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: CF.SPS78

ISBN 9781491152553. UPC: 680160910052. Key: Bb major.

Festival March is presented in a new edition arranged by Richard Summers. It is a tour de force composition for advanced bands and hearkens back to a bygone era during the golden age of the band movement. Directors and students will hear operatic music from composer Victor Herbert who is best known for his Christmas classic, Toyland. This is a richly scored masterpiece that deserves to return to standard status in concert band repertoire. We are proud to bring you this new setting of this cherished classic.
Festival March by Victor Herbert was written for the Pittsburgh Symphony and first performed under Herbert’s direction in Chicago on Dec. 9, 1901 celebrating the 12th anniversary of Chicago’s Auditorium Theatre. Also known as the Auditorium Festival March, he included it many times for programs of a festival nature. The main theme Auld Lang Syne, a famous Scottish folk song, is incorporated many times along with brass fanfares, interludes and march melodies. This band arrangement is very similar to the original orchestral composition. The missing string parts, the addition of the saxophone section and other band instruments, editing of the superimposed triplets against sixteenth notes, to one or the other, and articulations suitable for the band, were major challenges. The style of early twentieth-century American music is captured here. This arrangement will give band musicians access to a fine piece of music that could only be appreciated by orchestra musicians up to now. Although suitable for many occasions, this piece is a great way to begin or end a December holiday concert.  Notes to the ConductorVictor Herbert’s music can be interpreted in a romantic style, which is the conductor’s responsibility to read in nuance and musicality. The beginning and other triple-tonguing sections of this piece have a March of the Toys quality to it.  The interludes and Auld Lang Syne sections are legato and musical. The March sections can also be shaped musically.About the ComposerVictor Herbert was born in Ireland in 1861 and raised in Germany. When he moved to America in 1886, he joined the Metropolitan Opera as principal cellist and eventually composed many works including forty-three operettas on Broadway from the 1890s to World War I, including Naughty Marietta and Babes in Toyland. Victor Herbert conducted the Pittsburgh Symphony from 1898 to 1904 and then was the conductor of his own Victor Herbert Orchestra. He formed ASCAP with a group of composers in 1914 and was the director until his death in 1924. Among his thirty-one compositions for orchestra, Festival March was a favorite of his and was eventually published by Carl Fischer Music.  .

SKU: BT.DHP-1053830-010

English-German-French-Dutch.

Jacques Offenbach was born in 1819 in Cologne, Germany, but as a child he moved to Paris where he received a thorough musical education. In his operetta Orpheus in the Underworld, Offenbach parodies the famous Greek legend of Orpheus and Euridice. Indirectly, however, he criticises the complacency of many of his contemporaries. The overture was not written entirely by Offenbach, Carl Binder added various pieces to it for a Viennese production of this operetta in 1860 and since then, these pieces have remained part of the composition. This appealing transcription includes the famous Can Can which is sure to get your audience high kicking in the aisles!

In de operette Orphée aux Enfers (Orpheus in de onderwereld) parodieert Offenbach het beroemde verhaal van Orpheus en Euridice uit de oude Griekse sagenwereld - indirect stelt hij echter de zelfgenoegzaamheid van veelvan zijn tijdgenoten aan de kaak. De ouverture is niet geheel van Offenbachs hand. Carl Binder heeft er diverse stukken aan toegevoegd voor een Weense productie in 1860, en die zijn er sindsdien in gebleven. Wil van der Beek maakteeen transcriptie voor harmonieorkest van de aanstekelijke ouverture - waarin natuurlijk de beroemde cancan is verwerkt.

In seiner Operette Orpheus in der Unterwelt (Orphée aux Enfers) parodiert Offenbach die berühmte Erzählung von Orpheus und Eurydike aus der klassischen griechischen Sagenwelt. Indirekt kritisiert er darin jedoch die Selbstgefälligkeit vieler seiner Zeitgenossen. Die Ouvertüre schrieb Offenbach nicht ganz alleine; Carl Binder fügte einige Stücke für eine Wiener Produktion dieser Operette im Jahr 1860 hinzu. Diese Stücke blieben seither Teil der Ouvertüre. Wil van der Beek schuf eine Transkription für Blasorchester dieser reizvollen Ouvertüre, die auch den berühmten Cancan enthält.

