elizabethan England, and many continental Europeans also took up English country dancing as their own. Four Colonial Country Dances feature country dance tunes that were indigenous to New England and particularly to the Boston area. / Niveau : 5 / Répertoire / Concert Band ou Harmonie