A brief history: Pentecost Monday was a special day for schools in Yorkshire (England). There were a variety of activities. The pupils of Sabine Baring-Gould would meet with the children of a nearby village. It seemed like a good idea that during the walk would be sung. But she could not find a suitable song and decided to write one by herself. 'Onward Christian Soldiers' was the result. It soon became very popular though she herself was not entirely satisfied with the rhyme scheme. The melody used (St. Gertrude) was by the famous English composer Sir Arthur S. Sullivan. Back to now: Gawan Roberts has given the hymn a proper update. He gave the still popularsong a solid rock beat and added daring harmonies. So it's popular for current generations again for years. Onward!

Edward MacDowell (1860-1908) est considéré comme le premier grand compositeur américain de l?histoire de la musique bien qu?il refusait avec vigueur d?être associé à un quelconque courant musical nationaliste. Edward MacDowell a toujours considéré que la musique était une véritable langue internationale et ses œuvres sont fortement influencées par le style de composition européen et plus particulièrement par l?écriture allemande. Compositeur adulé de son vivant dans son pays natal et à l?étranger il était également un pianiste exceptionnel dont la virtuosité a impressionné l?un de ses plus brillants professeurs Franz Liszt. Edward MacDowell a composé de nombreusesœuvres pour piano un grand nombre de lieder ainsi que plusieurs œuvres orchestrales. Mais l?œuvre la plus connue de son répertoire est une charmante suite de miniatures musicales pour piano Woodland Sketches une composition modeste et stylistiquement simple dont est extraite la plus célèbre de ces miniatures To a Wild Rose (?À une rose sauvage?). L?étonnante sincérité de la mélodie fit dire à un grand critique musical que cette mélodie valait toutes les œuvres pour piano réunies de MacDowell.

En 1971 le chanteur britannique Tony Christie enregistre pour la première cette chanson de Neil Sedaka et Howard Greenfield. Le succès fut immédiat. Is This the Way to Amarillo est devenu indéniablement un grand classique. Avec cet arrangement bien ficelé Stefan Schwalgin met un peu de piment dans votre programme de concert.

Opus 2 no. 1-En 1885 Edward Elgar est nommé organiste de l?église Saint-George de Worcester. À ce titre il compose de nombreuses œuvres liturgiques. En 1887 il crée un Pie Jesu dans le cadre d'un triptyque comprenant aussi un Ave Maria et l?Ave Maria Stella. Il remanie la pièce en 1892 et celle-ci devient alors l?Ave Verum Corpus pour Soprano solo Ténor solo Chœur mixte et Orgue (Opus 2 n°1). Robert van Beringen en a réalisé un arrangement délicat et profond.

Edward Elgar composa son Liebesgruß en l?honneur de sa fiancée Caroline Alice Roberts. Il intitula ainsi cette composition parce que Miss Roberts parlait allemand couramment. L?oeuvre fut publiée un an après. Les premières éditions étaient respectivement pour violon et piano piano solo violoncelle et piano et orchestre de chambre. L?édition originale n?ayant pas eu un très grand succès commercial il changea le titre en Salut d?Amour pensant qu?un titre français stimulerait les ventes non seulement en France mais aussi dans toute l?Europe? Cette pépite musicale a été admirablement arrangée pour orchestre d?harmonie par Georges Moreau.

This arrangement is based on the hit song by the French duo Daft Punk and features Pharrell Williams. This disco/funk wonder is recognized worldwide and won the award for “Record of the Year” at the 2014 Grammy Awards.Tom Wallace produces an easy and fun to play version with natural rhythmic energy. Scored for small bands with reduced instrumentation.

The tradition of the Christmas tree in Western Europe dates back to a time long before any Christianization had taken place. During the severely cold winter nights so it was believed evil spirits tried to ?kill? nature. Needle-leaved trees were the only ones which kept their green colour throughout the year and therefore became symbols of immortality. These ?living? trees said to be the work of benign spirits were brought into people?s houses to ward off evil life-threatening powers. In the 14th century people first started to decorate Christmas trees. It was a pagan custom originated by the inhabitants of Alsace. This custom was taken over by the Church in thecourse of the 15th and 16th century. At first the decoration consisted mainly of edibles such as apples and wafers but later small presents were added. Legend has it that the reformer Martin Luther was the first person to decorate a Christmas tree with candles. The flickering candle flames were meant to create the image of a starry sky in which Christ?s apparition could be recognized. The German organ-player Ernst Anschütz from Leipzig was the first person to notate the song ?O Tannenbaum? the melody being a well-known folk song. Next to ?Stille Nacht? ?O Tannenbaum? is the most famous German Christmas song now known throughout the world. In the United States of America the melody of ?O Tannenbaum? has even been used in four States (among which the State of Maryland) for their State song. In David Well?s arrangement the song is first heard as many of us know it. After this introduction however it is transformed into a solid rock version and the beat has been changed. In the second part the familiar three-four time is back but here the rhythm is different from the original. After the richly ornamented rock beat the basic theme can be heard once again and the composition is concluded in a festive manner.

The tradition of the Christmas tree in Western Europe dates back to a time long before any Christianization had taken place. During the severely cold winter nights so it was believed evil spirits tried to ?kill? nature. Needle-leaved trees were the only ones which kept their green colour throughout the year and therefore became symbols of immortality. These ?living? trees said to be the work of benign spirits were brought into people?s houses to ward off evil life-threatening powers. In the 14th century people first started to decorate Christmas trees. It was a pagan custom originated by the inhabitants of Alsace. This custom was taken over by the Church in thecourse of the 15th and 16th century. At first the decoration consisted mainly of edibles such as apples and wafers but later small presents were added. Legend has it that the reformer Martin Luther was the first person to decorate a Christmas tree with candles. The flickering candle flames were meant to create the image of a starry sky in which Christ?s apparition could be recognized. The German organ-player Ernst Anschütz from Leipzig was the first person to notate the song ?O Tannenbaum? the melody being a well-known folk song. Next to ?Stille Nacht? ?O Tannenbaum? is the most famous German Christmas song now known throughout the world. In the United States of America the melody of ?O Tannenbaum? has even been used in four States (among which the State of Maryland) for their State song. In David Well?s arrangement the song is first heard as many of us know it. After this introduction however it is transformed into a solid rock version and the beat has been changed. In the second part the familiar three-four time is back but here the rhythm is different from the original. After the richly ornamented rock beat the basic theme can be heard once again and the composition is concluded in a festive manner.