for Flugel Horn Solo and Brass Band-Moon Song Sun Dance was commissioned by flugel horn virtuoso Claude Romailler and premiered by him at the Swiss National Solo and Quartet Championships in April 2012.As the title implies the work is in two contrasting movements which can be performed separately or together.Moon Song opens with a flowing modal theme which the soloist embellishes before the band takes centre stage. A central section brightens the mood with a new melody over the lightest of accompaniments; this is once again developed by the soloist until the original theme reappears played by the band. This introduces a cadenza for the soloist which either closes the movement or can beextended to link directly to the second movement.Sun Dance is a vivace 6/8 scherzo which opens with a flourish from the band. The soloist then introduces the main theme which in turn is taken up by the band. A short bridge passage heralds a change of key and a new melody from the soloist. A brief central interlude then introduces a change of meter and recalls the main melody of Moon Song before a recapitulation leads to a florid coda which brings the work to a close.Solo part: difficulty 5

Jacob de Haan arranged the famous piece Amazing Grace for four-part variable ensemble which may be complemented with percussion. With this intrumentation it is possible to play the piece with almost any combination of instruments.The piece opens with the song theme which after a modulation flows into an intermezzo characterized by a free interpretation of the theme. The interlude reaches a climax introducing the finale where the melody can be heard once again in all its beauty.

When I was approached to compose a work for brassband and church organ I already envisioned the concept I would use. It would indeed literally become a work for brassband and organ. Without the traditional solos the organ would form an addition to the brassband orchestration as would the brassband provide an extra register for the organ. In short a homogeneous entity. The most important reason for doing this is quite simple. Since this work can only be performed in a church and because of the specific acoustics of the church the brassband would sound in al its tone colour like an organ. By using certain registers of the organ and combining these with the brassband a wonderfulsound palette can be created. The use of complementary or contrasting tone quality is also possible. The primary theme of this composition is based on these three methods of ?colouring?. As far as structure is concerned this work consists of two parts. slow ? fast. It is built on a number of motifs in which some behave like a consecutive canon. In the fast movement the primary motif develops into a fugue-like section. The canon and fugato are techniques frequently used in classical and contemporary organ literature. The liberal use of structure and motif has lead to the title. ?Fantasy for Brassband and Organ?.

Par JEANBOURQUIN MARC. Sinfonetta No. 1 a remporté le premier prix au Concours de composition pour la 1re catégorie, organisé par l?Association Suisse de Brass Band, en 2023. Les différents thèmes mélodiques et motifs rythmiques se succèdent tout au long de l??uvre. Ils se combinent aux nombreux effets dynamiques pour apporter une certaine unité, du début à la fin de cette pièce de concours. Les difficultés techniques et mélodiques permettent ainsi aux différents solistes, de montrer toute leur virtuosité et leur musicalité, tout au long de 5 parties ininterrompues. Après une première partie lente et ?misterioso?, le premier contraste avec une séquence ?energico? basée sur un ostinato crée une progression et une tension, pour amener l?ensemble vers la troisième partie ?mesto? (triste), puis ?lento?, où s?égrènent quelques cadences et de nombreuses dissonances. La transition ?energico? annonce la 5e partie: ?con fuoco? ternaire et rapide. Cette dernière partie conduira l?auditoire vers un final en apothéose. / Date parution : 2023-10-31/ Répertoire / Brass Band

As with his march Fresena Jacob de Haan assimilated a well-known folksong from his province of birth (Friesland) into this swinging composition. Both works originate from a festival suite that he once wrote by order of this province.

Time Machine is a journey through time that begins in the Stone Age. Evolution and the coming of man take place. The journey takes us into the present in which disorientation and chaos abound. We travel further into the future. An unfamiliar quiet and surreal landscape lies before us and we wander through it bewildered as we become aware of the destruction of the environment. Suddenly and for no reason memories from our childhood are awoken. Cultures have become completely mixed into one and the evolution of man has run its course. We realise that there is no ?afterwards? as before us lies the Stone Age once again... The wheel of time spins blindly on and all isrepeated.