Jacques Offenbach (1819-1880) cultivait l’art d’ironiser sur la frivolité des moeurs parisiennes, sur l’amour, la vie politique et la vie militaire. Son opérette Orphée aux Enfers (1858) est une parodie du mythe grec d’Orphée et Eurydice, mais sous le masque de l’antiquité, il se livre une critique sévère de l’attitude suffisante de nombreux de ses contemporains. L’Ouverture telle que nous la connaissons aujourd’hui n’est pas la version originale d’Offenbach, mais une version complétée par Carl Binder pour une production Vienne en 1860. Wil van der Beek en a réalisé une transcription irrésistible qui contient le pétillant Cancan, l’une des pages les plus célèbres de lapartition.

Jacques Offenbach (1819-1880) coltivava l’arte di ironizzare sulla frivolezza delle abitudini parigine, sull’amore, sulla vita politica e la vita militare. La sua operetta Orfeo agli Inferni (1858) è una parodia del mito greco di Orfeo ed Euridice, ma dietro la facciata dell’antichit , si abbandona ad una critica severa del comportamento di sufficienza di numerosi suoi contemporanei. L’Ouverture come noi la conosciamo oggi, non è la versione originale di Offenbach, ma una versione completata da Carl Binder per una produzione a Vienna nel 1860. Wil van der Beek ne ha realizzato una trascrizione irresistibile che contiene il brillante Cancan, una delle pagine più celebri dellospartito.

SKU: HL.44007313

UPC: 884088245092. 9x12 inches. English-German-French-Dutch.

Paul and Barry Ryan were identical twin sons of 1950's pop singer Marion Ryan and were born on 24th October 1948. They were groomed for stardom and had started singing as a duo before their fifteenth birthday. They were signed by Decca in 1965 and brilliantly marketed as clean-cut fashion icons. Their first single 'Don't Bring Me Your Heartaches' reached the UK top twenty but their success as twin performers lasted only three years. In 1968 Barry embarked on a solo career while Paul concentrated on writing and producing. Eloise with its melodramatic vocal style and heavily orchestrated backing was an early success of this new collaboration and went on to be covered by a variety ofartists, including punk legends The Damned.

De eeneiige tweelingbroers Paul en Barry Ryan vormden al een zangduo voor hun vijftiende verjaardag. In 1965 tekenden ze een contract bij Decca en werden ze op een briljante manier voor het voetlicht gebracht als keurige mode-idolen,maar hun succes als tweelingartiesten duurde slechts drie jaar. In 1968 begon Barry aan een solocarriere terwijl Paul zich concentreerde op het schrijver- en producerschap. Eloise, een stevig georkestreerd, melodramatischgezongen nummer, was een vroege en succesvolle vrucht van deze samenwerking. De song werd in de loop der tijd vertolkt door diverse artiesten.

Paul und Barry Ryan waren die Zwillingssohne der 50er-Jahre-Popsangerin Marion Ryan. Den beiden Brudern war eine Zukunft als Popstars in die Wiege gelegt. Bereits vor ihrem 15. Geburtstag traten sie als Duo auf. Spater verlegte sich Paul jedoch aufs Songschreiben und Barry trat solo auf. Der Hit Eloise mit seinem melodramatischen Gesangsstil und dem stark orchestrierten Hintergrund ist ein Resultat dieser erfolgreichen Zusammenarbeit und wurde in der Folge von zahlreichen Kunstlern neu interpretiert. Philip Sparke machte den Pop-Evergreen nun auch fur Blasorchester spielbar.

Paul et Barry Ryan etaient jumeaux, nes le 24 octobre 1948, fils de la chanteuse pop des annees 1950 Marion Ryan. Formes pour la celebrite, ils ont commence a chanter en duo avant l'age de quinze ans. En 1965 ils ont signe un contrat d'enregistrement avec Decca qui a commercialise leur image soignee d'icones de la mode. Leur premier single Don't Bring Me Your Heartaches est parvenu au top 20 du hit-parade britannique, mais leur succes a deux n'a dure que trois ans. En 1968, Barry a entrepris une carriere solo tandis que Paul s'est concentre sur la composition et la production. Eloise, avec son style vocal melodramatique et son accompagnement tres orchestral, etaitun succes precoce pour cette nouvelle collaboration. De nombreux artistes l'ont depuis reprise, telles que les legendes du punk The Damned.

Figli gemelli di Marion Ryan, celebre cantante pop degli anni '50, Paul e Barry Ryan si esibivano insieme gia prima di aver compiuto quindici anni.Nel 1965 firmano un contratto con la casa discografica Decca e commercializzano con successo la loro immagine di icone della moda. Il primo single entra nelle top 20 britanniche. Nel 1968, Barry si lancia nella carriera di solista, mentre Paul si concentra sulla composizione e la produzione. Eloise, una canzone dallo stile vocale melodrammatico che si sviluppa su un importante accompagnamento orchestrale, e uno dei primi successi della collaborazione tra i due fratelli.

