From the Paramount Television Series JAG-The television series JAG (Judge Advocate General) which was first broadcast in America in 1995 has become internationally known over the years. In Europe too people have become acquainted with the legal wing of navy officers and the intrigues surrounding Commander Harmon ?Harm? Rabb (David James Elliott) and his partner Lieutenant Colonel Sarah ?Mac? MacKenzie (Catherine Bell). Both inside and outside the courtroom they fight with one major aim: winning! In their personal relationships there?s a good deal of tension too. The theme tune to this television series full of action and adventure has been arranged for brass band by Roland Kernen.

Composed during the summer of 1988. Commissioned by The Norwegian Brass Band Club First performed in the Grieg Hall¬? at the 10th Anniversary Concert for the Norwegian Championship Bergen February 1989. EBML conducted by Michael Antrobus. The work is important for me because it was my first piece to be played outside Norway. Black Dyke/David King performed it and did a recording of it in 1991. The composer: In the original score I quote a Swedish bishop (Olaus Mangnus) who lived in the 15th century. He travelled around Scandinavia and drew maps - very important historic material. When he came to the north of Norway (where I come from) hedescribed the wind from the north as Ciricus: (something like) Worst of all winds is Circius that revolves(?= turn upside down) heaven and earth. (Well not a good translation I¬?m afraid). The fast sections reflects the mighty winds from the north. In the middle section I borrowed a folksong-like tune (by C. Elling a norwegian composer). The text (by Kristoffer Janson) tells about old times when the fishermen used open boats: they had to put their lives in the hands of God. De opening en het slot van dit werk beschrijven 'Circius' de wind die hemel en aarde verwoest. Het middendeel is een bewerking van het Noorse volkslied 'The fisherman's speech to his son'. De inhoud van het lied komt overeen met Circius. De vader verzoekt zijn zoon de krachten van de natuur te trotseren maar bovenal te respecteren. Een kort doch spectaculair concertwerk dat het gehele orkest in de greep heeft.

Musaic (1969) by Per Nørgård - for Brass Ensemble and Electronics. Instr: 5 Cornets 3 Trombones and Electronics Progamme Note Among my compositions for brass band three (“Backlight” “Massifs” - crystals - cascades” “Musaic”) all belong to a three-dimensional space. Thus “Massifs - crystals - cascades” was proclaimed from a mountainside towards the audience in the Norwegian town Tromsø and “Backlight” to the special room of the new concert hall at The Music Conservatory of Jutland Denmark.  “Musaic” was composed in 1969 for the inauguration of Edition Wilhelm Hansen’s new branch in Århus Jutland. Short movements for brass were intermittently heard on the street. In the concert hall all the movements were however heard - also the ones already played; by means of a continuous tape individual fragments of the ´street music´ were gradually collected into one concluding uninterrupted piece lasting all in all 10 minutes a mus(a)ic/muza(i)k…  A synthesis can be heard on a CD from 2007 (by the Brass Ensemble of The Royal Danish Conservatory Jutland) with the note that the work might be much longer when performed live.  Per Nørgård (2007)   

