The group Teach-In from the Netherlands won the Eurovision Song Contest in 1975 with the song Ding-a-Dong. It was the fourth time that a Dutch entry had won the prestigious festival but since then no Dutch artist has even come near first place again. The original Ding-a-Dong was performed in keeping with tradition with the accompaniment of a large orchestra. This sparkling arrangement of the catchy song provides a cheerful note in every concert. The melody will certainly stay in the audience’s memory long after the performance.

Tout le monde connaît la célèbre Czárdás de Vittorio Monti dans sa version pour violon et piano. Désormais il existe une version pour xylophone et Fanfare. L?enregistrement de la partie soliste a été réalisé par le percussionniste flamand Patrick De Smet devenu célèbre pour son interprétation (les yeux bandés !) de l?œuvre Circus Renz au festival « Night of the Proms ».

The atmosphere of the Wild West is caught in a striking and most imaginative way by young composer Andreas Schulte in this work. A caravan of gold- and fortuneseekers launch themselves into a big adventure and begin their rush westward. The first movement desciribes these first days of buoyancy and optimism in a crisp march. Near the campfire the pioneers rest themselves and the music expresses feelings of romance nostalgia for the past and hopes for the future. A wistful melody very characteristically communicates these feelings. Relaxation takes place in the third movement which is a musical characterization of a rodeo and its attendant festivities.It is obvious that sometimes something goes wrong and this aspect can also be heard. Nevertheless the valiant rider wins in the end. With a flashback to the beginning the journey is completed musically thus giving the composition a dignified finale. Let the mystic Wild West entrance you. (Wagons ho ....!!) De sfeer van het Wilde Westen wordt door de jonge componist Andreas Ludwig Schulte op een uiterst treffende en beeldende wijze geschetst. Een karavaan van goud- en gelukzoekers stort zich in het grote avontuur en begint de grote reis naar het westen. Het eerste gedeelte beschrijft de eerste dagen van opgewektheid en optimisme in een vlotte mars. Bij het kampvuur komen de pioniers tot rust en worden gevoelens van romantiek heimwee (verleden) en hoop (toekomst) muzikaal weergegeven. Een weemoedige melodie verwoordt die gevoelens op een zeer kenmerkende wijze. De ontspanning vindt plaats in het derde deel waarin een rodeofeest muzikaal wordt verklankt. Met een flashback van het begin wordt de tocht voltooid en de compositie waardig afgesloten. Raak in de ban van het wilde westen!

The Scottish composer Bruce Fraser has always devoted himself to educational music. In this composition in which his love for Scotland can be heard again he has clearly considered the possibilities of the orchestra. A delightful concert piece which can be performed well by beginning bands.

A trumpet duet fanfare beckons the band to join in on the opening bars of this dignified elegant finale for holiday concerts. Staging opportunities abound with optional antiphonal brass parts and the celebratory mood of the featured carols Once In Royal David's City and Tomorrow Shall Be My Dancing Day make this a wonderfully versatile work.

In its original form the Suite was written in answer to a commission from the Farnham Festival and was first performed on 11 May 1971. I was however not entirely satisfied with it and did not pass it for publication until 1982 when I revised it in considerable detail. In its revised form it was first performed on 18 June 1983 at Monash University Melbourne.The music requires little explanation. The titles of each of the five movements indicate their character: 'Fanfare'; 'Dance' which has Elizabethan overtones; 'Popular Song' which explores jazz rhythms and harmonies; 'Ceremony' - a solemn chorale; and 'Finale' a light-hearted Rondo with fugal touches. The overallintention is simply to entertain both the players and their audiences.

The rhythm of the samba was originally created in Africa and brought to Brazil by the slaves . Here it became the national dance. For every festive occasion and especially the carnival festivities (Rio de Janeiro) samba music is played. The World's Fair in New York (1939) was the reason to the biggest spread of the samba. The trumpet section gets an opportunity to feature in Ever so Samba. Together with the swinging percussion section they let you enjoy a South American party.

A setting of Gloria in Excelsis Deo especially for Christmas Day. Short and festively julbilant! Arranged by Dick Averre for SATB choir 3 octaves of handbells and optional trumpets.

Set to the majestic “This is the day that the Lord hath made” psalm text this highly flexible a cappella work is especially good for a multi-choir festival or concert. Short and accessible the work opens antiphonallywith fanfare-like phrases moving to a more subdued contrasting section before returning to the opening music for an uplifting conclusion.