During the eighteenth century a person called 'the Dance Master' made his appearance in Ireland. He was a travelling dance-teacher who moved from one village to another to teach the people there how to dance. They were often flamboyant personalities gorgeously dressed and holding a staff in one hand. In order to teach their pupils the difference between their right and left leg the dance master used to tie a small bunch of straw or hay to their leg and then would order them to either lift their 'hay-leg' or their 'straw-leg'. The dancing masters used to stay in one particular village for about six weeks (if they were not claimed by a neighbouringvillage) after which they continued their journey. Having a famous dance master gave a village a certain distinction and did not seldom lead to boasting and pride. Also on account of the popularity of Celtic music in general at the moment William Vean was inspired to writing 'The Irish Dance Master'. He 'teaches' you two dances the Reel and the Jig. In between these two dances there is a short breathing space during which a traditional Irish rhythm can be enjoyed.

The composition the Lonesome Knight was based on a fairytale. The piece was written by Saskia Apon for the National Brass Band Championships 2001. Once upon a time there was a knight who went to fight and defeat the dragon that had beenkilling the people of his town. There is a short but intense battle between the two and the knight is triumphant. However whilst persuing the dragon the knight has travelled far away from his home and now is lost. He roames around trying to findhis way home but exhausted and weary he falls to the ground. He awakens startled by a Giant and a group of Goblins who are celebrating the death of the dragon. The knight joins in the festivities but after a long evening is once more leftalone. The sun rises the following morning and he sees a castle on the horizon. He enthousiastcally ventures towards the castle in the hope of meeting other people. However he becomes greatly disillusioned when there is none to be found. Inhis desperation the knight climbs the tower ready to jump off. Suddenly he hears a heavenly voice. Right before him is the most beautiful princess he has ever seen. She graciously thanks him for killing the dragon a spark ingnites between themand they build a life together and.... live happily ever after! Saskia Apon studied harp at Rotterdam School of music. With this instrument she rounded of her studies by passing with credit however it was her love of composition thatremained her focus. Self-taught she began composing at the age of nine. Since then she has written pieces for The Dutch Brass Quintet The Dutch Brass Ensemble The Rotterdam Trombone Quartet and the brass band quintet Brass Ability. Atpresent she is the in-house arranger for The Rotterdam Philarmonic Brass Ensemble. Besides the customary attention for the real splashworks she endeavours to add value to the melodic function of the brass wind instruments in her music. Hercompositions and arrangements can be found on many diverse Cds.The composition the Lonesome Knight was based on a fairytale. The piece was written by Saskia Apon for the National Brass Band Championships 2001. Once upon a time there was aknight who went to fight and defeat the dragon that had been killing the people of his town. There is a short but intense battle between the two and the knight is triumphant. However whilst persuing the dragon the knight has travelled far awayfrom his home and now is lost. He roames around trying to find his way home but exhausted and weary he falls to the ground. He awakens startled by a Giant and a group of Goblins who are celebrating the death of the dragon. The knight joins inthe festivities but after a long evening is once more left alone. The sun rises the following morning and he sees a castle on the horizon. He enthousiastcally ventures towards the castle in the hope of meeting other people. However he becomesgreatly disillusioned when there is n

Music of the Spheres was commissioned by the Yorkshire Building Society Band and first performed by them at the European Brass Band Championships in Glasgow May 2004.The piece reflects the composers 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 sixknown planets from the sun and thatthe 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 notes form 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 Bangwhen time and space were created and this is followed by a depiction of the Big Bangitself 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 civilizations 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.

