‘Mixed Bag’ stands midway between a collection and a hotchpotch. It is a colourful compilation of four completely different pieces each with its own specific character. The first part is called ‘Tanguillo’ : as its name suggests this Spanish dance is related to the Tango. In the next part ‘Maybe next time ....’ a repeated bass line (Passacaglia) can be heard first solo but thereafter gradually the other instruments join in. The third part forms a huge contrast – did the former part have a Baroque atmosphere ‘Rock Hard’ seems to have come directly from the Rock ‘n Roll era reminding us of stars such as Bill Haley and Elvis Presley. The finale is acheerful inciting movement called ‘Gypsy Dance’.

A mix and match collection of 21 easy-intermediate Brass trios using familiar Christmas melodies including 'Deck The Hall' 'Silent Night' and 'Jingle Bells'. These trios can be performed with any other combination of instruments within the Christmas series.

Music Medals Brass 2 Ensemble Pieces are another set of five volumes of enjoyable and accessible repertoire for the developing ensemble progressively graded Copper Bronze Silver Gold and Platinum. They contain original pieces and imaginative arrangements for duets trios and quartets. Suitable for Trombone Baritone Euphonium and E Flat Tuba.

Universal Tunes for Two-Two on Tour is a useful new duet book that will add variety to musiclessons. The well-known pieces are arranged in order of difficulty tomake your tour through the book entertaining yet challenging. Thisbook introduces over 30 songs from around the world includingmelodies from England Australia Mexico Italy and many othercountries making it ideal for use in all Key Stages.

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

In the tripartite 'Cowboy Suite' Alan Laken takes us to the Wild West the domain of cowboys indians trappers and other fortune hunters. Around 1890 the west coast of America was reached which in effect meant the end of the Wild West. Its stories however survived and have been a source of inspiration for many books films and of course music. Some characters such as Jesse James Billy the Kid and Buffalo Bill are forever linked to these tales. In the 'Cowboy Suite' we first hear the 'Hoedown'. At the end of an exhausting workday the labourers used to lay down their tools among others the 'hoes' and spontaneously began to play music on the instruments which they then possessed (guitars fiddles and banjos) and to dance. After being jolted on the 'Wagon Trail' we reach the third part the 'Cowboy Roundup'. In this last part it becomes clear that as a cattle driver it is imperative to stay firmly seated in the saddle. As the cattle are rounded up i.e. driven together spectacular things happen.

‘Toccata Festiva’ was commissioned in 1994 by the Dutch Brass Band Championships. The wind band version was made a year later by the composer himself. Historically speaking the toccata is considered to be one of the first independent instrumental forms for keyboard instruments. Originally the toccata was typically more or less improvised later this musical form was given a more regulated structure. Both elements are used in the ‘Toccata Festiva’: on the one hand the different themes are developed freely on the other the piece has an orderly structure. It is in a three part form (quick-slow-quick) and includes both strong rhythmical figures and broad melodic lines. Partof the composition is written in a more or less archaic tone idiom referring to the period from which the toccata form originates (16th century).

In a four-part composition Rieks van der Velde takes us to the richly varied area surrounding the university city of Cambridge. The Dutch composer was especially inspired by the atmosphere of Cambridgeshire the county which lies north ofLondon. 1. The Journey. Although on arrival the area looks peaceful and friendly the ruggedness of its inhabitants and landscape have an unmistakable influence on the music. In the course of the tour which starts with an Allegromovement we are shown the vitality energy and freshness of the Cambridgeshire countryside. Short themes swift and sudden motifs and rhythmical patterns supported by the drive of percussion instruments give expression to this image. Thefirst part is concluded by two Calmo movements in which the music expresses how the cathedral in the city of Ely comes into sight and is gradually approached. 2. Visit to Ely Cathedral. The famous Norman cathedral church of Ely whichwas built in 1109 has attracted tourists from all over the world apart from being a place of worship and heritage site. A cornet solo introduces the contemplative mood of the composition at this point. The mystical atmosphere of thecathedral runs through this lyrical part like a continuous thread. 3. The Pub. The thirst caused by this intensive journey makes a visit to the local pub a definite must. These ?public houses? which may be open until the earlyhours of the morning offer all kinds of entertainment. Drinks are served liberally and the atmosphere is lively. 4. The Journey Back. Time has flown: In other words the moment of departure has come sooner than one would havewished. In a flashback which recaptures elements of the first part of the composition we say goodbye to Cambridgeshire in a fitting manner. Two scintillating final measures bring us abruptly back to the present.

