SKU: BT.DHP-1206260-140

English-German-French-Dutch.

The myth of El Dorado (“the golden one”) stems from the story of a powerful chief who used to cover himself with gold dust before bathing in a sacred lake where he threw precious objects as offerings to the gods. The myth was soon relayed to the Spanish conquistadors and inspired many expeditions, although the invaders didn’t bring back nearly as much gold as they expected, if any at all. Eldorado is a mysterious and dynamic work that illustrates the myth of the golden man and the European expeditions that followed. With a touch of exotic influences, the music is varied and rich. This piece was commissioned by the French Cultural Association Lille 3000 as part of theirEldorado-themed festival in 2019.

De mythe van El Dorado (de man van goud) is het verhaal van een machtig opperhoofd die zichzelf met goudpoeder bedekte voordat hij ging baden in een heilig meer waar hij ook kostbare voorwerpen aan de goden offerde. Deze mythe werd al snel bekend bij de Spaanse conquistadores en vormde de aanzet tot vele expedities, hoewel de veroveraars niet met grote hoeveelheden goud terugkwamen, zoals ze hadden gehoopt. Eldorado is een mysterieus, dynamisch werk dat het verhaal van de gouden man verklankt, alsmede de Europese expedities die op touw werden gezet. Met een vleugje exotische invloeden is de muziek gevarieerd en rijk aan schakeringen. Het werk werd geschreven in opdrachtvan de Franse culturele organisatie Lille 3000 als onderdeel van het thematische programma Eldorado in 2019.

Der Mythos von El Dorado (der Goldene“) handelt von einem mächtigen Herrscher, der sich vor dem Baden in einem heiligen See mit Goldstaub bedeckte und als Opfergaben an die Götter kostbare Gegenstände in den See warf. Der Mythos sprach sich bald bei den spanischen Eroberern herum und war der Grund für zahlreiche Expeditionen doch sie fanden nicht annähernd so viel Gold, wie sie erhofft hatten. Eldorado ist ein geheimnisvolles und dynamisches Werk, das den Mythos des goldenen Mannes“ und die daraus resultierenden Expeditionen der Europäer darstellt. Durch ethnische Anklänge ist die Musik sehr abwechslungsreich. Dieses Stück wurde vom französischen Kulturverein Lille3000 für den Themenschwerpunkt Eldorado“ im Jahr 2019 in Auftrag gegeben.

Le mythe de l’El Dorado (« le doré ») raconte qu’un puissant seigneur se faisait enduire de poudre d’or avant de se baigner dans un lac sacré où il jetait des objets précieux en offrandes aux dieux. Ce mythe a rapidement été relayé par les conquistadors espagnols et est l'origine de nombreuses expéditions. Mais les envahisseurs rapportèrent beaucoup moins d'or qu'ils n'espéraient. la fois mystérieuse et dynamique, Eldorado est une œuvre qui dépeint le mythe de l’homme doré et les expéditions européennes qu’il inspira. Gr ce ses échos ethniques, la musique est riche et variée. Cette œuvre est une commande de l’association culturelle Lille 3000 pour l’éditionthématique Eldorado du festival 2019.

SKU: MH.0-931329-53-1

ISBN 9780931329531.

