Elliott Kenneth (Ed). Par ELLIOTT KENNETH. Edited by Kenneth Elliott Containing a wide-ranging anthology of Latin church music, music of the reformed church, songs and instrumental music - music of court, cathedral and castle, kirk, burgh and countryside. This has remained one of the most popular Musica Britannica volumes amongst both scholars and performers. First published in 1957, revised 1964, 1975./ Répertoire / Orchestre

A Melodrama Interspersed With Music. Par BENDA GEORG. Georg Anton Benda's melodrama „Medea' (1775) was one of the most successful German musical theatre works of the late 18th century. With a libretto by Friedrich Wilhelm Gotter, the work soon became a great influence within the melodrama genre. For several decades, it was performed all over central Europe, developing an impressive reception history. Between 1775 and about 1790, the melodrama was considered an extremely popular (albeit controversial) part of musical theatre, in particular in German-speaking regions. Consequently, Benda's „Medea' was at the center of many heated debates. Unlike opera, the melodrama does not present the libretto in sung form, but rather, the text is spoken and combined with orchestral music and scenes. The traditional opera forms (aria, recitative, ensemble, chorus) are dissolved and replaced by a new interplay of music, speech, and scenes. A focus on a single protagonist and the quick, delicate alternation between spoken text and music allows for the development of conflicting and contradictory psychological profiles with a heightened intensity within the melodrama. Near the end of his life, Benda revised the work significantly, drawing from his experience of real performances and their effectiveness. The changes leading to the new version of his „Medea' music were quite extensive, affecting almost every single measure: numerous details of the part writing (tempi, voice leading, rhythms, accompanying figures etc.) were revised, the instrumentation was changed, middle voices were led in a more lively manner, and the music as a whole was shortened and effectively compressed. The composer regarded the latter, modified „Medea' as the authorized version of the work. The premiere took place in 1784 in Mannheim, however, the altered work received little attention since then and has become tangible again for the first time with the OPERA Edition. All previous editions of the work - and along with them, all previous recordings - are based on the earlier version of 1775. The third volume of the OPERA series 'Medea” contains a linen-bound book and the edirom on a USB stick in credit card format. The number of users permitted to simultaneously use the digital content of the edition is not limited. For further information regarding the work and the OPERA series, please visit www.opera-edition.com and Takte online/ Répertoire / Récitant et Orchestre

Par HAENDEL GEORG FRIEDRICH. ?Giulio Cesare in Egitto? is by far Handel?s most frequently performed opera owing its success not least to its subject matter, one of the best known love stories in world history. Already during Handel?s lifetime the popular work was often staged and therefore adapted by Handel for each of the performance conditions. The editor Hans Dieter Clausen has succeeded in editorially defining and practically presenting these adaptations ? essentially four versions ? on the basis of a meticulous study of the sources within the framework of the ?Halle Handel Edition?. The new edition allows for a performance of each of the four versions. The version of 1725 is particularly noteworthy because Handel newly devised the role of Sesto for the famous tenor Francesco Borosini. The libretto shows the Roman dictator Cesar in a friendly light. He instructs his enemy, the Egyptian tyrant Tolomeo, how to treat adversaries: he reconciles the widow and son of his enemy Pompeo who was murdered by Tolomeo: he is generous and just, hands on, but also diplomatic, thoughtful, aware of the limits of his power, and susceptible for art and nature. However, the actual protagonist of the opera is Cleopatra. In a masterly way Handel develops her character musically. In his extensive Foreword Hans Dieter Clausen not only decribes the genesis, historical background, reception and the edition of the opera, he also examines the musical and dramaturgical reworking of individual numbers in ?Giulio Cesare?. Handel was such an expert in adapting arias for new purposes and other characters that he did not only meet the needs at hand but often the new version surpassed the original. In this way, the reader gains, in passing, a well-founded insight into Handel?s work methods when designing and redevising his characters. The detailed Critical Commentary includes information on the comprehensive and highly complex source situation as well as on individual editorial decisions./ Répertoire / Chant et Orchestre

Par HOSAY JAMES L.. If you seek truly dramatic music, look to opera. Opera has been enormously influential on Classical, Popular, and Film and Television music over the years. James L. Hosay’s new intermediate level piece, Operatica, incorporates the important elements of Opera and Classical music to bring exhilarating drama to the concert band stage. Style and technical considerations make this a rich learning experience for the band. Add in the dimension of music history by studying Opera and Classical music, and you have a wonderful teaching tool! The grand theme explores a multitude of colours as it twists and turns its way through opera-style development and variation. Whether for formal, festival, or just concert use, you will find this to be a thrilling addition to your library. / Niveau : 3 / Pièce de concert / Répertoire / Concert Band ou Harmonie

Arr. Philip Sparke. Par CHARLES ADAM ADOLPHE. Adolphe Adam (1803-56) is perhaps best known for his classical ballet, Giselle, but it is his Cantique de Noël (popularly known in the English-speaking world as ‘O Holy Night’, the opening line of its translated lyrics) that has made him a household name during the Christmas season. / Niveau : 2 / Musique pour célébration / Répertoire / Concert Band ou Harmonie