SKU: BT.AMP-149-010

9x12 inches. English-German-French-Dutch.

Paul and Barry Ryan were identical twin sons of 1950’s pop singer Marion Ryan and were born on 24th October 1948. They were groomed for stardom and had started singing as a duo before their fifteenth birthday. They were signed by Decca in 1965 and brilliantly marketed as clean-cut fashion icons. Their first single ‘Don’t Bring Me Your Heartaches’ reached the UK top twenty but their success as twin performers lasted only three years. In 1968 Barry embarked on a solo career while Paul concentrated on writing and producing. Eloise with its melodramatic vocal style and heavily orchestrated backing was an early success of this new collaboration and went on to be covered by a variety ofartists, including punk legends The Damned.

De eeneiige tweelingbroers Paul en Barry Ryan vormden al een zangduo voor hun vijftiende verjaardag. In 1965 tekenden ze een contract bij Decca en werden ze op een briljante manier voor het voetlicht gebracht als keurige mode-idolen,maar hun succes als tweelingartiesten duurde slechts drie jaar. In 1968 begon Barry aan een solocarrière terwijl Paul zich concentreerde op het schrijver- en producerschap. Eloise, een stevig georkestreerd, melodramatischgezongen nummer, was een vroege en succesvolle vrucht van deze samenwerking. De song werd in de loop der tijd vertolkt door diverse artiesten.

Paul und Barry Ryan waren die Zwillingssöhne der 50er-Jahre-Popsängerin Marion Ryan. Den beiden Brüdern war eine Zukunft als Popstars in die Wiege gelegt. Bereits vor ihrem 15. Geburtstag traten sie als Duo auf. Später verlegte sich Paul jedoch aufs Songschreiben und Barry trat solo auf. Der Hit Eloise mit seinem melodramatischen Gesangsstil und dem stark orchestrierten Hintergrund ist ein Resultat dieser erfolgreichen Zusammenarbeit und wurde in der Folge von zahlreichen Künstlern neu interpretiert. Philip Sparke machte den Pop-Evergreen nun auch für Blasorchester spielbar.

Paul et Barry Ryan étaient jumeaux, nés le 24 octobre 1948, fils de la chanteuse pop des années 1950 Marion Ryan. Formés pour la célébrité, ils ont commencé chanter en duo avant l’ ge de quinze ans. En 1965 ils ont signé un contrat d’enregistrement avec Decca qui a commercialisé leur image soignée d’icônes de la mode. Leur premier single Don’t Bring Me Your Heartaches est parvenu au top 20 du hit-parade britannique, mais leur succès deux n’a duré que trois ans. En 1968, Barry a entrepris une carrière solo tandis que Paul s’est concentré sur la composition et la production. Eloise, avec son style vocal mélodramatique et son accompagnement très orchestral, étaitun succès précoce pour cette nouvelle collaboration. De nombreux artistes l’ont depuis reprise, telles que les légendes du punk The Damned.

Figli gemelli di Marion Ryan, celebre cantante pop degli anni ’50, Paul e Barry Ryan si esibivano insieme gi prima di aver compiuto quindici anni.Nel 1965 firmano un contratto con la casa discografica Decca e commercializzano con successo la loro immagine di icone della moda. Il primo single entra nelle top 20 britanniche. Nel 1968, Barry si lancia nella carriera di solista, mentre Paul si concentra sulla composizione e la produzione. Eloise, una canzone dallo stile vocale melodrammatico che si sviluppa su un importante accompagnamento orchestrale, è uno dei primi successi della collaborazione tra i due fratelli.

SKU: PR.16500077F

UPC: 680160039272. Key: Bb major. English.

