SKU: CN.S11242
Scenes from an English Landscape is a brief nostalgic tone poem taking its inspiration from visions of rural England as depicted in the paintings of John Constable, the novels of Thomas Hard, and the music of Gustav Holst and Ralph Vaughan Williams. A chorale-like theme is stated in the brass and then taken up at three times the tempo in the woodwinds. At the end of the work, both versions of the theme are stated together to bring the piece to a triumphant climax.This is a brief nostalgic tone poem taking its inspiration from visions of rural England as depicted in the paintings of John Constable, the novels of Thomas Hard, and the music of Gustav Holst and Ralph Vaughan Williams. I imagined a community of villagers coming out of church and filling a village square with their vibrant presence. A chorale-like theme is stated in the brass and then taken up at three times the tempo in the woodwinds. At the end o the work, both versions of the theme are stated together to bring the piece to a triumphant climax. Adam Gorb was born in Cardiff and started composing at the age of ten. His first work broadcast on national radio was written when he was fifteen. He studied at Cambridge University (1977-1980) and the Royal Academy of Music (1991-1993) where he graduated with the highest honours including the Principal's Prize. He has been on the staff at the London College of Music and Media, the junior Academy of the Royal Academy of Music and, since 2000 he has been the Head of School of Composition at the Royal Northern College of Music in Manchester . International recognition came in 1994 with the US Walter Beeler Prize for his work Metropolis . With it began what has developed into probably the most important wind ensemble catalogue by a contemporary composer, ranging from extremely challenging to the most accessible, at all technical levels, seized on by players internationally, widely recorded and now absolutely central to the world's wind repertoire. Equally important though are his works for dance, and concert pieces like the chamber orchestral Weimar , the Violin Sonata , a Clarinet Concerto for the Royal Liverpool Philharmonic Orchestra and Diaspora for strings (for the Goldberg Ensemble). Deceptively mainstream at first glance, they display the same inventive brilliance, pulsating sound world, striking use of rhythm and an undogmatic absence of stylistic hang-ups to embrace jazz and serialism in works where power, poetry, irony and pathos, often underlaid by a theatrical and deeply subversive element, coalesce in an integrated, highly individual musical voice. Gorb is also not afraid to draw on the vivid musical heritage of his Jewish roots, sometimes directly, often in a more subsumed or radically creative way. The crucial and consistent feature of Gorb's work though is that it communicates strongly without patronizing players or audiences. He firmly believes that if contemporary music - any music - does not impact on listeners then its message is irrelevant; it is lost.
SKU: CN.S11100
A catchy folk tune in a catchy arrangement, guaranteed to please your audience. Ideally scored by the master composer Michael Brand. Portsmouth has all the ingredients of a concert or contest opening march.
SKU: CN.R10100
SKU: CN.S11247
As a change to your usual concert opener, this swing march is ideal - and scored straightforwardly too!
SKU: CN.R10230
Music of enormous excitement and expectation - marked very animated - with brass blazing a powerful call against a tingling triplet figure in support. In Wagner's own words - awaken the mute lines of this score to bright surrounding life.In a letter addressed to My dear Liszt, dated May 1852, Richard Wagner writes: It was you who awakened the mute lines of this score to bright surrounding life. He was referring to a performance of his opera Lohengrin which Franz Liszt conducted at the Weirner Court Theatre on August 28, 1850. The letter was sent from Zurich, since Wagner was exiled from Germany at this time. He had completed his romantic opera, Lohengrin, some five years earlier but doubted whether he would ever hear it performed. The action takes place in Antwerp in the first half of the 10th century. Elsa and Lohengrin are to be married and the 3rd Act opens as they proceed in great splendour, accompanied by their respective noblewomen and noblemen, to the cathedral. As a Prelude to the curtain rising Wagner unleashed music of enormous excitement and expectation - marked very animated - with brass blazing a powerful call against a tingling triplet figure in support. In the opera this magnificent Prelude leads directly into the Bridal Scene as Elsa and Lohengrin make their way solemnly to the betrothal ceremony. Wagner achieves this change of mood and atmosphere most skillfully. In arranging the Prelude for concert performance the challenge was to provide an ending which provides a satisfactory climax to Wagner's blaze of instrumental colour, without proceeding to the solemn betrothal music. This was resolved by using the composer's own mighty flourish to end Act I of his opera. Now, the gauntlet is thrown down to all who perform it to - in Wagner's own words - awaken the mute lines of this score to bright surrounding life..
