Grand Nordic Tune. Par OLSEN VADSTEN OYSTEIN. 'Storslått' or in English ?Grand Nordic Tune? is one of many original pieces written by composer Øystein Olsen Vadsten. 'Slått' is a general term for music played to traditional Norwegian dances. ?Grand Nordic Tune? was a commissioned work for the Rælingen Musikklag's 70-year anniversary concert in 2022, where the piece was premiered. They wanted something a little pompous, and preferably something in the style of Nordic folk music, which the composer is known for. The title in Norwegian then was obvious, 'Storslått', which in Norwegian has a double meaning, both a big tune and, in a double meaning, pompous or magnificent. As usual, the starting point is a traditional Nordic dance form, and this time the choice fell on the distinctive Swedish 'polska', which is played in ¾. The dance, despite its name, reportedly has no connection to Poland, but is entirely of Scandinavian origin. It has been danced for centuries, and has also been called the devil's dance, because it had a hypnotizing effect on people, so that they could not stop, but danced themselves to death. Hence people thought that it must have been the devil who caused it. Traditionally, there is a lot of repetition in this type of music, which contributes to this hypnotic effect. / Date parution : 2023-07-31/ Répertoire / Concert Band/Harmonie

Par MENA MARIA. Here’s an easy arrangement of this popular Christmas song composed by Maria Mena and Martin Sjølie. I have tried to spread the melody to several groups throughout the arrangement. The melody has to be played rhythmically, but also with flow and legato style. Please strive for best possible intonation and balance where the melody is played by several players. At bar 13, flugelhorn and 2/3 cornet plays a little counter theme. Please strive for best possible intonation and balance also on this. Be aware so that the cup mute sound fits the flugelhorn as good as possible. The quarter notes played by horns and trombones at bar 18 have both a harmonic and rhythmic function. This arrangement is made with several cue notes for some instruments. In the score, there are some parts marked with optional. It’s possible to play the arrangement without these parts. The arrangement ends quite and calm, like a peaceful Christmas day. - Reid Gilje - / Date parution : 2023-07-31/ Répertoire / Ensemble de Cuivres

Par HANNICKEL MIKE. Sometimes though, it’s hard to find performance literature that lets us continue teaching the basics while we prepare the beginning band for a concert. We need easy performance music that helps make basic techniques come alive for the students. Composed by a full-time “young band” director, Abaco Beach Vacation is designed to do just that. There are a lot of great suggestions included in the “Notes to the Director, ” which will help get them playing the way you’d like them to. Let them have fun while they learn! / Niveau : 1 / Musique légère originale / Répertoire / Concert Band

Par VILHELMSEN INGEBJORG. Diplodocus is said to be one of the largest dinosaus to ever have lived. This plant munching beast weighted approximately 20 tons, and could measure up to 30 metres from head to tail. The dinosaur lived in North America during the Jurassic period. This piece describes the carefree nature of a Diplodocus. A life with no natural enemies, and with an exceptionally small brain. To the conductor: The drum set part (Perc. 1) can be played as written, or ad lib. There is also a simplified drum set part that can replace Perc 1. if needed. Perc 2. is optional, and can be omitted. / Date parution : 2023-07-31/ Répertoire / Ensemble de Cuivres

Par BARNES JAMES. Risoluto is a music term of Italian derivation, first appearing in the mid 1700s. A great many musical terms such as this are in Italian, because many of the important composers from the Renaissance to the Baroque were from the geographic area known today as Italy and spoke some form of Italian. Consequently, performance markings in their published music, widely disseminated through the rest of Europe, were in the language that they best understood. Music marked in this manner is to be played firmly and decisively with firm resolve and little variance from the marked tempo. It can be seen that while there are several stylistic changes in this piece, the tempo varies not a bit, holding firm at Allegro vivo, quarter note at 120, from first measure to last. / Date parution : 2022-09-20/ Répertoire / Concert Band

