Brass Band - Grade 6

SKU: BT.AMP-028-130

Composed by Philip Sparke. Elite Series. Concert Piece. Score Only. Composed 2003. Anglo Music Press #AMP 028-130. Published by Anglo Music Press (BT.AMP-028-130).

The piece reflects the composer's fascination with the origins of the universe and deep space in general. The title comes from a theory, formulated by Pythagoras, that the cosmos was ruled by the same laws he had discovered that govern the ratios of note frequencies of the musical scale. (‘Harmonia’ in Ancient Greek, which means scale or tuning rather than harmony - Greek music was monophonic). He also believed that these ratios corresponded to the distances of the six known planets from the sun and that the planets each produced a musical note which combined to weave a continuous heavenly melody (which, unfortunately, we humans cannot hear). In this work, these six notesform the basis of the sections MUSIC OF THE SPHERES and HARMONIA. The pieces opens with a horn solo called t = 0, a name given by some scientists to the moment of the Big Bang when time and space were created, and this is followed by a depiction of the BIG BANG itself, as the entire universe bursts out from a single point. A slower section follows called THE LONELY PLANET which is a meditation on the incredible and unlikely set of circumstances which led to the creation of the Earth as a planet that can support life, and the constant search for other civilisations elsewhere in the universe. ASTEROIDS AND SHOOTING STARS depicts both the benign and dangerous objects that are flying through space and which constantly threaten our planet, and the piece ends with THE UNKNOWN, leaving in question whether our continually expanding exploration of the universe will eventually lead to enlightenment or destruction.

Dit werk weerspiegelt de fascinatie van de componist voor het heelal. Het begint met een hoornsolo met de naam t = 0, waarmee sommige wetenschappers de oerknal aanduiden. Dan volgt een weergave van de oerknal zelf. Het volgendegedeelte, The Lonely Planet, is een meditatie over het ongelooflijke samenspel van omstandigheden dat leidde tot het ontstaan van de Aarde. Asteroids and Shooting Stars beschrijft objecten in de ruimte. Het werkeindigt met The Unknown, waarmee we in het ongewisse blijven over de gevolgen van onze verdere verkenning van het universum. In 2005 won Philip Sparke met Music of the Spheres de National Band Association/William D.Revelli Memorial Band Composition Contest.

Mit diesem großartigen Werk, das dem Auftraggeber der Yorkshire Building Society Band am Europäischen Brass Band Wettbewerb 2004 in Glasgow als Selbstwahlstück zu einem weiteren Titel verhalf, beweist Philip Sparke einmal mehr seine außergewöhnlichen kompositorischen Fähigkeiten. Dieses Werk über die Ursprünge des Universums führt uns vom Urknall, vorbei an einsamen Planeten, Asteroiden und Sternschnuppen schließlich ins Unbekannte - die ungewisse Zukunft. Ein Glanzstück und eine echte Herausforderung für jeden Spitzen-Brass Band!

La fresque Music of the Spheres (“La musique des sphères”) souligne la fascination qu’éprouve le compositeur pour les origines de l’univers. L’orchestration est proche de la musique de film. Le climat musical est ample, sonore et contrasté.

Music of the Spheres evidenza il fascino che le origini dell’universo esercitano su Philip Sparke. Il titolo proviene da una teoria del matematico greco Pitagora, secondo la quale il cosmo è retto dalle stesse leggi che governano i rapporti di frequenza tra le note della scala musicale. Questa composizione inizia con un assolo di corno chiamato t = 0, nozione che definisce il momento del big-bang. The Lonely Planet (Il pianeta solitario) è una meditazione sulle circostanze che hanno portato alla creazione della terra. Asteroids and Shooting Stars (Asteroidi e Stelle cadenti) descrive i molteplici oggetti che si muovono nello spazio e che rappresentano unrischio per il nostro pianeta. Le battute finali portano verso l’ignoto (The Unknown) sollevando una domanda la cui risposta resta in sospeso: la nostra continua avanzata nell’esplorazione dell’Universo porter un giorno alla scoperta o alla distruzione?

Brass Band - Grade 4

SKU: BT.GOB-000836-130

Composed by Carl Wittrock. Score Only. 20 pages. Gobelin Music Publications #GOB 000836-130. Published by Gobelin Music Publications (BT.GOB-000836-130).

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.

In navolging van het veel gespeelde en alom gewaardeerde ‘Lord Tullamore’, waarin Carl Wittrock op poëtische wijze landschap en culturele elementen van een Iers dorpje verklankt, wordt in ‘The Road to the West’ op filmische wijzehet pioniersbestaan in Amerika geschetst.
De componist betreedt in ‘The Road to the West’ het pionierspad in de periode tussen 1850 en 1890, de tijd van het Wilde Westen.
Het Wilde Westen was het gebied ten westen van de beschaving,het domein van cowboys, pelsjagers en andere gelukzoekers.
Genoeg ingrediënten voor een boeiend verhaal.

In de eerste scene gaat een avonturier, eenzaam en alleen, de strijd aan met de natuur en de elementen.
Na een spannend avontuur trekt hij door ‘the Plains’, waar de weidse vergezichten, afgewisseld door kolossale bergformaties een bijna niet onder woorden te brengen schoonheid tentoonspreiden.
Na weken van eenzaamheid komttenslotte de bewoonde wereld weer in beeld.
‘The Saloon’ is de ontmoetingsplek bij uitstek. Hier worden ervaringen uitgewisseld en spelen zich vaak hilarische taferelen af.