O Holy Night-The magic of the holiday season is captured once again with the distinctive interpretations of Mannheim Steamroller. This beautiful setting of the well-known French carol will add a touch of serenity and splendor to any holidayoccasion.

Adolphe Adam (1803-56) is perhaps best known for his classical ballet Giselle but it is his Cantique de Noël (popularly known in the English-speaking world as ‘O Holy Night’ the opening line of its translated lyrics) that has made him a household name during the Christmas season.

Holy Holy Holy-We always look forward to the new composition from the creative mind of William Himes. This rich modern interpretation of the age-old melody Holy Holy Holy is another fine example of Mr. Himes genius for finding beautiful newways to express enduring ideas through the composer's art. (Grade 3)

John Bacchus Dykes (1823-1876) a composé la mélodie Nicaea pour accompagner le magnifique texte de louange Holy holy holy! écrit par Reginald Heber. L?hymne connaît un succès universel dès sa publication dans le psautier Hymns Ancient and Modern en 1861. Philip Sparke a repris cette célèbre mélodie pour composer Variants on an English Hymn Tune qui se présente sous la forme traditionnelle d?un air varié dont la structure comporte une introduction un thème et une suite de trois variations sur le thème.

Franz Schubert (1797-1828) great Austrian composer was a supreme melodist and master of lieder. This transcription is based on his Sanctus (Holy Holy Holy) from his German Mass in F. (ca. 1815) for four-part choir and lends itself well to the expressive qualities of the modern brass quintet.

Par DE HAAN JACOB. The Book of Urizen is a work for concert band, solo soprano, and a male narrator in which sound collages of religious expressions are used. The piece is inspired by the compelling visionary poem of the same name (which the poet illustratedhimself) by the Englishman William Blake (1757-1827), who occupies a unique position in western literature and the visual arts. He was not just a poet and a writer, but he was also a graphic artist, a painter, an illustrator, a spiritualist, areligious visionary, and a mystic philosopher. For the performance of this work, a professional sound system, including two microphones and a CD player, is needed. The three sound collages are three separate tracks on the enclosed CD and can beplayed easily at the right moment. The Book of Urizen bears resemblance to Genesis and Exodus, of which the contents form the basis of the Christian, Jewish, and Islamic faith. Blake adhered to the principle that all religions are in fact one, and that deities reside in human beings. In The Book of Urizen this is represented in “The Net of Religion, ” which is spanned over the earth by Urizen. The sound collages, compiled by Jacob de Haan in the studio, find their origin inJerusalem, the Holy City, where the afore-mentioned faiths “come together. ” In the first movement of this composition, The Vision, Urizen prepares his vision of the world, and he presents this to the “Eternals. ” His vision is rejected, and Urizen locks himself up in his own abstract world. When he does emerge again, he is confronted with rage by the gathered Eternals. Urizen flees the wrath of the Eternals, “the flames of eternal fury, ” and enwombs himself in his own world. Whenthe Eternals see Urizen in his “stony sleep, ” they wonder if this is death. The blacksmith Los is torn by grief because of the isolation of Urizen. It brings him to rouse his fires, prepare his forge, and to give Urizen’s world concrete form. In the second movement, The Creation, Urizen’s world, but also man, woman, and child are created. Los is horrified with the appearance of Urizen’s body. He mourns and pities Urizen, and from his blood a female form comes into being, with thename Enitharmon. The Eternals, fearful of the female form, decide to erect a tent to obstruct their view to eternity. Enitharmon and Los beget a son, called Orc. Los baptizes him as a child of the “fallen world. ” Orc is fed at Enitharmon’s breast, which makes a girdle of jealousy restrict Los’ chest. He takes the child to the top of the mountain and chains him down. The cries of Orc awaken Urizen, who explores his world creating instruments of scientific measurement to do so. Los encircles theface of Enitharmon from the sight of Urizen and Orc. She then populates the earth by giving birth to an enormous race. The Web, third movement of The Book of Urizen is now available: DHP 1125252 / Niveau : 5 / Pièce de concert / Répertoire / Concert Band ou Harmonie

Ce célèbre chant de Noël anglo-saxon (dont la mélodie est également connue sous le nom d?Humility) a été composé en 1771 par John Goss (1800-1880) sur un texte d?Edward Caswall (1841-1878). John Goss est né à Fareham dans le Comté du Hampshire en Angleterre. En 1811 il est admis comme choriste à la Chapelle Royale où il étudie auprès de John Stafford Smith et de Thomas Attwood organiste à la cathédrale Saint-Paul de Londres. En 1824 il est nommé organiste à l?église Saint-Luc de Chelsea. À la mort de Thomas Attwood en 1838 John Goss lui succède comme organiste à la cathédrale Saint-Paul. Il compose de nombreux motets et odes pour divers services religieuxexceptionnels célébrés en la cathédrale. En 1872 il quitte son poste à Saint-Paul et est fait chevalier par la reine Victoria. Parallèlement à ses fonctions d?organiste à l?église Saint-Luc et à la cathédrale Saint-Paul John Goss a enseigné l?harmonie à l?Académie Royale de Musique de Londres pendant quarante-sept ans. Parmi ses nombreuses odes encore chantées on peut citer Infant Holy Infant Lowly Praise My Soul et See Amid the Winter's Snow.

Prima Luce (First Light) was commisioned by the Holy Angels Elementary School located in Aurora (USA). The name of the town (which means dawn) the town’s great religious history and the fact that this town was one of the first in the USA to have streetlights were the inspiration for this Gregorian influenced atmospheric composition.

Minuit Chrétiens - O Holy Night-Le compositeur français Adolphe Charles Adam (1803-1856) est initié à la musique par son père Jean-Louis Adam professeur de piano au Conservatoire de Paris. En 1821 il entre au Conservatoire de Paris dans la classe d?orgue et d?harmonium de François Benoist et celle de Boïeldieu pour la composition. Vers les années 1823 il connaît ses premiers succès grâce à ses chansons composées pour des vaudevilles parisiens. Il assied sa notoriété avec ses ballets notamment avec le gracieux Giselle et quelques opéras-comiques. Vers la fin de sa vie il est nommé professeur de composition au Conservatoire de Paris. En 1847 Adolphe Adam compose le Cantique de Noël surle poème Minuit Chrétiens de Placide Cappeau. L?Église émet de vives critiques à l?encontre de la musique jugée trop pompeuse et du texte trop païen. Bien à tort car le noël d?Adam éblouira le monde entier. Il est interprété encore de nos jours même dans les églises. Roland Kernen en a réalisé ce bel arrangement pour Orchestre d?Harmonie.

Based on the familiar carol He Is Born The Holy Child John Moss has created a marvelous setting for young players. Through clever harmonic treatments and solid scoring this arrangement will add a nice touch for the holidays. Dur: 2:55

This series designed to meet the special needs of church instrumental groups features flexible instrumentation and careful guidelines for difficulty - which means they will work successfully with minimum rehearsal time. The series also features the artistry of James Curnow long recognized for his outstanding sacred works for large ensembles.

Here we find the sound of late Renaissance Spanish composer Tomas Luis de Victoria artistically captured for the concert band. The arranger masterfully articulates de Victoria's subtle and expressive polyphony and clearlybalances the intricate counterpoint through skillful scoring techniques. A well-crafted performance of this piece will be a highlight of any concert program. Dur: 2:35