Par SPARKE PHILIP. « La plupart des traditions de Noël en Angleterre sont relativement récentes. Montée sur le trône en 1837, la reine Victoria (née de Hanovre) régnera jusqu?à sa mort en 1901. En 1840, elle épousa son cousin, le prince Albert de Saxe-Cobourg-Gotha. Leprince consort, originaire d?Allemagne, importa bon nombre de traditions de Noël allemandes au Royaume-Uni. Ainsi, il fit découvrir aux Anglais la coutume du sapin et les cartes de Noël, entre autres, contribuant largement au Noël typiquement anglaistel que nous le connaissons aujourd?hui. Bien que les chants de Noël font l?objet d?une longue tradition en Angleterre, de nombreuses mélodies que nous chantons proviennent ducontinent européen ou des États-Unis. Je savais bien que le célébrissime Silent Night (Douce nuit) était d?origine autrichienne et que Hark, the Herald Angels Sing (Écoutez le chant des Anges) était d?origine allemande. Pourtant, quelle ne fut pas ma surprise d?apprendre qu? Away in a Manger (Sur la paillefraîche) ou encore We Three Kings nous venaient des États-Unis et que Ding, Dong Merrily on High était un noël d?origine française. Quoiqu?il en soit, j?ai réussi à constituer un canevas de mélodies anglaises pour réaliser cefestival de chants de Noël. »Philip SparkeRemarques sur l?interprétation : Cet arrangement est adapté pour une interprétation avec ou sans Choeur. S?il est joué par un Brass Band, les parties vocales seront doublées par des partiesinstrumentales. Les tempi indiqués correspondent à une interprétation par un Brass Band seul. Si l?oeuvre est donnée avec un Choeur, il est sans doute nécessaire de baisser le tempo en fonction du nombre de choristes et de l?acoustique du lieude concert. Les parties de Choeur (en anglais) sont disponibles séparément (Réf. : AMP 227-050). / Niveau : 3 / Pièce de concert / Répertoire / Brass Band

For Flugel Horn Solo And Brass Band. Par SPARKE PHILIP. Moon Song, Sun Dance was commissioned by flugel horn virtuoso, Claude Romailler, and premiered by him at the Swiss National Solo and Quartet Championships in April 2012. As the title implies, the work is in two contrasting movements, which can be performed separately or together. Moon Song opens with a flowing modal theme, which the soloist embellishes before the band takes centre stage. A central section brightens the mood with a new melody over the lightest of accompaniments; this is once again developed by the soloist until the original theme reappears, played by the band. This introduces a cadenza for the soloist which either closes the movement, or can beextended to link directly to the second movement. Sun Dance is a vivace 6/8 scherzo which opens with a flourish from the band. The soloist then introduces the main theme, which in turn is taken up by the band. A short bridge passage heralds a change of key and a new melody from the soloist. A brief central interlude then introduces a change of meter and recalls the main melody of Moon Song, before a recapitulation leads to a florid coda, which brings the work to a close. Solo part: difficulty 5 / Niveau : 4 / Répertoire / Brass Band

Arr. Philip Sparke. Par HENRY VIII. The English king, Henry VIII (1491-1547), is mainly remembered for disposing of his wives on a regular basis and breaking with the Catholic Church when the Pope Clement VII refused to grant him a divorce so he could marry Anne Boleyn. He was, however, a gifted athlete, dancer and composer, writing many songs, poems and consort pieces (though not Greensleeves, as is often believed). Pastime with Good Company is undoubtedly the best-known of these, written in the first years of the 16th century while he was still a handsome prince, newly married to Catherine of Aragon and the envy of Europe. The lyrics tell of the joys of hunting, dancing and singing and would have been sungas part of the court entertainment. / Niveau : 3 / Répertoire / Brass Band