Par RICKER RAMON. 'Suspended Animation' is a contemporary straight-eighth feel with sections that can be opened up for any player to solo. The entire composition is built on only two suspended chords, and is written in a manner that makes it easy for young bands to quickly get into the piece. With only two chords to worry about, much of the anxiety of wrong notes is eliminated and the student can immediately concentrate on making music. Professionals will also have fun with the chart when it is opened up for extended solos. The piece was inspired by an improvised solo and chord progression that is found in Volume 1 of the Ramon Ricker Improvisation Series. Beginning improvisers will find the brief Notes on the Improvised Sections helpful. But, a more thorough discussion can be found in Volume 1 of the Ramon Ricker Improvisation Series. Medium Easy Advance Music is proud to present our new Groovin' Easy Series. We've taken 10 tunes from two popular Advance Music publications (Reading Key Jazz Rhythms and The Ramon Ricker Improvisation Series) and asked our writers to give us creative and musically challenging charts that are also playable by young bands. To the normal big band instrumentation of 5 saxes, 3 trumpets, 3 trombones and rhythm section we've added optional parts for flute, clarinet, French horn, guitar and auxiliary percussion. In addition, each chart is written to sound full with a reduced instrumentation of only 3 saxes, 2 trumpets, 1 trombone and rhythm section. The brass ranges are reasonable with the lead trumpet never going above a written C and the rhythm section parts are carefully notated and thought out./ Répertoire / Big Band

Par RICKER RAMON. Contemporary straight-eighth 'Maiden Voyage' feel. This chart takes up where 'Suspended Animation' left off. Uses same two suspended chords and adds a bridge. There is space for anyone in the band to solo. To help the beginning improviser, the composer has included some brief 'Notes on the Improvised Sections'. In addition this chart is correlated with material found in Vol. 1 of the Ramon Ricker Improvisation Series. Advance Music is proud to present our new Groovin' Easy Series. We've taken 10 tunes from two popular Advance Music publications (Reading Key Jazz Rhythms and The Ramon Ricker Improvisation Series) and asked our writers to give us creative and musically challenging charts that are also playable by young bands. To the normal big band instrumentation of 5 saxes, 3 trumpets, 3 trombones and rhythm section we've added optional parts for flute, clarinet, French horn, guitar and auxiliary percussion. In addition, each chart is written to sound full with a reduced instrumentation of only 3 saxes, 2 trumpets, 1 trombone and rhythm section. The brass ranges are reasonable with the lead trumpet never going above a written C and the rhythm section parts are carefully notated and thought out./ Répertoire / Big Band

Par ADES THOMAS. Thomas Adès and Philip Hensher's dazzlingly precocious chamber opera Powder Her Face propelled its composer to international attention after its premiere in 1995 and, with nearly 300 worldwide performances, remains one of the most frequently performed British operas of the last two decades. Charting the glamorous rise and seedy fall of the notorious socialite beauty Margaret, Duchess of Argyll, the score is as witty, poignant and memorable as the 'Dirty Duchess' herself, paying homage to the popular idioms of cabaret and tango, as well as to Weill, Berg and Stravinsky. It is hard to believe that this masterpiece was written by a 24 year-old, but then that young man was Adès, whose prodigious musical talent was awe-inspiring even as a teenager./ Répertoire / Orchestre

Par SPARKE PHILIP. A lively upbeat concert march from the pen of the ever-popular Philip Sparke. The Centurion follows the conventional British march format. It is not technically demanding, yet a successful performance will need skill and commitment from every player in the band. The Centurion will make an ideal opening piece for any indoor or outdoor concert and will be a popular item with both players and audiences alike. / Niveau : 4 / Marche / Répertoire / Brass Band

Par SPARKE PHILIP. Navigation Inn was originally written to celebrate one of the most popular events in the brass band calendar - the Whit Friday marches. The Navigation Inn is a pub which is a popular meeting place for bandsmen and which celebrates the love of brass bands with mementoes and historic photographs on the walls. This lively piece in the style of a traditional contest-style march will bring a great sense of tradition to any concert. / Niveau : 5 / Marche / Répertoire / Brass Band

Par VIVALDI ANTONIO. Vivaldi's popular classic, The Four Seasons, is a piece every aspiring string player wants to play. But to perform it in its original form - four substantial concerti, each with a virtuoso solo part - is beyond the reach of many school or amateur orchestras. These arrangements, Scenes from the Four Seasons, aim to bring Vivaldi's music within the scope of students and amateurs while keeping much of its original form and character. Includes the Birdsong (from 'Spring'), Harvest Home (from 'Autumn') and Fireside (from 'Winter')./ Répertoire / Set de Cordes

Par HOSAY JAMES L.. Kum Ba Yah is one of the most popular and loved of all American folk songs. It is sung in places of worship, around campfires and at social gatherings all over the world. This bright and happy arrangement makes use of African percussion and rhythm underneath velvety-smooth chords and flowing lines. It can also be enhanced by the use of an optional electric bass part. / Niveau : 2.5 / Hymnes et chorals / Répertoire / Concert Band

Par SPARKE PHILIP. The four tunes used in this suite have been made universally popular in Sir Henry Wood?s Fantasia on British Sea Songs, which is an ever-present ingredient in The Last Night of the Proms. He introduced this colourful suite into the Proms in 1905, to celebrate the centenary of Nelson?s brilliant victory at Trafalgar, when ?Britannia? really did ?rule the waves?. Bring the excitement of The Last Night of The Proms to any concert with this stirring new edition. / Niveau : 2.5 / Pièce de concert / Répertoire / Concert Band ou Harmonie

Par LLOYD WEBBER ANDREW. Designed for use in a classroom context, the 'Flexiband' series caters for any number of instrumentalists of widely varying standard, flexiband's range of popular titles will appeal to all tastes. The package consists of a keyboard score and 24 parts, suitable for any instrument in C, B flat or E flat, ranging in difficulty from easy to slightly more advanced level./ Répertoire / Ensemble Variable