Par VAN DER ROOST JAN. A spectacular dive via an extended chromatic scale immediately submerges us in a charged and somewhat archaic-feeling atmosphere. Trumpets, horns and trombones resound in rhythmic patterns, buttressed by restless motifs in the percussion. A second theme, in the woodwinds, begins much calmer but is quickly pushed aside by that same brass offensive. This introduction is the musical expression of the sometimes tumultuous early history of the town of Peer in Belgium. It closes with a D scale played over two octaves and repeated three times, symbolizing the church steeples that dominate the townscape. Peer has the credentials of a town, and people should know about it. There followsa rhythmic, turbulent passage: in the course of history, Peer has not been spared the ravages of war, arson, occupation, epidemic and other evils. In contrast, a slow, pastoral, lyrical part expresses the periods of peace and prosperity the town has known, as well as the serene geographic setting that still characterizes the place. Various instruments in groups are developed in solo style while the accompaniment displays vast, painterly images of sound. Now and then an exotic intonation is heard: a variety of peoples and cultures have left their mark on the town. This episode of tranquility and peacefulness comes to a sudden end when, via a surprising, almost chaotic transitional passage, we are in effect transported back to our own time. A hopeful, festive march expresses the confidence in the future that the Royal Concert Band of Peer exudes. This confidence is wholly justified: under the direction of conductor Willy Fransen, the 95 members of the concert band have experienced an extended period of good fortune, and the 75 musicians of the youth band - and the 45 little musicians of the mini-band - are involved in thriving operations. / Niveau : 6 / Pièce de concert / Répertoire / Concert Band

Arr. Wil Van Der Beek. Par TCHAIKOVSKI PIOTR ILITCH. Tchaikovsky is best known for his purely instrumental compositions. However, we must not underestimate him as a composer of operas. Many of his operas such as ¬Pique Dame and Eugene Onegin are still performed regularly throughout the world. Eugene Onegin (also called Jevgeny Onegin), composed in 1877-1878, was not called an opera by Tchaikovsky himself, but “lyric scenes”. The work is entirely dominated by lyricism. However, there are two moments that contrast sharply with this lyricism: two ball scenes, for which Tchaikovsky wrote a waltz and a polonaise. After opening with a less well-known allegro dansant, this arrangement features the aforementioned waltz, which can beconsidered a beautiful Russian equivalent of the Faust Waltz by Charles Gounod. In the opera, this waltz is actually played by a military band. The arrangement concludes with the pompous polonaise (also mentioned above) which opens the last act: the ideal music to characterize high aristocracy in the salon of a palace in St. Petersburg. / Niveau : 3 / Répertoire / Concert Band ou Harmonie

Par VAN DER ROOST JAN. In this moderately easy suite, Jan Van der Roost uses four authentic folk tunes from the Swedish-speaking part of Finland. These are from Nagu, Oravais, Lappfjärd and Karlebynejden, and have been joined together without pauses to form a continuous suite. The work begins with noble, almost meditative melodies. Gradually the tempo becomes faster, resulting in a brilliant and cheerful folk dance. The melody regularly goes from one band section to another ensuring that the timbre remains varied and there is no question of monotony. This is an attractive suite which is within the range of the majority of concert bands. / Niveau : 3 / Pièce de concert / Répertoire / Concert Band ou Harmonie

Par COURT DOUGLAS. With stately majesty your band transports the audience back to medieval days. The music fires the imagination, which is a real asset when directing young bands. Careful doubling of important parts makes sure MARCH OF THE NOBLES will be accessible to bands with sketchy instrumentation as well as complete ensembles. And, there are enough accidentals to keep the musicians’ skills moving forward, but not so many that rehearsals will bog down. Whether you use it for concert or festival, you are sure to succeed with this great new composition by Douglas Court. Magnificent young band music! / Niveau : 1 / Pièce de concert / Répertoire / Concert Band