ABOUT THE MUSIC: From the moment that the woodwinds introduce the spritely theme to the concluding statement, the theme undergoes a variety of treatments with constantly changing instrumental textures. This work was written for Kenneth Snapp and the Arizona State University Symphonic Winds. ABOUT THE COMPOSER: David Cohen was born in Pulaski, Tennessee, in 1927. He was educated at the Philadelphia Conservatory of Music and The Julliard School where he received the Bachelor of Science and Master of Science degrees. He continued his education at the Paris Conservatory and the University of Southern California where he received the Doctor of Musical Arts degree in composition in 1966. Cohen has taught at the University of Alabama and Arizona State University and is presently Director of the Arizona State University Electronic Music Studio. He has been the recipient of the Coolidge Chamber Music Prize, a Fulbright Scholarship, University of Alabama Research Grant and a Research Grand from the IBM Corporation.
ABOUT THE MUSIC: From the moment that the woodwinds introduce the spritely theme to the concluding statement, the theme undergoes a variety of treatments with constantly changing instrumental textures.This work was written for Kenneth Snapp and the Arizona State University Symphonic Winds.ABOUT THE COMPOSER: David Cohen was born in Pulaski, Tennessee, in 1927. He was educated at the Philadelphia Conservatory of Music and The Julliard School where he received the Bachelor of Science and Master of Science degrees. He continued his education at the Paris Conservatory and the University of Southern California where he received the Doctor of Musical Arts degree in composition in 1966.Cohen has taught at the University of Alabama and Arizona State University and is presently Director of the Arizona State University Electronic Music Studio.He has been the recipient of the Coolidge Chamber Music Prize, a Fulbright Scholarship, University of Alabama Research Grant and a Research Grand from the IBM Corporation.

SKU: BT.GOB-000826-010

Christopher Columbus was born in Genoa in 1451. His father was a wool merchant. Originally he seemed destined to follow in his father’s footsteps, and thus sailed the oceans to countries as far apart as Iceland and Guinea.
In 1476 his ship was sunk during a battle off the coast of Portugal. Columbus saved his own life by swimming to shore.
In 1484 he conceived the idea of sailing to the Indies via a westward sea route, but it was only in 1492 that he was able to realize this plan.
On this first voyage he was in command of three ships: the flag-ship, called the Santa Maria, the Pinta, and the Ni?a. From Spain Columbus sailed via the Canary Islands to the Bahamas, whichhe sighted on October 12th 1492.
Without being aware of it Columbus discovered the ‘New World’ he thought he had landed in the eastern part of Asia. The motif from Dvoøák’s 9th Symphony ‘Aus der neuen Welt’ forms a little counterfeit history at this point in the composition.
After this first voyage Columbus was to undertake another three long voyages to America. These voyages were certainly not entirely devoid of misfortune.
More than once he was faced with shipwreck, mutiny and the destruction of settlements he had founded.
After Columbus had left for Spain from Rio Belen in 1503, he beached his ships on the coast of Jamaica. The crew were marooned there and it was only after a year that Columbus succeeded in saving his men and sailing back to Spain with them.
In the music the misunderstanding about which continent Columbus discovered in his lifetime resounds, for does this part in the composition not contain Asiatic motifs?
Poor Columbus! In 1506 the famous explorer died in Valladolid.

Christopher Columbus wordt in 1451 geboren in Genua als zoon van een wolhandelaar. Aanvankelijk lijkt hij voorbestemd om als koopman door het leven te gaan. Zo bevaart hij al een groot deel van de wereldzeeën tot landen als IJslanden Guinea.
In 1476 zinkt zijn schip in een veldslag voor de kust van Portugal. Columbus kan zich zwemmend naar de kust redden.
In 1484 vat hij het plan op om langs de “andere” kant van de wereld naar India te varen. Pasin 1492 kan hij zijn plan verwezenlijken.
Het vlaggeschip op deze reis is de Santa Maria. Het schip wordt gesecondeerd door de Pinta en de Ni?a.
Vanuit Spanje vaart Columbus via de Canarische eilanden naar de Bahamas,die hij op 12 oktober 1492 in zicht krijgt. Zonder het te weten ontdekt Columbus de “Nieuwe wereld”.
Hij verkeert in de veronderstelling in het oosten van Azië te zijn aangeland. Een stukje geschiedvervalsing vormt hier eenmotiefje uit Dvoøák’s 9de symfonie, ‘Aus der neuen Welt’.
Na deze eerste reis maakt Columbus nog drie grote reizen naar Amerika. De reizen verlopen zeker niet alle voorspoedig. Zo is er bijv. meermaals sprake van schipbreuk,muiterij en verwoesting van de door Columbus gestichte nederzettingen.
Als hij in 1503 uit Rio Belen weer richting Spanje vertrekt, stranden zijn schepen op de kust van Jamaica. De bemanning wordt daar achtergelaten.
Paseen jaar later weet Columbus zijn bemanning te redden en met hen terug te varen naar Spanje.
In de muziek klinkt het misverstand over welk werelddeel Columbus in zijn leven bevaren had door. Roept dit deeltje geen associatiesop met Aziatische klanken? Arme Columbus!
Christopher Columbus overlijdt in 1506 in Valladolid.