SKU: CN.S11230
SKU: HL.4006125
UPC: 888680961510. 9.0x12.0x0.122 inches.
The overture to Giuseppe Verdi's 1862 opera La Forza del Destino (The Power of Fate) has remained standard repertoire for orchestras around the world. In this imaginative work for winds, Jay Bocook pays homage to the mastery of Verdi and begins with the ominous 3-note “fate†theme from the overture. Throughout the piece melodies are recast and harmonies are embellished, culminating in an exhilarating conclusion where the final seven bars quote Verdi's original almost identically. A brilliant addition to the wind band repertoire.
SKU: CN.S11275
On your mark...get set...GO!!! British sprinter Linford Christie used to say that he started his races not merely at the 'band' of the starting pistol, but at the B of the Band. Capture the spirit of a fast-paced road race in this challenging work by Peter Meechan.Bang 2 has two closely related reference points for its title. A quotation from the legendary British Sprinter, Linford Christie, was the initial starting point for the piece. Christie used to say that he started his races not merely at the 'bang' of the starting pistol, but at the B of the Bang. 'B of the Bang' is also the name of a prominent sculpture (again named after the Christie quote) in the composer's home city, Manchester, England. Designed by Thomas Heatherwick, it is the tallest self-supporting sculpture in the United Kingdom and was constructed close to the City of Manchester Stadium in order to commemorate the success of the 2002 Commonwealth Games.
SKU: CN.S11268
Time Present, Past and Future.... the melodic themes of this dance travel from the 5/4 meter of the present day, to the 3/4 waltzes of the past, to the 6/8 accented phrases of the future. Players will recognize the themes as they explore the variations and new meters to each dance.Dances of Time was commissioned by the National School Band Association and first performed on 10 June 2000 at the Adrian Boult Hall, Birmingham Conservatoire, University of Central England, by the Aldridge School Wind Band , conducted by the composer. Time Present, Past and Future.... the melodic themes of this dance travel from the 5/4 meter of the present day, to the 3/4 waltzes of the past, to the 6/8 accented phrases of the future. Players will recognize the themes as they explore the variations and new meters to each dance.
SKU: CN.R10269
Carnival! is a samba set in the famous streets of Rio. Performers should be encouraged to treat it in a big band style and really go for it. The percussion should use the notated samba pattern as a basis for what you can achieve - playing more than one instrument, maybe cymbals or a whistle - even a drum kit! There is a section for solos in the percussion if desired.Carnival! is a samba set in the famous streets of Rio. Performers should be encouraged to treat it in a big band style and really go for it. The percussion should use the notated samba pattern as a basis for what you can achieve - playing more than one instrument, maybe cymbals or a whistle - even a drum kit! There is a section for solos in the percussion if desired.
SKU: CN.R10250
Based on traditional Scottish melodies, Highland Fantasy begins with the jolly romp The Wee Cooper o' Fife and moves into the yearning ballad Highland Laddie. Fraser cleverly merges the two themes as the work comes to a joyously majestic close.This work is mainly based on traditional Scottish melodies. After a brief introduction we hear The Wee Cooper o' Fife played firstly by a solo trumpet followed by a tutti version. Highland Laddie appears, initially featuring saxophones and then passed around the band. The slow middle section is an original which I felt complemented the other melodies in the piece. A recapulation leads to a final section with an augmented version of Highland Laddie from the middle of the band with a version of The Wee Cooper in the upper winds. The work ends with a final majestic statement.