Journey back to ancient Greece and view a place of long-gone legend. Follow the trail to the Kingdom of Ithaca, from the heroic palace, to a place of tranquility, to a reckless dance of abandon, to the return of Odysseus. The melodic material used in 200 B.C. is from a two thousand year old Greek hymn to Apollo. The legendary adventures of Odysseus as described by Homer in the Odyssey (ca. 700 B.C.) provide the programmatic material. The music is freely based upon the First Delphic Hymn (or Paen to Apollo), composed ca. 200 B.C. The source is a transcription appearing on pages 363 - 367 of Ancient and Oriental Music, Edited by Egon Wellesz (Oxford University Press: London, 1957). Each movement of the work depicts a key event in the epic Homeric poem, as described below. Movement I: Intrada - The first four notes of this movement, C - Bb - G - Bb, are the melodic and harmonic foundation for the entire work. These pitches, introduced in a simple and direct manner, are subsequently developed in more complex fashions throughout the suite. Following this stately introduction is a militaristic fanfare that introduces the dotted-eighth and sixteenth-note figure later reprised in the second and fourth movements. Indeed, all the musical ideas which will be central to the remaining movements first appear in the Intrada. This movement depicts the grandeur of Odysseus and his kingdom in Ithaca, and establishes the heroic mood of the entire work. Movement II: Ballad - After a brief restatement of the opening dotted-eighth-and-sixteenth fanfare, the second movement extracts the falling third (Bb to G) from the C - Bb - G - Bb motif and extends it and expands it into a haunting solo for alto saxophone. The C - Bb - G - Bb motif appears again (see measures 23 - 33 in trumpets) as counterpoint to this melody, now pulsing through the thick texture of the band. Many performers have come to view the Ballad as the emotional epicenter of the entire suite; my conception of the Ballad is to achieve a union of pathos and strength. Programmatically, this movement depicts Odysseus's son, Telemachos, as he both longs for Odysseus's return and stoically defends his father's kingdom. Movement III: Dance - It will take Odysseus twenty years to return to Ithaca. During his absence, noblemen besiege his palace, violating the sanctity of the household and seeking the hand of his wife, Penelope. This movement depicts the wanton revelries that result. The original four-note motif is chromatically altered and the meter is made irregular. The rapid tempo, driving percussion, and angular meter and melodies combine in an explosion of reckless abandon. Movement IV: March Building from a delicate woodwind ensemble accompanied by finger cymbals to a fully orchestrated statement replete with thundering percussion, this is a resounding march of victory. Odysseus has returned in triumph to restore dignity to his household and to reclaim the throne of the Kingdom of Ithaca. Ensemble instrumentation: 1 Piccolo, 8 Flute 1 - 2, 2 Oboe 1 - 2, 4 Bb Clarinet 1, 4 Bb Clarinet 2, 4 Bb Clarinet 3, 1 Eb Alto Clarinet, 3 Bb Bass Clarinet, 2 Bassoon 1 - 2, 3 Eb Alto Saxophone 1, 3 Eb Alto Saxophone 2, 2 Bb Tenor Saxophone, 1 Eb Baritone Saxophone, 3 Bb Trumpet 1, 3 Bb Trumpet 2, 3 Bb Trumpet 3, 2 F Horn 1-2, 2 F Horn 3-4, 2 Trombone 1, 2 Trombone 2, 2 Trombone 3, 3 Euphonium (B.C.), 2 Euphonium T.C., 4 Tuba, 1 Timpani, 2 Mallet Percussion: Bells, Xylophone, 2 Percussion 1: Snare Drum, Tambourine, 2 Percussion 2: Crash Cymbals, Suspended Cymbal, Tom-Tom, Finger Cymbals, 1 Percussion 3: Bass Drum.

SKU: CN.S11298

Another great march from William Rimmer, March King, who is reputed to have written more that a hundred marches. March: The Cossack opens with a magnificent portrayal of the strength and vigor reminiscent of a Russian Cossack. An insightful Trio provides evidence of a Cossack's more reflective side before a short bridge takes the music back, via a Da Capo, to its opening power and strength.

Another great march from William Rimmer, Britain's Lancashire-born March King, who is reputed to have written more that a hundred marches. A Cossack, as defined in The Oxford Dictionary, is a member of a people of southeastern Russia, especially as light horse in Russian army. William Rimmer's march opens with a magnificent portrayal of the strength and vigor which that definition implies and there is more character portrayal to come. An insightful Trio provides evidence of a Cossack's more reflective side before a short bridge takes the music back, via a Da Capo, to its opening power and strength. In William Rimmer's skillful hands, March: The Cossack is veritably a musical portrait.