Shortcut Home is a rousing fanfare that features each selection of the ensemble. With an exciting drive and jazz-based interludes the piece cascades towards its 'home' of C-major. Under three minutes long  Shortcut Home is a perfect attention-grabber for the beginningor end of a concert.

To celebrate the 350th anniversary of the Stadtmusikkapelle Wilten in Innsbruck Philip Sparke composed Wilten Festival Overture. A bold fanfare led by the horns forms the opening of the work from which an expressive theme unfolds until the full band reaches a climax. Short solo statements from saxophone horn and trumpet lead to a recapitulation of this theme which melts into a rhythmic Vivo. A robust melody is is then played by the clarinets and taken up by the whole band before a legato figure leads to a cantabile theme again presented by the clarinets. The original Vivo melody reappears before the opening fanfare is briefly heard and the work comes to an end with ashort Coda. A great experience for the whole band!

Les Marteaux de La Marine was composed in 1999 as a commission by the Marine Band of the Royal Netherlands Navy. The composition contains three static elements which interchange. Static in this case means that development of the material isnot pursued (by the composer). The first element with which the piece begins is tranquil and colourful. The second element is sharp and incisive while the third expresses energy. In all elements a repeated tone is the starting point whichexplains the hammers in the works title.The instrumentation is richly variegated with a harp also determining the palette of colours in the slower movements. The composition opens with an atmospheric Larghetto containing fine harmonies in thesoft and subtly moving wood-winds. The introduction breathes an impressionistic atmosphere in which expressive cantilenas and soloistic agile motifs stand out. A strong setting is followed by an Allegro virtuoso containing fast motifs contrasted withshort and rhythmic stars of the various instrumental sections. Trumpets and horns add a virtuoso bugle-call motif. After a short stringendosection the transparent Larghetto returns with a varied setting of the opening elements. The beautifulleading roles in this section are reserved for cornet (trumpet) and horn. Subsequently the flashing Vivo starts with continuous movements in triplets from both wood-winds and brass. Next the opening Allegro re-appears once again and thus LesMarteaux de la Marine ends with a fast and virtuoso climax. Les Marteaux de La Marine was selected as a compulsory grade 6 contest piece for symphonic bands in the Netherlands.

This short opening music was composed on commission of the symphonic band of Jan Van der Roost's village (= Kontich near Antwerp / Belgium). In 1991 this community band celebrated its 100th anniversary. After composing commissioned pieces from different countries (even from Japan) this was the most 'near' commission he ever received indeed!It is a short but varied piece featuring all sections of the band. After a short introduction played by the brass instruments a crisp rhythm starts and boxes the main theme. After a second theme played by brass and percussion a short melodical passage brings some 'rest'. At the end the fanfare of the introductionreoccurs.Although this 'Centennial Prelude' isn't a really demanding piece it sounds colourful and energetic. It has been recorded on CD by the band of the 'Royal Dutch Airforce' and the 'Desford Colliery Brass band'.

?He alone has the secret of making me smile and touching me to the bottom of my soul ? said Mozart about ?Papa? Haydn and his music. The ?Surprise? Symphony (No.94) incidentally written during the final year of Mozart?s short life has become one of Haydn?s most memorable works.Since this symphony was written during the zenith of the Classical period Timothy Johnson?s skillful arrangement gives you a perfect opportunity to teach your young band ?lightness? and control as essentials of Classical style playing. You can introduce the concept of making the staccato notes ?separated? instead of just ?short? in order to best approximate the sound of the times. It?s a naturalselection for your next festival or concert! Why not give your young band a chance to meet ?Papa? Haydn through this charming arrangement?

Exultation is a short and energetic concert opener that is similar to a palindrome. A fanfare opens the work juxtaposing 3/4 and 6/8 reminiscent of Latin-American music.The main theme is first heard on the euphonium horns and saxophones which is very bluesy. The contrasting second theme is short and spikey and played by the bass instruments of the band. A lyric melody emerges as the rest of the orchestra joins in.The second theme reappears which leads back to the ‘blues’ melody which leads back to the opening fanfare. Palindromic!

(He's a relatively short, but strong guy with an interesting accent) New Standards Band Series. Par ADAMS DAN. Mark is a relatively short, but strong guy with an interesting accent. He gives emphasis to everything he does. He often stands out in a crowd, sometimes even wearing a cap to get noticed. Your students will never forget this humorous, yet effective, lesson in marcato playing. / Date parution : 2023-07-31/ Répertoire / Concert Band

MASQUERADE was commissioned by Stadtmusik Willisau from Switzerland (Reto Güdel conductor) to celebrate their 175th anniversary in 2003 and first performed by them in November that year. 1. OvertureThe first movement opens with a fanfare-like figure featuring the brass before the main them is introduced over staccato chords. After a short syncopated interlude a legato theme is introduced in the tenor register and material is developed until the music slows temporarily. The opening theme returns and the ?tenor? tune is taken up by the whole band until the opening fanfare returns to close the movement. 2. ElegyThe slow movement opens intensely with a bare two-part theme whichleads to a passionate chorale-style melody. A second theme is introduced and leads to a climax a return of the chorale theme and a pianissimo repeat which again leads to a full-band climax. The two-part theme returns quietly to create a peaceful close. 3 InterludeA short movement which changes the mood to introduce:- 4 FinaleThree violent chords preface a lively syncopated opening theme. The trumpets introduce a second idea which is treated fugally and this in turn leads to the main melodic idea of the movement over staccato chords. A contrasting subject is then introduced in the middle of the band followed by echoes of the first movement fanfare. The opening theme returns and material is revisited until the opening fanfare returns in full to end the work triumphantly.

for Euphonium and Concert Band. Par SPARKE PHILIP. Pulcinella was commissioned by the Taiwanese euphonium player Tzu-Hsiang Lin. Lin is a renowned soloist and teacher and a Besson Euphonium Artist. He teaches euphonium at Taipei National University of the Arts, National Taiwan University of Arts, Shih Chien University and National Kaohsiung Normal University. Lin gave the premiere of Pulcinella in both its concert band and brass band versions in January 2021. Pulcinella continues Sparke?s series of euphonium solos named after characters of the Italian commedia dell?arte and opens with a long and expressive minor melody for the soloist over a brooding accompaniment. This is taken up briefly by the full band and is extended by the soloist after a change of key. A cadenza, accompanied by fragments of the main melody leads to a complete change of mood, tempo and tonality, introducing a Vivo section starting with a perky syncopated tune for the soloist. The band then uses elements of this new tune to introduce a change of key, where the soloist introduces a more lyrical second subject over a pulsing accompaniment. The band then takes this up and changes key to reintroduce the original Vivo melody, which leads to a short and acrobatic coda to bring the work to a spectacular close. / Date parution : 2021-11-03/ Répertoire / Orchestre D\'Harmonie

The composer: A short concert-opener where I use Norwegian folk-tunes. I wanted to create a short musical picture of the Vikings running from the seashore towards some people they wanted to fight down. They used to drink something made of mushrooms and became very wild. They didn¬?t feel any pain they didn¬?t feel any fear. They where called the Berserkings!

The composer: A short concert-opener where I use Norwegian folk-tunes. I wanted to create a short musical picture of the Vikings running from the seashore towards some people they wanted to fight down. They used to drink something made of mushrooms and became very wild. They didn¬?t feel any pain they didn¬?t feel any fear. They where called the Berserkings!