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 / Fanfare

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 / Fanfare

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 / Fanfare

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. / Hymnes et chorals / Recueil / Fanfare

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 / Fanfare

Praise to Thee, Jesus Christ. Gelobet seist du Jesu Christ (We Praise You Jesus Christ) is an old Christmas hymn dating from the 16th century, which can still be found in many hymnbooks today. John Blanken has created a varied and imaginative arrangement on four verses of the hymn. After the introduction, derived from the opening notes, the hymn is first accompanied by an agile harmonisation. Next, we hear the chorale in a four-part setting with a percussion accompaniment. Then follows a short prologue to the third verse and finally its time for fireworks as the arrangement takes a stylistic leap in time with the festive prelude to the fourth and last verse. / Niveau : 3 / Hymnes et chorals / Recueil / Fanfare