Par NOURSE NANCY. The four preludes included in this collection are each based upon a tune associated with a particular time of the church calendar. The Lenten prelude, Meditation upon 'Forty Days and Forty Nights', likewise employs a theme with interpolations approach. The hymn tune, Heinlein, is most closely associated with the English text, 'Forty days and forty nights, Thou wast fasting in the wild'. However in the midst of this piece occur short musical representations of the three temptations. In the case of the Variations on an Old French Carol, its association is with both Easter in its text of 'Love is Come Again' and in its Christmas text of 'Noel Nouvelet' (or as sung in English, 'Sing We Now of Christmas'). The advent prelude, Meditation upon a Sarum Plainsong, uses the 7th century plainsong chant Conditor Alme Siderum as its basis, with frequent trope-like interpolations occurring between the phrases. Even more simply conceived, the rendering of the Victorian Christmas hymn, Once in Royal David's City. The first verse is played sweetly and simply, while harmonic material is added for verses two and three./ Répertoire / Flûte Traversière

Meditation on 'O come, O come, Immanuel'. The Advent hymn we all know today as O Come, O Come, Immanuel was arranged in its modern form by Thomas Helmore and published in Hymnal Noted in 1856. Both the words and melody, however, predate this version by centuries. The words are based on a 9th century antiphon and the tune, Veni Immanuel, is taken from a 15th century processional of French Franciscan nuns, part of the setting for the funeral hymn Libera Me. This arrangement aims to expand on the power and mystery of the original tune and will be most effective if the solo cornet at the start and end of the piece can be placed away from the band, maybe at the back of the auditorium. / Niveau : 2.5 / Musique religieuse / Recueil / Brass Band

Meditation on 'O come, O come, Immanuel'. The Advent hymn we all know today as O Come, O Come, Immanuel was arranged in its modern form by Thomas Helmore and published in Hymnal Noted in 1856. Both the words and melody, however, predate this version by centuries. The tune, Veni Immanuel, is taken from a 15th century processional of French Franciscan nuns, part of the setting for the funeral hymn Libera Me. This arrangement aims to expand on the power and mystery of the original tune and will be most effective if the solo trumpet at the start and end of the piece can be placed away from the band, maybe at the back of the auditorium. / Niveau : 2.5 / Musique religieuse / Recueil / Concert Band ou Harmonie