Born in South Africa, but now an Irish citizen, Kevin Volans' musical idiom has been shaped by an unusually diverse range of experiences, including studies with Stockhausen in Cologne, field trips to South Africa to study traditional music, his own involvement with the New Simplicity movement, his collection of contemporary art and African textiles, friendships with composers like Morton Feldman and Gerald Barry, as well as a love of virtuoso piano music which he performs, broadcasts and records. While having an easily recognised, unique voice, Volans' music resists compartmentalisation. He is as comfortable working in conventional genres as embarking on innovative collaborations with artists of other disciplines.String Quartet #1 (White Man Sleeps) was written for the Kronos Quartet and was first performed by them in July 1986, London.The title 'White Man Sleeps' comes from a moment in nyanga Panpipe music where the performers leave off playing their loud pipes for a few cycles and dance only to the sound of their ankle rattles, to let the white landowner sleep - for a minute or two.'In composing this piece I drew from the following sources: the first movement owes something to the style of Basotho concertina music - the second and fourth movements are drawn from traditional Nyungwe music played by Makina Chirenje and his Nyanga panpipe group at Nsava, Tete, Mozambique, recorded and transcribed by Andrew Tracey (to be found in an article entitled 'The nyanga Panpipe dance' in African Music, Vol.5, #1 (1971) - the third movement derives from the San bow music (recorded by Tony Traill of the University of Witwatersrand) and from Basotho lesiba music, transcribed by myself - in the fifth movement I added my own invented folklore. My approach to the original music was anything but purist - it is played in Western tuning, filtered, slowed down by a few 'time-octaves?, cast into non-African metres (like the 13-beat pattern of the first dance) and redistributed between the players in several ways. I also used interlocking techniques where they were absent in the original models and vice versa' - Kevin VolansDuration 24 minutes. Parts available: CH61205. / Quatuor A Cordes (Conducteur)

Arr. Jurjen Hempel. Par HAENDEL GEORG FRIEDRICH. / Niveau : 2 / Musique pour célébration / Répertoire / Concert Band ou Harmonie ou Fanfare ou Brass Band

Reinforce legato, staccato, and ensemble phrasing with this piece while ushering in the joyous holiday season with musical glee. Opening with a clear unison statement and slowly adding textures and harmonic voices, the work develops to a joyous tutti statement that continues to build in intensity to a glorious conclusion. This arrangement is scored for full orchestra- however, it is also completely playable by string orchestra alone, or with any number of added winds or percussion. (2:30) / Orchestre

Arr. Jurjen Hempel. Par HAENDEL GEORG FRIEDRICH. / Niveau : 2 / Musique pour célébration / Répertoire / Concert Band

This work is based on the old French Christmas carol 'Patapan' first published by Bernard de La Monnoye around 1700. This contemporary setting explores a variety of textures from simple to intricate. A worthy addition to your holiday program that is comfortably accessible at the grade 3 level. (2:00) / Orchestre D'Harmonie

Par BECK BRIAN. Kick off your shoes, jump in, and ride down Comegys Creek. This North Texas creek is named after Dr. C. G. Comegys, a prominent family who lived in Mckinney, TX in the early 1900s. Composer and fellow Texan, Brian Beck captures the southern rowdiness of frolicking in the water with friends and family. Comegys Creek is a fun piece that will expand your student's harmonic vocabulary and is perfect for introducing and reinforcing accidentals that create interesting harmonies, all within a comfortable range. It also explores the many permutations of the 8th and 16th note combinations, as well as introduces and reinforces 7/8 time signature. Groups performing this piece will become 'multi-meter masters' in no time! (2:24). / Date parution : 2022-10-12/ Répertoire / Concert Band

Par HANNICKEL MIKE. Typically bands that play at this level have some Clarinet players who are comfortable above the break and others who are not. By staying below the break throughout, this light and spirited Clarinet section feature let’s you give the entire section a bit of the limelight. This is a perfect vehicle to help your Clarinet section learn to shape a phrase, and the cheerful melody let’s you program this piece anywhere you like. It’s also a good selection to use to take the pressure off Brasses before a particularly taxing major work. Remind the critically important Clarinet section that you value their efforts as much as any other section. Breezy! / Niveau : 2 / oeuvre solo et Orchestre / Répertoire / Concert Band ou Harmonie et Clarinette