With vocal score in English and Dutch-Christmas Fantasy est un medley regroupant les airs suivants Es ist ein Ros' entsprungen - O Little Town of Bethlehem - Once in Royal David's City - Hark! The Herald Angel's Sing - God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen - Good KingWenceslas. Jan de Haan a réalisé ce féérique arrangement pour orchestre d'harmonie et choeur ad lib. (texte en anglais et néerlandais).

???Christmas Colours??? is a palette consisting of several Christmas songs. Bruce Fraser has mainly used the colours green (the colour of holly) and white (the colour of snow). This composition begins with the chiming of festive bells - if you listen well however you can already hear short fragments from 'The Holly and the Ivy' whose entire melody is finally played alternated with 'The Sussex Carol'. After this the pace slows down and the stately 'See amid the Winter Snow' sounds but parts from 'Jingle Bells' and 'Silent Night' can also be heard. Then after walking under 'The Holly and the Ivy' once again the celebration of Christmas may begin!

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.

East Coast Pictures originally written for wind band have now been transcribed by Phillip Littlemore introducing these exciting programmatic pieces to a wider audience. These three short ‘pictures’ were inspired by several visits by the composer to a small part of the USA’s East Coast an area that provides great extremes in the geography and the people. Shelter Island is a small island situated almost at the end of Long Island a few hours’ drive east of New York. In the summer it becomes a crowded tourist trap but in the winter it is gloriously deserted and bravely faces the onslaught of the turbulent Atlantic shrouded in sea mists anddriving rain. In upstate New York lie the Catskill Mountains an extraordinary combination of tranquillity and power peace and majesty. Once seen they call you back again and again. New York ...or to be precise Manhattan. For anyone who is familiar with this bizarre and wonderful city this ‘picture’ needs no explanation. For those not yet hooked here is a foretaste of things to come.

In ‘A Summer Holiday’ Patrick Millstone takes us with him on a journey. After a year’s hard work we may finally enjoy a well-earned holiday. The first part of this three-part composition has the appropriate title ‘On Tour’. When we chose our holiday destination the brochure said that it would be bathed in sunlight every day. Unfortunately this turns out not to be the case. Somewhat melancholically we play round games in our summer house on a ‘Rainy Day’. However the next day when the sun again has driven away all the clouds we naturally visit the ‘Crowded Beach’ where we enjoy both sun sea and beach once again.

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’.

Time Machine is a journey through time that begins in the Stone Age. Evolution and the coming of man take place. The journey takes us into the present in which disorientation and chaos abound. We travel further into the future. An unfamiliar quiet and surreal landscape lies before us and we wander through it bewildered as we become aware of the destruction of the environment. Suddenly and for no reason memories from our childhood are awoken. Cultures have become completely mixed into one and the evolution of man has run its course. We realise that there is no ?afterwards? as before us lies the Stone Age once again... The wheel of time spins blindly on and all isrepeated.

The Netherlands have been an important trading nation for a long time – partly as a result of their geographical situation. One of the first multinationals in The Netherlands was the ‘Verenigde Oostindische Compagnie’ (VOC). The aim of the VOC was to send ships to Asia in order to buy pepper and spices and to take over the Portuguese monopoly in this field. The Company was successful. An era of great prosperity resulted in which the art of painting (Rembrandt van Rijn) as well as science (Constantijn Huygens) flourished alongside a thriving economy. 1. The Sails are set : There is a lot of hustle and bustle on the quay. The crew are preparing fordeparture. Goodbyes are said and once the sails have been hoisted the ship sets out to sea.2. A Visit to the Rajah of Yogyakarta: After a voyage of many months the place of destination is reached. A visit to the Radja the king of the area around Yokyakarta follows. The dishes and beverages and the native culture in general are very pleasant after having been on a diet of ship’s biscuit and water for such a long time.3. The Holds have been loaded: The holds have been loaded to the brim and the voyage home can be begin!4. Death sails along: Life at sea is rough. not seldom did a sailor die of a tropical disease or scurvy. After a memorial service the Captain would speak the words ‘One two three in God’s name ...’ and the body wrapped in canvas would be committed to the sea.5. A joyful homecoming: After many months of hardship coming home is perhaps the best part of the entire voyage. The quay is filled with people eager to give the crew a warm welcome.