SKU: BR.EB-9432

ISBN 9790004189092. 0 x 0 inches.

Duration: full evening Text by the composer basesd on E.T.A. Hoffmann's tale of the same name from Serapionsbrudern Translation: ital. (G. Trampus), La sposa sorteggiata Place and time: Berlin, um 1820 Characters: Der Kommissionsrat Voswinkel (baritone) - Albertine, his daughter (mezzo-soprano) - Thusman, Freier (tenor) - Edmund Lehsen, paintor, Freier (tenor) - Baron Bensch, Freier (tenor) - the goldsmith Leonhard (baritone) - the jew Manasse (bass) - the valet Voswinkels - crowd, a Chancre (silent parts) In Busoni's musical evolution, this work marks an important phase of radical change after works inspired by Brahms and Verdi. The composer's compositional style became increasingly revolutionary between the sketch of the shport score (1908) and the completion of the orchestral score (1911).Busoni took the greatest care in preparing the definitive form of the work. He asserted that there was invention in every bar, and assigned an important role to the use of music from other sources: the Hebrew march from Rossini's Mose, for example, or a German dance by Mozart, military music, American-Indian pentatonic music, Gregorian plainchant, melodies from the synagogue and even quotes from his own works. With these stylistic means, Busoni followed Hoffmann's serapiontic principle and came closer to his idea of a timeless world music without borders.

SKU: CN.R10203

Freedom's Sword tells the tale of battle and reconciliation between two lands, deriving themes from the well-known Scottish song Ca' the yowes. Horn calls and pounding drums set the tone for the battle scenes while a dreamy alto saxophone solo creates an air of optimism.

This work was originally commissioned by Nigel Boddice for the West Lothian Schools Brass Band to play at the European Youth Brass Band Championships in 1997 entitled Devolution to celebrate the setting up of the new Scottish Parliament. It appears in this revised version for Concert Band with the title Freedom's Sword. The opening section recalls days gone by when the Scots and English fought many a battle. The themes are derived from the well-known haunting song Ca' the yowes. The horn calls and off-stage percussion sound of a distant battle and it gradually comes closer. The centre section creates a mood of reconciliation with a dreamy Alto Saxophone solo. The last section now looks ahead with optimism and various bright dance themes appear based on traditional Scottish reel tunes, one of which is a two-part vocal scat section The piece then heads for its conclusion including a full statement of the main theme.