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.

Old English Christmas Song-Les origines de chant traditionnel The Holly and the Ivy (Le houx et le lierre) pourraient remonter à plus de 1000 ans. Ce chant animait alors les soirées hivernales à l?approche de Noël car les paroles mentionnent la robustesse du houx et du lierre face à la froideur de l?hiver ainsi que l?espoir de voir venir des jours plus chaleureux. Les couleurs du houx et du lierre rouge et vert rappellent les couleurs associées au temps de Noël. Franco Cesarini nous dévoile une musique aux couleurs chaudes de Noël.

Composer Peter Martin received his inspiration from the period of the versatile Henry VIII and the accompanying sparkling late-medieval music. At Henry's Table describes the atmosphere at the court of the English king. Music that stays with you because it is so special.

Fascinated by the beauty of Chicago, Franco Cesarini has translated his emotions into music: this is how Symphony No. 3 ?Urban Landscapes? Op. 55, was born, a musical portrait of this metropolis overlooking Lake Michigan. The composition is divided into three movements: The Wrigley Building from Dawn to Noon, Blue Silhouette and Cloud Gates, which by sharing the same thematic material arranged in cyclical form, strengthen the overall cohesion of the piece. The first movement, preceded by a short slow introduction in which the main theme is presented in an almost dreamlike form, metaphorically represents the city at dawn. The sudden change of time symbolizes the start of activities with all its noises and sounds: you can hear the bell that announces the closing of the subway doors, the sound of cars speeding by, the siren of a patrol car. If the first movement represents the day, the second introduces a nocturnal environment: a melancholic melody played by the English horn anticipates a more animated tempo depicting melodies coming from jazz clubs. Powerful fanfares that take up the second theme of the first movement introduce the third movement. In this finale, the role of the two themes is reversed compared to the first movement and one takes the place of the other in a kind of games of mirrors. Symphony No. 3 ?Urban Landscapes? Op. 55: a sumptuous musical portrait of the ?Windy City?.

During the 1980’s the English super-group Supertramp were hardly ever out of the charts. This medley by Andre Waignein includes their hits: The Logical song Breakfast in America and It’s Raining Again.

for Wind Orchestra Additional European Parts. Fascinated by the beauty of Chicago, Franco Cesarini has translated his emotions into music: this is how Symphony No. 3 ?Urban Landscapes? Op. 55, was born, a musical portrait of this metropolis overlooking Lake Michigan. The composition is divided into three movements: The Wrigley Building from Dawn to Noon, Blue Silhouette and Cloud Gates, which by sharing the same thematic material arranged in cyclical form, strengthen the overall cohesion of the piece. The first movement, preceded by a short slow introduction in which the main theme is presented in an almost dreamlike form, metaphorically represents the city at dawn. The sudden change of time symbolizes the start of activities with all its noises and sounds: you can hear the bell that announces the closing of the subway doors, the sound of cars speeding by, the siren of a patrol car. If the first movement represents the day, the second introduces a nocturnal environment: a melancholic melody played by the English horn anticipates a more animated tempo depicting melodies coming from jazz clubs. Powerful fanfares that take up the second theme of the first movement introduce the third movement. In this finale, the role of the two themes is reversed compared to the first movement and one takes the place of the other in a kind of games of mirrors. Symphony No. 3 ?Urban Landscapes? Op. 55: a sumptuous musical portrait of the ?Windy City?.. Edition Franco Cesarini

Gustav Holst était directeur de musique de 1905 et 1934 à la St Paul?s Girls? School à Brook Green Londres. La St Paul?s Suite une composition pour l?orchestre à cordes de l?école y connut sa première en 1913 et comprend quatre mouvements : une Jig énergique en 6/8 et 9/8 Ostinato basé sur un thème simple de quatre notes Intermezzo une danse dynamique et rythmique et Finale adapté de la Second Suite in F dans laquelle Holst combine avec brio The Dargason tiré du English Dancing Master avec la mélodie traditionnelle Greensleeves.

Throughout the colonial period in America country dancing was the principal recreation of all social classes. Americans had inherited this tendency from Elizabethan England and many continental Europeans also took up English country dancing as their own. Four Colonial Country Dances feature country dance tunes that were indigenous to New England and particularly to the Boston area.

The English king Henry VIII (1491-1547) is mainly remembered for disposing of his wives on a regular basis and breaking with the Catholic Church when the Pope Clement VII refused to grant him a divorce so he could marry Anne Boleyn.As a young man he was a gifted athlete dancer and composer writing many songs poems and consort pieces (though not Greensleeves as is often believed). Pastime with Good Company is undoubtedly the best-known of these written in the first years of the 16th century while he was still a handsome prince newly married to Catherine of Aragon and the envy of Europe. The lyrics tell of the joys of hunting dancing and singing and would have been sungas part of the court entertainment.This arrangement features a quartet of soloists and two solo drummers.

The Four Noble Truths are the most basic expression of the teaching of Buddha and therefore still form the guidelines for Buddhists to this day. The four truths are Dukkha which describes times of major stress in our lives - birth aging desire and death; Samudaya which describes those parts of our life that induce stress feeling craving desire; Nirodha which tells us how to eliminate those aspects of our lives which induce stress and Magga which describes the eight didciplines which can help us eliminate the origins of stress from our lives. It can be seen from these over-simplified definitions that the Four Noble Truths fall into two pairs the first two describingthe origins of stress and the second two describing how we can reduce stress. To reflect this the four movements of this work are also combined into two pairs - two quick movements and two slow movements. A fascinating work from this great English composer.

Lux Futura. Lux Futura (Light of the Future) was commissioned by the Royal Wind Orchestra Delft and is inspired by the letters ?D-E-L-F-T? using the letter notation system by Béla Bartók. In this ?Delft? cell, there is referral to the ?Trinitas?, the bourdon bell of the Old Church in Delft, that only tolls during a funeral of a member of the Dutch Royal Family. The Delft melody switches to the ?Agneta March?, which is a reference to the history of the Royal Wind Orchestra Delft. Further on the love theme, played by the bass instruments represents the love of the inhabitants for their city throughout space and time. In the middle movement, the beauty of the city is depicted by the cor anglais (English horn) solo, as an ode to the lovely city of Delft. When performed, one can choose to use sound city samples recorded in Delft to create a truly magnificent spectacle.

'Tomorrow Shall Be My Dancing Day' is an English carol whose appearance is in William B. Sandys' Christmas Carols Ancient and Modern published in 1833. Many composers and arrangers have done vocal settings of this carol. Here's a stunning new arrangement of this lovely carol. It is joyful, lilting, and upbeat---and even has a Latin flavor! A sure winner for any holiday concert! (2:00) / Orchestre D'Harmonie

The chilling slow movement seems to me to be one of the great symphonic essays written by an Englishman.Michael Kennedy Daily Telegraph 1 June 1991

Par CURNOW JAMES. / Niveau : 2 / Hymnes et chorals / Répertoire / Concert Band