SKU: BT.DHP-1043728-140

Everything started when two Frenchmen, Jacques Morali and Henri Belolo, after having sold over ten records with their band, the Ritchie Family, decided to try out something new. The basic idea was to form a new group inspired by the American male myths of the seventies: cowboys, Indians, men in leather clothes, soldiers and policemen. This is how the Village People were born.Their secret was their energy, cheerfulness and tongue in cheek humour combined with strong disco beat and an arresting visual presence. Even now a Village People song is guaranteed to fill the dance floor in any club or disco. The Best of Village People is a medley including the following pieces: In theNavy,Y.M.C.A. and Macho Man.

Het begon allemaal toen twee Fransen, Jacques Morali en Henry Belolo, besloten iets nieuws te proberen, nadat zij meer dan tien miljoen platen hadden verkocht met hun groep The Ritchie Family. Het idee was een nieuwe groep te vormendie was ge nspireerd op de Amerikaanse machomythen van de jaren zeventig: cowboys, indianen, mannen in leer, soldaten en politieagenten. Zo kwamen de Village People in het leven. Hun geheim lag in het feit dat ze een pakkende discobeatcombineerden met een energiek, kleurrijk en humoristisch optreden. The Best of Village People is een medley die de volgende nummers bevat: In the Navy,Y.M.C.A. en Macho Man.

Village People, die amerikanische Gruppe aus den 70-er Jahren haben längst Kultstatus erlangt. Ihr Erfolgsrezept bestand aus farbenfrohen Auftritten in Kostümen, die Cowboys, Indianer, Männer in Leder und Polizisten - die männlichen Mythen Amerikas - widerspiegelten und vor allem aber mitrei�enden, fröhlichen Partyhits, die bis heute aus keiner Disco und von keinem Fest wegzudenken sind. Lorenzo Bocci schuf ein Medley für Blasorchester aus den drei grö�ten Hits von Village People, das seine Wirkung garantiert nicht verfehlen wird.

Formé en 1977 par deux auteurs et producteurs français (Jacques Morali et Henri Belolo), le groupe Village People se distingue par lâ??originalité presque politique de son concept artistique qui se voulait dénonciateur et parodique de la non-reconnaissance des minorités. Avec des chansons comme In the Navy,Y.M.C.A. et Macho Man, le groupe connaît un succès mondial et devient emblématique de la musique disco. En rassemblant ces trois tubes dans son medley pour Orchestre dâ??Harmonie, Lorenzo Bocci a parfaitement intégré le côté pétillant et excentrique qui fait lâ??originalité de ce groupe peu conventionnel.

SKU: CN.S11103

Before the days of photography, the great state occasions were captured in paintings and tapestries. In this Suite, the composer has imagined the pomp and splendor of the English court at work and play, capturing each mood in a short movement.

Stuart Johnson has the fine ability to capture moods and scenes in music. He was born in Staffordshire, the county for which he was Director of Music until his retirement in 1997. After experience as a player in brass bands, he served in the band of the King's Dragoon Guards before training as a teacher and working in schools. Following a period as a lecturer at Northumberland College of Education he became Music Adviser to the Metropolitan District of Sandwell prior to his appointment to Staffordshire. He has long experience as a conductor, particularly in the choral and band fields and also wide experience as an adjudicator and examiner. He has written prolifically for bands and orchestras and his didactic publications are used in many countries. He has over eighty published compositions and arrangements, many of which have been broadcast on radio or television. His commissioned works include the cantata David and Goliath which was first performed at the Royal Festival Hall, Oregon Overture for wind orchestra, Landscapes, Sinfonietta No 2, Wessex Dances and A Castle Suite. Stuart Johnson has recently completed several commissions, funded by National Lottery grants, for bands in Cumbria, the Isle of Wight, and Staffordshire. Requiem for Soprano, Chorus and Orchestra, was premiered successfully in front of a capacity audience in Lichfield Cathedral in March 1997, and received its first London performance at St. John's Smith Square in March 1998. This prestigious venue also saw the first performance of Songs and Sonnets for unaccompanied mixed choir in 2001. Stuart Johnson has written extensively for the theatre, his music for the production of Anna of the Five Towns was used for both the radio and television adaptations His music ranges in style from the evocative and demanding Sinfonietta for Wind Orchestra, which has received many performances since its premiere in the Royal Festival Hall, including a broadcast by the Band of the Scots Guards, to his ubiquitous Bandstand Boogie which has set feet tapping all over the world. Apart from the latter his most performed work is probably Circus Suite which was the British Youth Band Championship test piece in 1980. Northumbrian Suite and Landscapes have also been used as National Brass Band Championship test pieces. The Flint Knappers commissioned as a test piece for the 1998 East Anglian Band Festival was selected as a test piece for the 1999 Australian Championships. Before the days of photography, the great state occasions were captured in paintings and tapestries. In this Suite, the composer has imagined the pomp and splendor of the English court at work and play, capturing each mood in a short movement.

