Oh Christmas Tree. Par DOBBINS BILL. This spirited traditional carol is taken on a musical voyage through several different tempos, keys and moods, including a Latin section with an optional shaker accompaniment. The chromatic harmonies and changes in tempo and meter provide challenging material through which to develop the skills of basic musicianship and interpretation. The music is not technically difficult, and should be well within the grasp of intermediate to advanced ensembles from high school to professional levels. Each instrument is featured in both solo and ensemble roles./ Répertoire / Sextuor à Cordes

Par SPARKE PHILIP. A Bandsman’s Overture was commissioned by British Bandsman magazine to celebrate its 125th anniversary in 2012. It was premiered by Black Dyke Band, conducted by Dr Nicholas Childs, at a special anniversary concert held in Symphony Hall, Birmingham, on July 1st. British Bandsman was for a period known as British Bandsman and Contest Field, following an amalgamation of two magazines. The then owner, John Henry Iles, celebrated this new title by commissioning Ord Hume to write the famous march, BB & CF. As a salute to this heritage A Bandsman’s Overture starts with the four notes, B(b)-B(b)-C-F, a motive which permeates an opening fanfare, which contrasts a busy opening with a more legato central section. This gives way to a bustling Vivo, based on repeated staccato notes. A change of key heralds a central cantabile melody, first on euphoniums and baritone and then played by the full band, which is followed by a short development section. This leads to a transformed reprise and a return of the opening fanfare, decorated this time by florid muted cornets. / Niveau : 4 / Ouverture / Répertoire / Brass Band

for String Orchestra Score and Parts. Par NISHIMURA YUKIKO. Mimosa Shower was written with a sense of anticipation for spring. The brightness of D Major is perfect for string orchestra, and the yellow color of the mimosa flower reminds me of this key. Mimosa Shower opens with a vivid impressionistic introduction, followed by a gently flowing theme. Every instrument plays the melody which flows side to side. Yukiko Nishimura creates a dialogue between the sections of the orchestra, asking each part to have awareness of the conversation and to respond musically. The orchestra creates harmonies which ebb and flow as the wind blows through the mimosas. This level 4 piece is expressive, legato, intricate, with minimal time signature changes, and a memorable expression of the expectancy of mimosa blossoms in spring. / Date parution : 2022-07-30/ Répertoire / Orchestre à Cordes

Eight great flexible arrangements in two parts, for B Flat Instruments, including Trumpet, Clarinet, Tenor Saxophone, with specially recorded arrangements. The CD includes full backing tracks, professionally arranged and recorded. The Book contains carefully selected and editied B Flat arrangements for two parts in score format. Compatible with other editions in the series. / Rép International / Recueil / Instruments en Sib

Par DE HAAN JACOB. This musical fantasy depicts the history of the Dutch fortified town of Elburg. The work begins with an atmospheric medieval picture of the Convent of St Agnes, the nunnery that was built in the first half of the 15th century. We hear the sound of the convent bells together with an upward motif, which will reappear later in the work. Next, the rest of Elburg is featured, including the fortress - from which the bells of the Sint-Nicolaaskerk (Saint Nicholas Church) are ringing. Then, cheerful sounds can be heard at the Vischpoort (Fish Gate), where a dancing group is performing a 16th century French folk dance (a branle des chevaux). We also hear old wagons rumbling over the town’scobble stones. Trade made this Hanseatic town a lively place. The repetitive upward motif first heard in the introduction now develops into a more distinct feature, reflecting the mercantile spirit of the town residents. Then follows the slow middle movement, in which the clock has been turned back to the time when Elburg was still lying on the Zuiderzee (which was a bay of the North Sea), and was struggling with floods. After the second St. Marcellus Flood (1362) and the water flood of 1367 it was decided that the town would be relocated. We now hear the theme of branle des chevaux in a minor key, followed by a death bell sounding in remembrance of the drowned citizens of the former town. Back in our own time, a slow, expressive theme in Baroque style mirrors Elburg’s tranquil places, such as the Feithenhof (Feithen Court) and the Weduwenhofje (Widow Court). Then the bustle returns with motifs from the introduction, followed by an attractive theme in which present-day Elburg is portrayed with its many tourists. Now, suddenly, there is an echo from the past, depicting the dramatic floods and wars that once plagued the town. This leads to the grand closing theme: branle des chevaux is heard for a final time from the perspective of the historic town centre. / Niveau : 4 / Pièce de concert / Répertoire / Fanfare

Edizione critica a cura di Gabriele Dotto e Roger Parker (Vol. 1: XLIV, Vol. 2: VIII). Par DONIZETTI GAETANO. Gaetano Donizetti’s Lucia di Lammermoor, written to a libretto by Salvadore Cammarano, was first performed at the Teatro di San Carlo in Naples on 26 September 1835. It has remained in the repertory without interruption as one of Donizetti’s most popular operas throughout its nearly 200-year history. The edition proposes as the principal text a version of the opera that, for the most part, is as near as possible to that given at the premiere in Naples. However, one of the important new features of the edition is that it includes several fully orchestrated passages that, for unknown reasons, were cancelled very close to the time of the first performance. It also features in the third-act mad scene an obbligato part for the glass harmonica, an instrument that Donizetti had chosen for this extraordinary scene, and drafted in his autograph score, but was then constrained to substitute with a solo flute when the glass harmonica player got into contractual difficulties with the theatre. While the glass harmonica part was considered a mere “musicological curiosity” some decades ago, the critical edition now convincingly argues for its legitimate restoration as part of the composer’s preferred concept. The Sources section of the edition includes a detailed examination of all contemporary sources for the opera. The composer’s autograph score is of course the most important of these, but also of great value is the first printed vocal score of the opera, which in some numbers has a piano reduction prepared by the composer and contains many vocal variants (all reported in the score) that will be a great value to performers. There are also a number of early manuscript copies of the full score, several of which are valuable in outlining the first interpretations of Donizetti’s music. The critical edition restores the original keys, thus maintaining Donizetti’s overall harmonic design, but discusses transpositions that later entered the performing and editorial tradition of the opera. Three transposed pieces – which may have had Donizetti’s approval – will be made available available in the material for hire to theatres. / Date parution : 2022-03-05/ Répertoire / Orchestre

Eight great flexible arrangements in two parts, for E Flat Instruments, including Alto and Baritone Saxophone with specially recorded arrangements. The CD includes full backing tracks, professionally arranged and recorded. The Book contains carefully selected and editied E Flat arrangements for two parts in score format. Compatible with other editions in the series. / Rép International / Recueil / Instruments en Mib