Par DE HAAN JACOB. The Book of Urizen is a work for concert band, solo soprano, and a male narrator in which sound collages of religious expressions are used. The piece is inspired by the compelling visionary poem of the same name (which the poet illustratedhimself) by the Englishman William Blake (1757-1827), who occupies a unique position in western literature and the visual arts. He was not just a poet and a writer, but he was also a graphic artist, a painter, an illustrator, a spiritualist, areligious visionary, and a mystic philosopher. For the performance of this work, a professional sound system, including two microphones and a CD player, is needed. The three sound collages are three separate tracks on the enclosed CD and can beplayed easily at the right moment. The Book of Urizen bears resemblance to Genesis and Exodus, of which the contents form the basis of the Christian, Jewish, and Islamic faith. Blake adhered to the principle that all religions are in fact one, and that deities reside in human beings. In The Book of Urizen this is represented in “The Net of Religion, ” which is spanned over the earth by Urizen. The sound collages, compiled by Jacob de Haan in the studio, find their origin inJerusalem, the Holy City, where the afore-mentioned faiths “come together. ” In the first movement of this composition, The Vision, Urizen prepares his vision of the world, and he presents this to the “Eternals. ” His vision is rejected, and Urizen locks himself up in his own abstract world. When he does emerge again, he is confronted with rage by the gathered Eternals. Urizen flees the wrath of the Eternals, “the flames of eternal fury, ” and enwombs himself in his own world. Whenthe Eternals see Urizen in his “stony sleep, ” they wonder if this is death. The blacksmith Los is torn by grief because of the isolation of Urizen. It brings him to rouse his fires, prepare his forge, and to give Urizen’s world concrete form. In the second movement, The Creation, Urizen’s world, but also man, woman, and child are created. Los is horrified with the appearance of Urizen’s body. He mourns and pities Urizen, and from his blood a female form comes into being, with thename Enitharmon. The Eternals, fearful of the female form, decide to erect a tent to obstruct their view to eternity. Enitharmon and Los beget a son, called Orc. Los baptizes him as a child of the “fallen world. ” Orc is fed at Enitharmon’s breast, which makes a girdle of jealousy restrict Los’ chest. He takes the child to the top of the mountain and chains him down. The cries of Orc awaken Urizen, who explores his world creating instruments of scientific measurement to do so. Los encircles theface of Enitharmon from the sight of Urizen and Orc. She then populates the earth by giving birth to an enormous race. The Web, third movement of The Book of Urizen is now available: DHP 1125252 / Niveau : 5 / Pièce de concert / Répertoire / Concert Band ou Harmonie

Par CURNOW JAMES. The title, SILVER RIBBON CHANTEYS, comes from the fascinating history of Ohio and the collections of great old folk songs that came into existence because of the Ohio-Erie Canal. There are three distinctly different movements, each featuring one historic canal folk song. The diverse folksongs call for a wide range of playing styles and make a well-balanced and interesting combination. SILVER RIBBON CHANTEYS is yet another exciting adventure in music for you and your band. These hearty, old canal folk songs are real diamonds in the rough! You are sure to enjoy this delightful arrangement!LOW BRIDGE! EVERYBODY DOWN! / Niveau : 3 / Répertoire / Concert Band ou Harmonie

Par SPARKE PHILIP. Music is perhaps unique among the performing arts in its ability to express and convey the subtlest nuances of human emotion This ability is exploited in When the Spirit Soars which attempts to capture in music the feeling of extreme happiness, sometimes almost too much to bear, that we all experience at one time or another. Often this happiness can be tinged with sadness (we can cry with joy, after all) and it is this conflict of emotions which this piece describes. There are moments of doubt as the piece progresses, but it ends in undiluted joy. / Niveau : 2.5 / Pièce de concert / Répertoire / Concert Band ou Harmonie

Par CURNOW JAMES. What an excellent way to lift your beginning band up to a higher level of musicianship! This outstanding new work for the beginning band is perfect for that first festival experience or for any concert venue. With accents, staccato, and lots of dynamic and stylistic contrasts there is much to teach in this piece, and yet it remains accessible to the last exciting note. Be sure to pay close attention to this significant new beginning band composition. An important addition to the repertoire! / Niveau : 0.5 / Pièce de concert / Répertoire / Concert Band