Arr. Philip Sparke. Par BYRD WILLIAM. The Battell was written during the late 14th Century when England was in a mood of national celebration after victory over the Spanish and French Armadas. The movement which Byrd called Marche Before The Battell became known as The Earl of Oxford?s Marchand it appears with that title in an early manuscript copy of the Fitzwilliam Virginal Book. Written while Byrd was at the height of his powers, it still stirs the soul to this day. A perfect opener for your concert performances. / Niveau : 4 / Transcription / Répertoire / Brass Band

Easy- to medium-level arrangements of favorite classics for brass quartet (two trumpets or cornets F horn and trombone or baritone B.C.) in score format. Includes short arrangements of works by Elgar Bach Smetana Mozart Schumann Brahms and more.“Careful training in small groups is a decided step toward the mastery of the basic fundamentals of rhythm precision balance and intonation.” - H. Voxman Includes score andparts.

from Symphony No. 1 - The Lord of the Rings. Johan de Meij?s first symphony The Lord of the Rings is based on the trilogy of that name by J.R.R. Tolkien. This book has fascinated many millions of readers since its publication in 1955. The symphony consists of five separate movements, each illustrating a personage or an important episode from the book. This transcription for brass band, arranged by the composer has the following movements: I. GANDALF (The Wizard), IV. JOURNEY IN THE DARK (The Mines of Moria and The Bridge of Khazad-Dûm), V. HOBBITS. The symphony was written in the period between March 1984 and December 1987, and had its première in Brussels on 15th March 1988, performed by the The Royal Band of the Belgian Guides under the baton of Norbert Nozy. In 1989, the symphony The Lord of the Rings was awarded a first prize in the Sudler International Wind Band Composition Competition in Chicago, and a year later, the symphony was awarded a grant by the Dutch Composers Fund. In 2001, the orchestral version was premiered by the Rotterdam Philharmonic Orchestra and recorded by the London Symphony Orchestra.

'The Alchymist's Journal' gets its title from the book of the same name by American author Evan S. Connell. The book fictionalises a number of famous Alchemist’s writings each one developing another's thoughts thus continuing one idea but changing it subtly to provide a new view point or way of thinking. This process is in fact alchemical as one idea transmutes into another. This idea is parallel to the processes at work within these variants. The whole work is constructed from 6 notes (C A B flat E flat F sharp E) and is presented in nine different sections each individual in mood but still based upon the original pitches. This is not a thematic set ofvariations as the themes are developed one at a time from small segments of the six notes. For example the opening theme is the complete number of pitches the second theme uses three notes transposed then repeated at the original level and so on. Harmonically the six notes can be divided into two triads A minor and E flat minor – each key beginning and ending the piece respectively. Whilst this is essentially abstract music with no programme there is an introduction menacing scherzo slow reflective section followed by a recap of the scherzo and final coda. 'The Alchymist’s Journal' was commissioned by the Brass Band Heritage Trust at the suggestion of Paul Hindmarsh to whom the work is dedicated.

Par DE HAAN JACOB. Utopia is the name of a book written by the English author Thomas More and was published in 1516. The title is a word thought up by More himself, after the Greek language, meaning 'Nowhereland' and leading to the invention of the words utopian scheme and utopian. Utopia pictured an ideal state on an island far from the inhabited world. This idea was the basis of the composition. It makes one think of Oregon in variety of themes and style. Utopia also exists of a combination of styles that breathe the atmosphere of film music. However, Utopia sounds less American. The slow and stirring middle part for example is closer to the European romanticism: the chord signals in the brasssection remind of Wagner's music. / Niveau : 4 / Musique légère originale / Répertoire / Brass Band

Wer nur den lieben Gott lässt walten. Wer nur den lieben Gott lässt walten was composed by Georg Neumark in about 1641 and was subtitled ‘Trostlied’ literally meaning consolation song. Songbooks at the time showed the popularity of this song and it is still well-known today partly due to Johann Sebastian Bach’s use of the melody for one of his own chorals. In Jan de Haan’s arrangement the choral is heard twice, once, alternating with the original motif from the introduction and a second time, without interruption, reflecting the composer’s original intention - a song of consolation. / Niveau : 3 / Hymnes et chorals / Recueil / Brass Band

St. Michael. Par BOURGEOIS LOUIS. The French composer Louis Bourgeois lived from c. 1510 to 1560. Bourgeois was cantor in Geneva and, commissioned by John Calvin, he composed melodies for metrical (rhyming) versions of the psalms. After completing about a hundred one-part psalms, he made some four-part arrangements, which were denounced and even resulted in his imprisonment for a day. Later, Bourgeois published a number of psalm collections, and judging from his book Le droict chemin de musique he was also an excellent educator. The melodies Bourgeois composed, are (contrary to Gregorian chants) particularly suitable for community singing. This applies to his hymn tune Saint Michael, which is why this melody hasbeen used for various texts, written for many occasions. John Blanken made this arrangement for a wedding ceremony: an occasion in which faith and trust play a large - if not the largest - role. Hence the title Hymn of Faith. The arrangement contains four verses of the hymn. After a majestic opening the hymn follows twice, the second verse being embellished in the tenor register. After a short interlude verse three follows, played by a quartet. The majestic opening is then repeated as a modulation into the fourth verse, which concludes the work in a brilliant tutti. / Niveau : 3 / Hymnes et chorals / Répertoire / Brass Band

Based on Mohrentanz (La Mourisque) by Tylman Susato. Par DE HAAN JAN. Tylman Susato (circa 1500-1561) was one of the worlds first music publishers and seller of musical instruments. He left behind several collections containing arrangements of Dutch songs and dance and also published several of his own works. Three of these, published in 1551, were called Musyck Boexken, or music book. Almost 500 years later, Jan de Haan has used one of these melodies, Mohrentanz, for this theme with three variations. / Niveau : 2.5 / Pièce de concert / Répertoire / Brass Band

Par CURNOW JAMES. In 1868 William Francis Allen published a collection of spirituals, songs sung by slaves whilst they worked. This book started a flood of enthusiasm for the spiritual which continues to this day. Jubilation (a time for celebration) uses the spiritual 'My Lord, What A Morning' as the main melody for transitions and modulations throughout and to introduce three further spirituals: I'm Gonna Sing, Steal Away and Ev'ry Time I Feel the Spirit. / Niveau : 3 / Hymnes et chorals / Répertoire / Brass Band