15 Easy Arrangements-15 Easy Arrangements. These exciting instrumental collections feature 15 easy arrangements for brass quartet or brass quintet with flexible instrumentation and optional keyboard accompaniment. They make ideal accompanimentsfor congregational singing in churches or other groups and are also great for performances by brass only. Every book includes two versions of each carol: the standard version found in hymnals in the common key and a variationverse with a free and interesting arrangement. Includes: Angels We Have Heard on High · The First Noel · Go Tell It on the Mountain · Hark! the Herald Angels Sing · Joy to the World · WhatChild Is This? · and more.

Ruders writes: 'gl0rIA' is subtitled: 'a relique for large chorus and 12 brass-instruments. At the same time it is an exercise for chorus because only vowels do occur or virtually no consonants are heard. The second part of the Missa Ordinarium the Gloria in Exelcis Deo makes the literary basis of 'g10rIA' but I employ only the vowels which in their full context form a 'non-language' - fragments of a tradition. A less dim vision of the 'severed body' appears in the center of the piece where the Domini Fili-section surfaces in its original shape. 'gl0rIA' is a 20th century composer’s hommage to the innocent faith of bygone days and a fanfare in honour of ClaudioMonteverdi; thus the ever present elaborations of the introduction to the Vespro Della Beate Vergine. Superimposed on the 'torso' of Latin I wedge in a quotation from the Spanish renaissance poet Gonzalo de Berceo’s 'Duelo de la Virgen' a surrealistic Lamento in which the Jews sent by Pilate to stand guard at the tomb of Christ mock and ridicule Maria Jesu mother. Thus a shadow has been cast over the jubilant religious appraisal of the past which today’s knowledge of atrocities and enormities engineered by Mankind has - alas - made so hard to repeat.

Score and Parts-Bernhard Heiden was a German and American composer and music teacher who studied under and was heavily influenced by Paul Hindemith. Heiden's music is described by Nicolas Slonimsky another composer as 'neoclassical in its formal structure and strongly polyphonic in texture; it is distinguished also by its impeccable formal balance and effective instrumentation'. Much of Heiden's music is for either Wind or String chamber groups or solo instruments with Piano though he also wrote two symphonies an opera ('The Darkened City') a ballet ('Dreamers on a Slack Wire') and vocal and incidental music for poetry and severalof Shakespeare's plays.Variations is scored for solo Tuba and nine French Horns.

In ‘Land of Legends’ German composer Andreas Ludwig (what’s in a name) Schulte takes you along to the fictional world of legends myths and fairy tales. The introduction to the first part (The Castle) describes the majestic contours of the scene of action. Its instrumentation (horns) immediately makes you imagine being in Medieval spheres. The addition of trenchant copper instruments even gives the part a heroic tinge. After entering through the gate a lot of hustle and bustle appears to be going on in the courtyard. Pages squires and soldiers are busy attending to their arms. Beer is being brewed flax is being spun cattle are being tended and some craftsmen fromneighbouring villages are busily at work. In the upper chamber of the round tower lives an old man (The Old Wizard). He hardly ever comes out and nobody knows exactly what he is doing. It is said that he is engaged in wizardry and magic. It is all very mysterious. There are also festivities some of them sober others exuberant. The wedding in the third part is celebrated in a grand manner. With a flourish of trumpets the bride makes her entrance at the hand of her father. Afterwards at the party there is dancing to the music played by minstrels and of course a plentiful banquet follows.

COME ONE AND ALL! Come see the great Circus Bamboni! This four movement work with flexible four-part instrumentation (+ drum set) will amaze and charm you like no other. The fi rst movement features the band as it tunes up and prepares for the show. Then the talented trapeze artists make an appearance as they fly through the sky high above the audience. The elephants parade around the ring with their very own Elephant Samba and the clowns follow leaving you in stitches! A thunderous chord and lots of applause bring the show to a breathtaking finale.