‘Circus Delight’ is a five-part suite which is set how could it be otherwise in a big circus tent. The suite starts with a part called ‘Entrance’. The orchestra positioned above the entrance of the ring asks for the attention of the audience and then the ring announcer enters. The show can begin! The elephants play a central role in the first act. These colossal grey animals are rather slow and perform their tricks in a moderate tempo. (‘Elephant Blues’) How different are ‘The Acrobats’. At high speed they run jump and fly through the ring until ....... It gets very exciting. Fortunately all’s well that ends well and they take their leave of the audienceat a trot. Everyone knows and yet it is mostly not spoken about that when a clown has taken off his red nose and rubbed off his make-up his face off-stage is not always a happy one. (‘Tears of the Clown’) The piece ends on a cheerful note with ‘The Parade’ in which all the artists make their entrance in the ring once again to gratefully acknowledge the audience’s overwhelming applause.

Whereas ‘Auld Lang Syne’ may be considered the best-known Scottish song ever yet at the same time it is an obscure one for there are but few people who know the complete text by heart. After the familiar ‘Should auld acquaintance be forgot .....‘ many people take their refuge to lyrics like ‘rum tee dum ta dee ..... lah lah lah ........... for auld lang syne’. Even in Scotland only a handful of persons know the entire text and are able to give a correct rendering of it. The current lyrics have been attributed to the Scottish poet Robert Burns. Burns however he did not write the whole poem : after he had heard an old man sing the centuries-old Scotchballad he wrote it down and added a number of stanzas (1788). Historical research teaches us that the ballad served many purposes both political and religious. Nowadays ‘Auld Lang Syne’ is sung as a Christmas Carol and it is also sung on New Year’s Eve at the turning of the year. Apart from that though the song is also sung on many other occasions – sometimes with different lyrics which usually have Love Friendship and/or Parting as their themes as these go well with the fascinating melody. In this arrangement a low-sounding solo instrument is central. The harmonization in the accompaniment fits in perfectly with the sentiments this song will evoke. Should auld acquaintance be forgot And never brought to mind? Should auld acquintance be forgot. And days of auld lang syne? For auld lang syne my dear For auld lang syne We’ll take a cup of kindness yet For auld lang syne.

Christopher Columbus was born in Genoa in 1451. His father was a wool merchant. Originally he seemed destined to follow in his father?s footsteps and thus sailed the oceans to countries as far apart as Iceland and Guinea. In 1476 his ship was sunk during a battle off the coast of Portugal. Columbus saved his own life by swimming to shore. In 1484 he conceived the idea of sailing to the Indies via a westward sea route but it was only in 1492 that he was able to realize this plan. On this first voyage he was in command of three ships: the flag-ship called the Santa Maria the Pinta and the Ni?a. From Spain Columbus sailed via the Canary Islands to the Bahamas whichhe sighted on October 12th 1492. Without being aware of it Columbus discovered the ?New World? ? he thought he had landed in the eastern part of Asia. The motif from Dvoøák?s 9th Symphony ?Aus der neuen Welt? forms a little counterfeit history at this point in the composition. After this first voyage Columbus was to undertake another three long voyages to America. These voyages were certainly not entirely devoid of misfortune. More than once he was faced with shipwreck mutiny and the destruction of settlements he had founded. After Columbus had left for Spain from Rio Belen in 1503 he beached his ships on the coast of Jamaica. The crew were marooned there and it was only after a year that Columbus succeeded in saving his men and sailing back to Spain with them. In the music the misunderstanding about which continent Columbus discovered in his lifetime resounds for does this part in the composition not contain Asiatic motifs? Poor Columbus! In 1506 the famous explorer died in Valladolid.

Recently voted the greatest family film of all time the classic Wizard of Oz is one film that everybody knows. The film theme was re-invigorated with the release in 2004 of a new version by the relatively unknown Australian vocalist Eva Cassidy. Unfortunately Eva Cassidy is no longer with us but this song will give generations of new music listeners an insight into her amazing vocal abilities and talent. The world-renowned Cornet soloist Alan Morrison has taken the Eva Cassidy version and crafted a wonderful Cornet solo in this award-winning arrangement. A wonderful chance to showcase either your Bb or Eb Cornet soloist in a work guaranteed to have your audiences inawe.

Wanna listen to the king you look like an Elvis-In this great Disney musical a little girl Lilo adopts what she believes is a puppy but is what turns out to be an alien that has landed on earth by mistake. Their friendship is sealed by their mutual love of the music of the king - Elvis Presley. This arrangement contains a selection of Elvis classics that were featured in the film and is sure leave your audience humming Elvis songs long after they have left the concert.

This concert march is a tribute to the ?pioneers? in the world of brass music in the Lowlands of Netherlands the original founders of the bands and the people who take the lead in organising the societies and associations in the band movement. Celebrate the joy and friendship of the brass band movement with this truly uplifting march.

Fanfare and Celebration was commissioned by the Brass Band of the Western Reserve (Dr Keith M. Wilkinson director) to celebrate their 15th anniversary.Based in north-west Ohio the band was formed in 1997 and was competing in the Championship Section of the North American Brass Band Championships in less than three years. The first performance of Fanfare and Celebration took place in Akron Ohio on November 10th 2012.The opening Fanfare features the cornet section in two groups standing either side of the band.A central horn theme brings a change of mood before the cornets take the lead oncemore. Celebration follows seamlessly and continues the declamatory style until a cantando theme in uneven meter is introduced. A transformed recapitulation ushers in a return of the Fanfare to close the work.