In Theme Park Fun! your orchestra pays a visit to an amusement park. During your visit you will experience some spectacular rides and attractions this theme park offers. The uniqueness of Theme Park Fun! is the interplay between music and(moving) images. Animations and illustrations support the visual composition (downloadable after ordering a set on www.gobelinmusic.com).Part 1: The Entrance & Parade [with animation]The opening of the park is a fact. A day fullof fun and pleasure awaits! You and the other visitors will be confronted with all the rides attractions and adventures the theme park has to offer. Which ride shall we do first?! There is so much to do and experience on this day in the park! Aparade of colorful floats and park figures is passing by.Let the fun begin!Part 2: The Haunted House [with animation]The only ride in the park that is not related to fun is the Haunted House. Here visitors will be challengedto visit a house full of ghosts creepy figures and other ominous things. The clock strikes twelve there is no turning back. Ghosts are whispering yelling screaming... Fortunately it is almost one oclock so we can leave this creepy placequickly.Part 3: The Swinging Galleon [with illustrations]What a huge pirate ship! Each time you swing back and forth you will feel that weird feeling in your stomach. When you are thrown completely into the top you will have afantastic view over the park but you can not enjoy it for long. Before you know the ship swings back the other way.Part 4: The Fairy Tale Ride [with illustrations]After all those exciting and spectacular rides and attractions it is time for a peaceful tour in The Fairy Tale Ride. Surrounded by a fairytale setting you will discover fable figures talking animals and colorful designs. Such a beauty and tranquility. Having had this experience we are ready again for thebig rides in the park!Part 5: The Bumper Cars [with illustrations]Now its time to crawl behind the wheel of the Bumper Cars! Shall we all chase the conductor?! Before you know you are hit by another visitor or you will bumpagainst someone else. In this tough ride you can prove yourself as a real driver or perhaps as a really bad one.Part 6: The Roller Coaster [with illustrations]The largest fastest and scariest ride in the park ... we shoulddefinitely do the Roller Coaster! All together in the train the over-the-shoulder restraints are lowering... be ready to ride. The train leaves the station and is heading for the big lift hill. It will be very scary when the train reaches the topand the train will be plunged down the first drop! Loops corkscrews and other spectacular coaster elements will follow... Before you know it the ride of your life is over. Shall we ride it again?!Part 7: Leaving the Park [withanimation]Unfortunately everything comes to an end.

Isaac Watts (1674-1748) wrote the lyrics of 'There is a land of pure delight' and is known as the 'Father of English Hymnody'. Watts was for the English hymn as Ambrose was for the medieval Latin hymn and what Martin Luther was for the German chorale. He wrote about 750 songs and some of them survide the ravahes of time. (Joy To The World When I survey the wondrous cross I sing the Mighty Power of God) 'There is a Land of Pure Delight' is usually in English-speaking areas sung on Luther Orlando Emerson's melody ('Ascription'). Here is used a traditional English melody ('Mendip'). There is a land of pure delight Wheresaints immortal Reign. Infinite day excludes the night And pleasures banish pain.

There are people who are capable of planning well. They live their lives in a well-structured manner and know exactly what they have to do. On the other hand there are also people who are the exact opposite: they want to do too many things at once and are often somewhat absent-minded which occasionally results in frantic situations. The outcome of one such situation is ‘They are coming’. John Emerson Blackstone had been working on a new composition for some time when he received a telephone call from his editor who told him that the deadline was approaching rapidly even worse that it would expire at the end of that same day and that he would drop by in person to fetch thecomposition! Blackstone set to work in a frenzy and completed the last details. When his editor arrived the piece was finished ..... and got its definitive title: ‘They are coming’.

A spectacular fantasy medley from the third and final episode of the Oscar-winning trilogy. The most poignant and memorable themes from this magical motion picture have been arranged and assembled as a gala concert piece for full Brass Band and percussion by Philip Harper. Bring the mystery and excitement of Middle Earth into your repertoire with this full score and parts pack.

Glitter and glamour good-looking people a lot of Bling Bling and fast cars ? images like these will cross our minds when we think of the movie world. However reality proves to be different : as a rule a tremendous amount of work will have been done on the set before a film is ready to be shown on the big screen. A visit to an actual movie set inspired John Emerson Blackstone to write a composition bearing the same name. He had both seen a number of characteristic attributes and heard the typical phrases used in film making and he incorporated them into ?On the Movie Set? . In the first part ?The Clapboard? a ?director?s assistant? is supposed to shout ?Quieton the set?? and ?Action!? as is done before a real scene is shot. Subsequently in order to create the right atmosphere the clacking of a ?Clapboard? should be heard. During a romantic scene we should be transported to another world by means of sweet sounds in the background so romantic music is of course heard in the next part ?Love Scene?. At the end of a long working day ?It?s a wrap? is called on the set to inform everyone that the filming on that day is completed. Now there is only one more thing left to dream of : an Oscar..... Perf. Note: The use of the right props will add to the performance and appreciation of ?On the Movie Set?. A red carpet and a glamorous reception should give your audience the feeling they are attending a real ?opening night?!

From the Paramount Television Series JAG-The television series JAG (Judge Advocate General) which was first broadcast in America in 1995 has become internationally known over the years. In Europe too people have become acquainted with the legal wing of navy officers and the intrigues surrounding Commander Harmon ?Harm? Rabb (David James Elliott) and his partner Lieutenant Colonel Sarah ?Mac? MacKenzie (Catherine Bell). Both inside and outside the courtroom they fight with one major aim: winning! In their personal relationships there?s a good deal of tension too. The theme tune to this television series full of action and adventure has been arranged for brass band by Roland Kernen.