The composition the Lonesome Knight was based on a fairytale. The piece was written by Saskia Apon for the National Brass Band Championships 2001. Once upon a time there was a knight who went to fight and defeat the dragon that had beenkilling the people of his town. There is a short but intense battle between the two and the knight is triumphant. However whilst persuing the dragon the knight has travelled far away from his home and now is lost. He roames around trying to findhis way home but exhausted and weary he falls to the ground. He awakens startled by a Giant and a group of Goblins who are celebrating the death of the dragon. The knight joins in the festivities but after a long evening is once more leftalone. The sun rises the following morning and he sees a castle on the horizon. He enthousiastcally ventures towards the castle in the hope of meeting other people. However he becomes greatly disillusioned when there is none to be found. Inhis desperation the knight climbs the tower ready to jump off. Suddenly he hears a heavenly voice. Right before him is the most beautiful princess he has ever seen. She graciously thanks him for killing the dragon a spark ingnites between themand they build a life together and.... live happily ever after! Saskia Apon studied harp at Rotterdam School of music. With this instrument she rounded of her studies by passing with credit however it was her love of composition thatremained her focus. Self-taught she began composing at the age of nine. Since then she has written pieces for The Dutch Brass Quintet The Dutch Brass Ensemble The Rotterdam Trombone Quartet and the brass band quintet Brass Ability. Atpresent she is the in-house arranger for The Rotterdam Philarmonic Brass Ensemble. Besides the customary attention for the real splashworks she endeavours to add value to the melodic function of the brass wind instruments in her music. Hercompositions and arrangements can be found on many diverse Cds.The composition the Lonesome Knight was based on a fairytale. The piece was written by Saskia Apon for the National Brass Band Championships 2001. Once upon a time there was aknight who went to fight and defeat the dragon that had been killing the people of his town. There is a short but intense battle between the two and the knight is triumphant. However whilst persuing the dragon the knight has travelled far awayfrom his home and now is lost. He roames around trying to find his way home but exhausted and weary he falls to the ground. He awakens startled by a Giant and a group of Goblins who are celebrating the death of the dragon. The knight joins inthe festivities but after a long evening is once more left alone. The sun rises the following morning and he sees a castle on the horizon. He enthousiastcally ventures towards the castle in the hope of meeting other people. However he becomesgreatly disillusioned when there is n

Arctic Funk might just as well have been a flashing sequel to a scene from Leonard Bernstein's West Side Story. Popular music but with a difference as indicated by the title. The work's quiet section temporarily soothes down the heated passion of its two corner movements but everywhere else action is required throughout. The work was commissioned in 1991 by Troms? Brass. Situated just above the Polar Circle Troms? is one of Norway's northernmost towns. Topographically the town probably comes across as freezing cold but Troms? is famous for its 'warm' night-life. The Composer: In Arctic Funk you might get a feeling of a party that takes place betweenice-rocks and snow-capped mountains.

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 once more. Celebration follows seamlessly andcontinues 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.

The many sided and productive Michael Praetorius (1571-1621) is knwon as a composer of dance music sacred music and music for the advent and Christmas time. He worked as Kapelmeister to the court at Wolffenbuttel but he was also asked to serve in other places includin Dresden. Praetorius was valued for the new impulses he gave to music by means of his use of instrumental accompaniment. His main contribution is his theoretical work 'Syntagma Musicum' one of the most important musical refernce books in connection with instruments and instrumentation in the early 17th Century. 'Es ist ein ros entsprungen' is a well known ancient melody which has inspired numerous composers andarrangers througout the Centuries. Otto M. Schwarz has made a choral arrangement.

Stephen Bullas highly descriptive work was written to commemorate the 50th anniversary of the Battle of Iwo Jima which took place between the 19th February and 26th March 1945.Casualties on both the American and Japanese sides were horrendously high before the famous image of the raising of the flag on top of Mount Suribachi signalled the end of one of the most significant and terrifying Pacific conflicts of the SecondWorld War.The work received its first performance by the brass choir of the U.S. Marine Band at the National Cathedral in Washington D.C. and is divided into four programmatic sections.The first portrays the sense of anticipation before conflict (Prologue) before the arduous journey to the scene of the battle (Approach by Sea) is followed by introspection and prayer featuring the hymn tune Melita (Chorale Prayer) andfinally the hostile confrontation itself (Engagement).There are frequent references to the Marines Hymn and the US National Anthem particularly in the closing bars depicting the ultimate raising of the American flag.

Composed in 1847 by the French composer and critic Adolphe Adam O Holy Night has achieved considerable popularity in recent years and is regularly featured in programmes of Christmas music. This arrangement for the Brass Band portrays the character of the music faithfully with warm sonorities making it a welcome addition to any band's Christmas Concert.