SKU: BT.DHP-1185847-010

English-German-French-Dutch.

The Last Friend of Napoleon is based on a true piece of Dutch history. In October 1813, when Napoleon was beaten after his unsuccessful Russian campaign, the French withdrew from the Netherlands. At the beginning of 1814, the whole country had been liberated except for the town of Delfzijl, still occupied by French troops. This programmatic work is about political and military stubbornness, chasing dreams, and about love always following its own unequalled way. Being one of the most acknowledged composers of today, Dirk Brossé has created an epic work that depicts a dramatic story, using the full range of the symphonic band resulting in challenging brass passages, a widerange of percussion and a lot of strong, beautiful and melodic material.

The Last Friend of Napoleon is gebaseerd op een waargebeurd stukje Nederlandse geschiedenis. Als Napoleon in oktober 1813 na zijn mislukte Russische veldtocht wordt verslagen, trekken de Fransen zich terug uit Nederland. Begin 1814 is heel het land bevrijd, behalve de plaats Delfzijl, die nog bezet wordt door Franse troepen. Dit programmatische werk gaat over politieke en militaire stijfkoppigheid, over het najagen van dromen en over de liefde, die altijd haar eigen, onnavolgbare weg gaat. Dit werk van Dirk Brossé, een van de meest gerenommeerde hedendaagse componisten, vertelt een dramatisch verhaal door middel van volledig symfonisch blaasorkest waarin koper, eenscala van slagwerk en vooral veel prachtig melodisch materiaal de hoofdrol spelen.

The Last Friend of Napoleon basiert auf einer wahren Episode aus der niederländischen Geschichte. Als Napoleon im Oktober 1813 nach seinem erfolglosen Russlandfeldzug geschlagen wurde, zogen sich die Franzosen aus den Niederlanden zurück. Anfang 1814 wurde das ganze Land befreit, mit Ausnahme der Stadt Delfzijl, die noch von französischen Truppen gehalten wurde. Dieses programmatische Werk handelt von politischer und militärischer Starrköpfigkeit, vom Verfolgen von Träumen, und darum, dass die Liebe immer ihren eigenen Weg geht. Dirk Brossé, der zu den bekanntesten zeitgenössischen Komponisten zählt, stellt mit diesem epischen Werk eine dramatischeGeschichte dar. Er verwendet hierfür das große Spektrum des Sinfonischen Blasorchesters: Er hat anspruchsvolle Episoden für die Blechbläser, eine große Bandbreite für Schlagwerk und zahlreiche wunderschöne Melodien geschaffen.

The Last Friend of Napoleon est basé sur une histoire vraie néerlandaise.Alors que Napoléon est vaincu après sa campagne infructueuse en Russie en octobre 1813, les Français se retirent des Pays-Bas. Au début de 1814, le pays entier a été libéré l’exception de la ville de Delfzijl, toujours occupée par les troupes françaises. Cette œuvre programme aborde l’entêtement politique et militaire, la poursuite de rêves, et l’amour qui suit toujours son propre chemin. De l’un des compositeurs les plus reconnus de nos jours, cette œuvre épique de Dirk Brossé met en musique une histoire dramatique. Il profite pleinement de la palette complète d’un orchestre d’harmoniesymphonique, ce qui entraîne des épisodes stimulants pour les cuivres, une grande variété de percussion et une abondance de matériau mélodique magnifique et puissant.

The Last Friend of Napoleon (L'ultimo amico di Napoleone) si basa su un episodio di storia olandese. Dirk Brossé ha creato un'opera epica che descrive una storia drammatica, utilizzando tutte le potenzialit della banda che si esprimono in impegnativi passaggi degli ottoni, nell’ampia gamma di percussioni e in molto materiale bello e melodico.