SKU: CN.R10268
SKU: CN.S11250
SKU: CN.R10193
With inspiration taken from composers Maurice Ravel, Arthur Benjamin and Charles Ives, Bourgeois take s a tongue-in-cheek approach to this challenging 3-movement work. While the work is infused with humor throughout, it still showcases his mastery of the wind band idiom.In 1972, I wrote a Sonata for Two Pianos for two friends who were piano teachers at Wellington College. When in 1995 I was asked to write a work for wind band, I returned to this Sonata and have re-arranged and in the new version renamed it Fantasy Triptych. There are three movements: 1. Le Tombeau d'Arthur Benjamin Ravel wrote 'Le Tombeau de Couperin,' Arthur Benjamin wrote 'Le Tombeau de Ravel' and so the temptation to write 'Le Tombeau d'Arthur Benjamin' was overwhelming. At the end of the movement there is an oblique reference to Benjamin's own 'Jamaican Rumba' which accompanies a quote from an old Spanish folk song 'Loro, enciende el hervidor de agua.' 2. Mr. Bolt goes for a ride in his motor car, and Monsieur Ravel turns in his grave. The movement is dedicated to an old friend, Geoffrey Bolt, who adores the music of Ravel. but at the time of writing was learning to drive. He always described his vehicle as a motor car. To describe him as an impatient motorist would be a gross understatement. The refined suavity of Ravel's music was in complete contrast to these early manifestations of road rage, hence the central angry outburst. 3. The War March of the Ostriches The music of Charles Ives was fascinating me at the time of writing this movement and some of the influence has rubbed off in this rondo-like march. At the end there is a quote from the very beginning of the first movement. The title was inspired by the amusing antics of a group of ostriches during a visit to Bristol Zoo.
SKU: CN.S11205
The piece evokes the relentless machine-like rhythm of a modern industrial engine powered by air. The machine minder lives next to this world every day, but during his work his mind drifts to more pleasant pursuits; a walk in the park, by the seaside, a summer's day? He live his inner life in a different sphere to his working day but the two can co-exist in harmony.The piece evokes the relentless machine-like rhythm of a modern industrial engine powered by air. The machine minder lives next to this world every day, but during his work his mind drifts to more pleasant pursuits; a walk in the park, by the seaside, a summer's day? He live his inner life in a different sphere to his working day but the two can co-exist in harmony. Windpower was originally commissioned for brass band in 1999 by Atlas Copco Band (Hemel Hempstead, England) with funds including a contribution from the Arts Council of Great Britain.
SKU: CN.S11269
SKU: CN.S11280
For many, Lancastrian William Rimmer is Britain's 'March King.' His marches are wonderful, every one with its own unique personality and form. Like Sousa, he also created and played a vast catalogue of band music ranging from waltzes and solos to great selections from the masters, but it is for his marches that he is remembered today. Pulcinella, often called Punchinello or Punch in English, is a classic character with a long nose which originated in the 17th century Italian Commedia dell arte.For many, Lancastrian William Rimmer is Britain's 'March King.' His marches are wonderful, every one with its own unique personality and form. Like Sousa, he also created and played a vast catalogue of band music ranging from waltzes and solos to great selections from the masters, but it is for his marches that he is remembered today. Pulcinella, often called Punchinello or Punch in English, is a classic character with a long nose which originated in the 17th century Italian Commedia dell arte.
SKU: CN.R10205
SKU: CN.R10275
SKU: CN.R10288
A regal sounding work for early band. Brand's compact band series allows for flexibility in scoring for your ensemble.
SKU: CN.S11228
Originally written for brass band in 1981, this work always provokes a strongly favorable reaction when performed. This highly talented composer has captured the mood of Japanese modes as well as the tranquillity, but transferred it to the western band with stunning effect.
