Par VAN DER ROOST JAN. Prima Luce (First Light) was commisioned by the Holy Angels Elementary School located in Aurora (USA). The name of the town (which means dawn), the town’s great religious history and the fact that this town was one of the first in the USA to have streetlights were the inspiration for this Gregorian influenced atmospheric composition. / Niveau : 3 / Musique pour célébration / Répertoire / Concert Band ou Harmonie

Par HANNICKEL MIKE. The city of Salvador, Brazil is also known as Bahia. From 1549 to 1763 this bay was the capital of the Portuguese colony of Brazil and is located 800 miles northwest of Rio de Janeiro on the Atlantic Ocean Bay of All Saints. Take your band on a trip to a party (Festa Festival) at the town known as Bahia! / Niveau : 2 / Musique légère originale / Répertoire / Concert Band ou Harmonie

Par VAN DER ROOST JAN. A spectacular dive via an extended chromatic scale immediately submerges us in a charged and somewhat archaic-feeling atmosphere. Trumpets, horns and trombones resound in rhythmic patterns, buttressed by restless motifs in the percussion. A second theme, in the woodwinds, begins much calmer but is quickly pushed aside by that same brass offensive. This introduction is the musical expression of the sometimes tumultuous early history of the town of Peer in Belgium. It closes with a D scale played over two octaves and repeated three times, symbolizing the church steeples that dominate the townscape. Peer has the credentials of a town, and people should know about it. There followsa rhythmic, turbulent passage: in the course of history, Peer has not been spared the ravages of war, arson, occupation, epidemic and other evils. In contrast, a slow, pastoral, lyrical part expresses the periods of peace and prosperity the town has known, as well as the serene geographic setting that still characterizes the place. Various instruments in groups are developed in solo style while the accompaniment displays vast, painterly images of sound. Now and then an exotic intonation is heard: a variety of peoples and cultures have left their mark on the town. This episode of tranquility and peacefulness comes to a sudden end when, via a surprising, almost chaotic transitional passage, we are in effect transported back to our own time. A hopeful, festive march expresses the confidence in the future that the Royal Concert Band of Peer exudes. This confidence is wholly justified: under the direction of conductor Willy Fransen, the 95 members of the concert band have experienced an extended period of good fortune, and the 75 musicians of the youth band - and the 45 little musicians of the mini-band - are involved in thriving operations. / Niveau : 6 / Pièce de concert / Répertoire / Concert Band ou Harmonie

The holiday classic has received a new treatment for your beginning band. Starting with a lush chorale, this work progresses to a faster, up-beat march tempo, but then transitions back to a lush chorale. A glorious holiday choice! (1:45) / Orchestre D'Harmonie

Rheinfelden Sketches. Par SPARKE PHILIP. In each of the four movements of this major work for concert band, the composer has tried to capture in music something of the spirit of this beautiful Swiss town of Rheinfelden, which lies on the banks of the Rhein. The opening movement, Promenade, sees woodwind and brass alternating short melodic fragments leading to a noble melody from the horns. The dreamy Ballad features a saxophone solo and chorale-like melody. This leads, via a four bar Interlude, to the Scherzo which takes the form of a moto perpetuo. / Niveau : 5 / Pièce de concert / Répertoire / Concert Band ou Harmonie

Par NIJS JOHAN. The enchanting town of Killarney in County Kerry, Ireland, has been an inspiration to many artists, saints, and scholars over many centuries. It lies in the heart of the beautiful Killarney National Park, and near Ireland’s highest mountains. There are many places of interest to be found in Killarney and the surrounding area such as churches and other historical buildings, as well as a varied landscape with waterfalls, lovely valleys, and gorgeous lakes. The town also has many great restaurants, nice crafts shops and lively pubs where traditional Irish music is often heard. A visit to Killarney inspired Johan Nijs to describe his impressions in this composition. The typicalsounds of Irish music echo throughout the work. / Niveau : 3 / Pièce de concert / Répertoire / Concert Band ou Harmonie

Five Variations on the 'Brugg Song'. Par SPARKE PHILIP. Kaleidoscope is a set of five variations of on the ‘Brugger Lied’ (Brugg Song) which is the traditional song of the town of Brugg. The lyrics tell of the geography, people and traditions of this charming and historic town, which is situated in the north of Switzerland, near to the German border, about halfway between Basel and Zurich. Each variation is based on tiny extracts of the theme, the whole piece therefore resembling the effect of a kaleidoscope, which juxtaposes small fragments of colour in a constantly changing pattern. / Niveau : 4 / Pièce de concert / Répertoire / Concert Band ou Harmonie

Partly based on the hymn tune Laudate Dominum. Par DE HAAN JACOB. This tumultuous composition tells the legend of the town of Zwolle in the Netherlands. In the waters surrounding Zwolle lived a dragon. When it appeared it threatened to destroy the town with it fiery breath if a human sacrifice was not offered. St Michael confronted the dragon in a battle without equal. As a knight armed with a double edged sword the archangel battled against the dragon and decapitated it. Thus the city was saved. To represent the archangel the composer has chosen the hymn tune Laudate Dominum. The dragon is symbolised by a series of menacing chords. / Niveau : 3 / Pièce de concert / Répertoire / Concert Band ou Harmonie

Par BULLA STEPHEN. Contrasting colors and stylistic shifts trace the historic events surrounding “the shot heard ‘round the world” in this challenging and significant new concert band work by Stephen Bulla. A rhapsodic adventure, NORTH BRIDGE PORTRAIT takes us from the merry atmosphere of the pre-revolutionary town through foreboding militant sounds. The fife-and-drum melody, “Washington’s March”, leads inexorably to the historic beginning of the American colonies’ struggle for freedom. Vivid images combine to make this descriptive audience-pleasing composition a memorable experience for all that attend your performance. Historic and unique! / Niveau : 4 / Pièce de concert / Répertoire / Concert Band ou Harmonie