Par SPARKE PHILIP. South Down Pictures was commissioned by Millenium Brass 2000, an organisation comprising three brass bands from the county of Sussex, England. The bands (Patcham Silver, Hangleton and Brighton Silver) had got together to organise many events to mark the new millennium and these culminated in a concert in Hove Town Hall on July 9th 2000 when all three bands combined to give the first performance of South Down Pictures. The composer spent much of his childhood amongst the South Downs, a range of hills in Sussex which runs parallel to the sea. Opening with a strong unison passage, interrupted briefly by faster figures based on the interval of a fifth, South Down Picturesdevelops with an often-passionate legato melody. Reaching a climax, this is then followed by the main vivo section of the work, whose main theme is based on the earlier ‘fifth’ figures. A bridge passage leads to a short chorale figure and a rhythmic climax which dissolves into a plaintive cornet solo over staccato chords. This theme is taken up by the whole band and leads back to a recapitulation of the main theme and earlier material. The cornet tune returns triumphantly in the major key before the opening unison passage reappears to provide a stirring coda. / Niveau : 4 / Pièce de concert / Répertoire / Brass Band

Arrangeur: Philip Sparke. Par RYAN PAUL. Paul and Barry Ryan were identical twin sons of 1950’s pop singer Marion Ryan and were born on 24th October 1948. They were groomed for stardom and had started singing as a duo before their fifteenth birthday. They were signed by Decca in 1965 and brilliantly marketed as clean-cut fashion icons. Their first single ‘Don’t Bring Me Your Heartaches’ reached the UK top twenty but their success as twin performers lasted only three years. In 1968 Barry embarked on a solo career while Paul concentrated on writing and producing. Eloise with its melodramatic vocal style and heavily orchestrated backing was an early success of this new collaboration and went on to be covered by a variety ofartists, including punk legends The Damned. / Niveau : 4 / Pop and rock / Recueil / Brass Band

All Creatures of our God and King. La mélodie du cantique Lasst uns erfreuen est connue par toutes les communautés chrétiennes. Elle fut publiée pour la première fois dans le recueil Geistliche Kirchengesäng imprimé à Cologne, en 1623. La mélodie est attribuée à un compositeur anonyme. Dans les pays anglophones, cette mélodie est chantée sur le texte All creatures of our God and King (Vous, créatures du Seigneur) inspiré du chant de louange Cantico di fratre sole (Cantique du frère Soleil ou Cantique des créatures) de Saint François d’Assise. Rédigé en 1226, au terme de sa vie, il faudra attendre quatre cents ans pour que le cantique de Saint François d’Assise soit publié. Latraduction anglaise a été réalisée par William Henry Draper (1855-1933) à l’occasion d’un grand rassemblement de jeunes pour la Pentecôte à Leeds. L’hymne fut ensuite intégrée dans la seconde édition du recueil Public School Hymn Book (1919). Cet arrangement de Philip Sparke développe trois strophes contrastantes. Let Us Rejoice! est une oeuvre de concert à part entière, mais peut également servir d’interlude dans le cadre d’une célébration de Pâques ou de Pentecôte. / Niveau : 2.5 / Hymnes et chorals / Recueil / Brass Band

Par SPARKE PHILIP. Flying the Breeze opens with three repeated B's (representing the initials of the Breeze Brass Band from Japan who commissioned this work). A short introduction leads to a robust theme from the baritones and euphoniums which is taken up by cornets and trombones. A restless bridge passage leads to a syncopated tune from the solo cornet and then to a third theme from a solo trombone. A graceful second subject leads back to a recall of the introductory material before a full-scale recapitulation. An intense allargando leads to a full-band version of the second subject under a running cornet passage, which leads to a short coda. / Niveau : 5 / Pièce de concert / Répertoire / Brass Band

Quelle Est Cette Odeur Agreable. Whence is that Goodly Fragrance Flowing?' is the first line of an old French Christmas song that originated in the 17th century. In 1728 John Gay used this joyous and markedly festive melody that honours Jesus Christ and His miraculous birth in his Beggar's Opera. Philip Sparke has given this melody a new lease of life with his charming and imaginative arrangement for the Christmas season. / Niveau : 3 / Pièce de concert / Répertoire / Brass Band