SKU: CN.R10228
SKU: CN.S11193
SKU: CN.S11158
A powerful work. An opening fanfare leads directly to an Allegro risoluto, which exudes determination and forthrightness. The second movement follows without a break and is a continuous plaint in which the melody seems forever seeking resolution like a troubled soul searching for respite. Only in the closing bars does peace seem to take over. The final movement, marked Allegro non troppo, starts with a cheering fanfare that leads to a bright and breezy romp, with a rustic feel about it. When the fanfare reappears we are suddenly immersed in exaltations of joy that really give a feeling of optimism as we proceed to the end of the piece via a short Coda.With this Symphony, Gordon Jacob proclaims his absolute mastery of idiom and instrumentation with a triumphant rejoicing. Written in 1978 as a commission from Arthur Doyle (hence the AD in the title, a typical piece of Jacob wit), it lay virtually unplayed save for the efforts of his Estate, Troy Peterson and Geoffrey Brand and CBDNA (College Band Directors Association, USA), who between them ensured that it was professionally recorded in 1994 and published in 1995. There is little point in indulging in semantics as to whether the piece is a Symphony. It is Jacob's approach to his tuneful, folk-based material which is symphonic: weighty in exposition and development, sonorous and expressive in the slow movement, with a scherzo-like last movement and a giocoso coda. After a brilliant opening fanfare, the quick triple-meter first theme (Allegro Risoluto) is introduced on clarinets, punctuated with brass. It is soon followed by a contrasting melody for saxophone. In all this material the interval of a 4th is prominent, and throughout the work the 4th and 7th are important. Perhaps it is the frequent use of the 7th which gives a feeling of restlessness without resolution which pervades this movement as the themes are dissected and developed. The second movement follows directly after a horn bridge. Still the melody outlines the 7th and the ear is not satisfied until the full band (with organ), comes to rest in Bb major. This point of repose and the magic pianissimo which follows shortly after when the slow theme is re-stated, are the apex of the Symphony's construction. Soon, however, we are transported, via a fanfare, into a helter-skelter 9/8 romp: rustic, English, and almost vulgar, this theme is thrown around the group before exploding into a boisterous 2/4 coda.
SKU: CN.R10202
Warlike, then noble, Now is the Day is based on the great figure in Scottish history - William Wallace, often called Braveheart. Opening with the woodwinds playing drums along with the percussion section against brass fanfares, this piece will create an air of excitement. An alto saxophone solo provides a brief moment of solace between the battle scenes.This work is based on a great figure in Scottish history - William Wallace, often called Braveheart. The song Scots wha hae wi' Wallace bled, which is Scotland's unofficial national anthem contains the line Now is the day and how is the hour, and this is the source of the title. The opening section is warlike in sound with woodwinds playing tambours of some sort - tom-toms, tambours, even old drum skins will make the kind of noise required to simulate a battle. Noisy brass fanfares are melodic fragments of Scots wha hae melody. Eventually, woodwinds join in and the music slows down to an alto saxophone solo, again based on fragments of Scots wha hae. The battle tempo resumes and percussion then lead the band noisily into an eventual full statement of the theme creating a noble sound against the continuing drum patterns, leading to a triumphant ending.
SKU: CN.S11261
The three short movements in this work should be played in an outdoor spirit. Three Way Suite is intended for the beginner band although more advanced ensembles shouldn't disregard it. The movements are titled: Marching Forwards, Swaying Sideways, and Running Away..
SKU: CN.R10104
This beautiful song reflects the tranquillity of the French countryside. Dr. Kevin Thompson is a leading British authority on bands and his sensitive score is ideal for smaller groups, providing training for phrasing and ensemble playing.This beautiful song reflects the tranquillity of the French countryside. Dr. Kevin Thompson is a leading British authority on bands and his sensitive score is ideal for smaller groups, providing training for phrasing and ensemble playing. Professor Kevin Thompson is Principal and Chief Executive of Dartington College of Arts, a University Sector institution dedicated to the performance arts.After undergraduate studies at the Royal Northern College of Music, he gained masters and subsequently doctoral degrees at the University of London. He began his career as a professional trumpet player, conductor, composer and teacher. He was the architect of University of Salford's degree in band musicianship, launched in 1987 and the first of its kind. From 1988 - 1993 he was Principal of Birmingham Conservatoire and during this time was elected to a personal professorship and subsequently a Deanship chair.On his arrival at Dartington, he was made an honorary Professor by the University of Plymouth. In 1992 he gained a Winston Churchill Fellowship to study the Great American Music Schools: Juilliard, Curtis, Eastman, Indiana. Other awards include those of the British Association for American Studies and the British Council for the Royal Danish Academy of Music. He is a Freeman of the City of London. His publications include a book on brass and wind bands published by Cambridge University, many articles in Times Newspaper and other leading British and American journals. The book on wind and brass bands became a key text in many college and university reading lists and was read extensively throughout the English speaking world, particularly in North America and the Pacific Rim. He is joint editor, with Dr Gordon Cox of the new eleven volume series on brass playing and teaching and author of two of the volumes.
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