Scottish Dances is based on three Scottish traditionals: Cock of the North The Bonnie Bank's O'Loch Lomond and Marie's Wedding. I. Cock of the North's name is used for multiple things or events. For example for a locomotive to a famous it seems delicious liqueur and rallies to snowboard competitions. Furthermore is 'Cock O' the North ' a nickname of a famous Duke. (The 4th Duke of Gordon). In this composition Cock of the North (a Jig) is a traditional Scottish bagpipe tune regularly played on tattoos by Pipe Bands. Not infrequently the drummers sing the text. Auntie Mary had a canary Up the leg of her trousers While she was sleeping Iwas peeping Up the leg of her trousers. II. ' The Bonnie Bank's O'Loch Lomond ' is about a sad story that took place during an revolt against the British. In 1745 Bonnie Prince Charlie had to retreat. Two of his men were captured. One was convicted and executed while the other was released. The spirit of the executed soldier would arrive in Scotland via the 'low road' (underworld) before his companion who had still a long way to go. You'll take the high road And I'll take the low road And I'll be in Scotland afore ye But me and my true love will never meet again On the Bonnie Bonnie Banks of Loch Lomond III. In a Scottish wedding after the official ceremonies there is often danced. This is called a ceilidh. For this we use traditional Scottish music such as 'Marie's Wedding '. Mid dance we go back to the church where a lovely song in honor of the couple sounds. Marie's Wedding has been recorded by Van Morrison (among many others). Step we gaely on we go heel for heel and toe for toe Arm and arm and on we go all for Marie's wedding

as performed by Supertramp-En 1979 le groupe Supertramp connaît un triomphe planétaire avec son album Breakfast in America qui se vendra à près de 25 millions d'exemplaires ! Quatre singles seront extraits de cet album à la pochette inoubliable : Breakfast In America Goodbye Stranger Take The Long Way Home et The Logical Song. Ils deviendront non seulement des méga tubes mais surtout des grands classiques de la musique pop.

Marcho Brioso was commissioned by The Brioso Brass a British-style brass band from Hokkaido Japan. They gave the first performance in January 2012.The commission was for a bright and breezy march that the band could use as their theme tune so Marcho Brioso falls into the composer’s series of Broadway-style marches which includes Slipstream  The Bandwagon and Jubiloso.After a short introduction a solo cornet plays the main theme accompanied by a euphonium counter-melody. A secondary phrase from the horns and baritones leads to a tuttiversion of the main theme which is followed by the traditional ‘bass’ strain. A change of key heralds the trio section which features a cantabile melody on euphonium; this is then taken up by the full band after a short bridge passage and further change of key.This takes us back to the home key which sees a quiet staccato version of the main theme lead to a recapitulation and a short coda which brings the march to a close.

‘Panem et Circenses’ Bread and Games were essential for keeping the citizens of ancient Rome in check. While the bread was meant for the poorest among the Romans the Games were Popular Pastime Number One for everybody.There were different kinds of games such as chariot races (especially popular with female spectators) or wild-beast fights where lions tigers bulls or bears were set on one another or even on human beings. Most popular however were the Gladiator fights. In ‘Bread and Games’ William Vean depicts one of the many fights in the antique Colosseum. 1. Entrance of the Gladiators: By powerful bugle-calls the attention of the peoplewas asked for after which the Gladiators entered the Arena at the sound of heroic marching-music.2.Swordfight: We can hear that the fights were not mere child’s play in this part.On the contrary they were a matter of life and death and were fought accordingly.3.Mercy of the Emperor: Sometimes a wounded gladiator could be fortunate depending on the mercy of the audience. Waving one’s handkerchief meant mercy a turned-down thumb meant no pardon. The Emperor had the right to take the final decision but he usually complied with the wish of the majority of the public. 4.Lap of Honour: Gladiators were mainly selected among slaves convicted criminals or prisoners of war. Consequently winning was very important as it would mean fame honour and sometimes even wealth. A lap of honour therefore was the winner’s due reward.

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.

From Walt Disney's Brother Bear-The English musician Phil Collins has written six new songs for the animated Walt Disney film Brother Bear. His catchy pop rock is well known and popular with a worldwide audience. In Brother Bear the young Kenai kills a grizzly bear to avenge his brother’s death. Then he is magically transformed into a bear himself and he makes friends with the bear cub Koda. Together they undertake a long exciting journey in search of the mountain where Kenai can become human again. Meanwhile Kenai’s remaining brother hunts them in order to avenge his family. Thus the main themes of Brother Bear are brotherhood and friendship. On My Way gives voice to the courage and the determinationthat characterise Brother Bear. Peter Kleine Schaars has produced an excellent arrangement for band which reflects the original film music very well.

Ireland is a multi-faceted country that has developed a popular and distinctive musical culture. The first movement of Dublin Pictures reflects Irish festivals where there is dancing and traditional beer flowing.More tranquil in its feel the second movement illustrates the landscape that can be seen from the Ha’penny Bridge a bridge that crosses the River Liffey in Dublin. This movement highlights the wide range of the orchestra’s sound colours as the musicians’ voices combine with the wind and percussion to accompany the soloist. The lively and joyful rhythms of the last movement take the listener to Temple Bar the famoustourist quarter of the city well known for its vibrant nightlife.The music’s energy and virtuosic motifs are in contrast to the previous movement and provide a spirited and festive finale.Marc Jeanbourquin wrote this piece in three movements for Azimuts Brass in 2011. He then arranged it for Concert Fanfare or Brass Band.

Mention King Kong to anyone and they will imagine the famous Empire State Building scene with the massive ape. In this work Klaas and Titus van der Woude have taken the theme from James Newton Howard’s movie soundtrack and arranged it into a fantastic concert piece that will have your audience hiding under their chairs and screaming in fear.