Par TCHAIKOVSKI PIOTR ILITCH / JONES NATHAN (Arr.). Tchaikovsky composed his twelve character pieces for piano, The Seasons, while he was writing his popular ballet, Swan Lake. Each piece in The Seasons depicts a different month of the year in Russia. The original publication of September: The Hunt included an epigraph at the start of the piece-a small poem by Alexander Pushkin. This energetic arrangement for symphonic band by Nathan Jones opens with an octave fanfare between the winds and brass. Tchaikovsky\'s colorful harmony speaks here, with passing chromaticism adding color to the music. The fanfare theme is transformed in the quiet central section, still shifting to the minor mode with short solo passages for flute, bassoon, trumpet, xylophone and oboe (cued in flutes). The segue back into the opening fanfare is clever, with the notes leading through several keys before concluding in the major with a short reprise of the initial theme. / Date parution : 2022-09-20/ Répertoire / Concert Band

from Cantata No 208 'The Hunt Cantata'-L?immense production de Jean-Sébastien Bach ne contient qu?une vingtaine de cantates profanes dont la Cantate du café (BWV 211) la Cantate du mariage (BWV 202) Phébus et Pan (BWV 201) et la Cantate de la chasse (BWV 208) dont est extrait l?air Sheep May Safely Graze (Schafe können sicher weiden - Que les brebis paissent en paix). Bach était depuis peu au service du duc de Weimar lorsqu?il accepta en 1713 une invitation à Weißenfels pour l?anniversaire du duc Christian de Saxe-Weißenfels. À cette occasion il composa la Cantate de la chasse une cantate de félicitations à l?adresse du duc passionné de chasse. Par la suite Bachremania cette cantate pour célébrer d?autres fêtes et anniversaires. La Cantate de la chasse est orchestrée pour quatre voix solistes incarnant des figures mythologiques (Diane Pales Endymion et Pan) un ensemble orchestral assez large (incluant des flûtes/flûtes à bec des hautbois et des cors) et un Chœur mixte. Le texte chantant les vertus de la chasse est un panégyrique à peine déguisé du duc régnant. Accompagnée par deux flûtes (flûtes à bec) Palès déesse des troupeaux et des pâtures entonne l?air Sheep May Safely Graze. Bien que de caractère profane le texte utilise l?image du berger comme l?image même de la grâce en référence à une parole fondamentale de Jésus.

The English king Henry VIII (1491-1547) is mainly remembered for disposing of his wives on a regular basis and breaking with the Catholic Church when the Pope Clement VII refused to grant him a divorce so he could marry Anne Boleyn.As a young man he was a gifted athlete dancer and composer writing many songs poems and consort pieces (though not Greensleeves as is often believed). Pastime with Good Company is undoubtedly the best-known of these written in the first years of the 16th century while he was still a handsome prince newly married to Catherine of Aragon and the envy of Europe. The lyrics tell of the joys of hunting dancing and singing and would have been sungas part of the court entertainment.This arrangement features a quartet of soloists and two solo drummers.

In the tripartite 'Cowboy Suite' Alan Laken takes us to the Wild West the domain of cowboys indians trappers and other fortune hunters. Around 1890 the west coast of America was reached which in effect meant the end of the Wild West. Its stories however survived and have been a source of inspiration for many books films and of course music. Some characters such as Jesse James Billy the Kid and Buffalo Bill are forever linked to these tales. In the 'Cowboy Suite' we first hear the 'Hoedown'. At the end of an exhausting workday the labourers used to lay down their tools among others the 'hoes' and spontaneously began to play music on the instruments which they then possessed (guitars fiddles and banjos) and to dance. After being jolted on the 'Wagon Trail' we reach the third part the 'Cowboy Roundup'. In this last part it becomes clear that as a cattle driver it is imperative to stay firmly seated in the saddle. As the cattle are rounded up i.e. driven together spectacular things happen.

As he did before in the often played and commonly appreciated ‘Lord Tullamore’ in which he poetically depicted the landscape and the cultural elements of a small Irish village in his composition ‘The Road to the West’ Carl Wittrock has sketched pioneer existence in America in a cinematic manner.In ‘The Road to the West’ the composer has tried to capture images of pioneer life during the period dating from 1850 to 1890 the days of the so-called Wild West.In those days the Wild West used to be the territory west of civilization the domain of cowboys trappers and other fortune hunters. In short ample ingredients for a captivating story.In the firstscene a lonely adventurer struggles against nature and the elements. After an exciting adventure he passes through ‘the Plains’ where majestic views alternated by colossal mountain ranges display an almost unimaginable beauty.After weeks of isolation civilization is reached again. ‘The Saloon’ is the perfect meeting place – here news is exchanged and hilarious scenes regularly take place.

As he did before in the often played and commonly appreciated ‘Lord Tullamore’ in which he poetically depicted the landscape and the cultural elements of a small Irish village in his composition ‘The Road to the West’ Carl Wittrock has sketched pioneer existence in America in a cinematic manner.In ‘The Road to the West’ the composer has tried to capture images of pioneer life during the period dating from 1850 to 1890 the days of the so-called Wild West.In those days the Wild West used to be the territory west of civilization the domain of cowboys trappers and other fortune hunters. In short ample ingredients for a captivating story.In the firstscene a lonely adventurer struggles against nature and the elements. After an exciting adventure he passes through ‘the Plains’ where majestic views alternated by colossal mountain ranges display an almost unimaginable beauty.After weeks of isolation civilization is reached again. ‘The Saloon’ is the perfect meeting place – here news is exchanged and hilarious scenes regularly take place.

One of Motown's signature songs Dancing in the Street was first recorded in 1964 by Martha and the Vandellas and quickly became an icon of the era. Tim's version for young bands lays down a solid groove and features all the familiar horn riffs from the original.