Contest March-This fantastic contest march was composed for the Alexander Brass Band from Stavanger Norway who wanted a brand new march to play when they took part in the world-renowned Whit Friday March Contest. In the march Philip Sparke has followed the traditional brass band contest march format and it is named as a tribute to Alexander the Great rather than the Alexander brass band who were actually named after their local pub!

This piece was commissioned by Nordhordland Brass Seminar in 1990 and written for a youth band. The title referes to a story from norse mythology. ?The Binding of the Wolf? is not a programmatic piece of music but I felt that there was a kind of coherence between the music and the dramatic story: ?...The wolf Fenrir was one of the demonic offspring of Loki and as he grew up in Asgard among the gods he became so huge and fierce that only Tyr was willing to feed him. It was decided that he must be bound and Odin in his wisdom caused the cunning dwarfs to forge a chain which could not be broken. It was made from the invisible and yet potent powers ofthe world such as the roots of a mountain the noise of a moving cat the breath of a fish. When completed this chain seemed to be no more than a silken cord but the wolf refused to let it be laid upon him unless one of the gods would put a hand between his jaws as a pledge that it was harmless. Only Tyr was prepared to do this and when the wolf found that the chain was unbreakable the gods rejoiced but Tyr lost his hand. The binding of the wolf may be seen as a means of protecting the world of men as well as that of the gods from destruction. The story of the god losing his hand appears to be one of the fundamental myths of nothern Europe...?

Many people when asked the question 'Do you have any hobbies?' will answer 'Shopping' (even though the female part of the population may be more interested in this than the male one). Of course it is great fun to walk about in a Shopping Mall browsing in various small shops looking for things you have always wanted to possess. This was what William Vean was doing one day when he came across the idea to write a composition in which several shops could try to sell their wares (and this idea didn't cost him a penny). First the audience are taken to a 'Jeans store' then a 'Phone shop' is visited after which a visit is made to a 'Perfumery'. Thefourth part depicts a profession which is practised in several premises namely that of shoplifter. In the fifth part there is room for a bite to eat at a Chinese restaurant and finally after a visit to the hairdresser's it's time to go home.

15 Easy Arrangements-15 Easy Arrangements. These exciting instrumental collections feature 15 easy arrangements for brass quartet or brass quintet with flexible instrumentation and optional keyboard accompaniment. They make ideal accompanimentsfor congregational singing in churches or other groups and are also great for performances by brass only. Every book includes two versions of each carol: the standard version found in hymnals in the common key and a variationverse with a free and interesting arrangement. Includes: Angels We Have Heard on High · The First Noel · Go Tell It on the Mountain · Hark! the Herald Angels Sing · Joy to the World · WhatChild Is This? · and more.

A collection of 5 short works in pop style which can be performed by any kind of compilation. The titles can be presented on the programme as separate works but the Universal Band Collection can also be performed as a complete suite. From a didactic point of view it is a suitable work to teach musicians something about the structure in music. For this purpose not only the big structure but also the small structure was kept very clear.Western Girl : A girl from the west of the USA rides her horse across the prairie dreaming of her future. The rough structure: introduction - theme in a blues scale - the same thing in a different instrumentation - finale.Just a ballad : A balladin pop style with a rough A-B-A form. First there is the introduction of the main theme (A) then follows a tenor melody in minor with a rhythmical reference to the main theme (B). Finally there is the main melody performed tutti with a different rhythm in the drums (A').Play the Game : An English saying meaning: play fairly. Playful music in up-tempo with a wink to China where almost all games are manufactured nowadays. Once again an A-B-A structure here.San Diego : A Mexican fugitive enjoys his freedom in America but also remembers his place of birth with melancholy. A sad minor melody with a straight trendy beat appears twice. The second time it has a slightly different instrumentation in which the muted trumpets represent the Mexican feeling.Final Dance : Eventually there is a dance with an introduction in renaissance style followed by a fast dance in rock style. All this composed in a classical song structure: introduction verse bridge chorus shortened verse bridge chorus chorus.

A must-have guide for all brass students and teachers relating to the total physical output that goes into playing any brass instrument. Caruso covers the same techniques atheletes use to develop their physical control and applies them to musicians.