Par SCHJELDERUP FREDRICK. Momentum Sequences was commissioned by Skjold Skoles Musikkorps (Norway) for their 60th Anniversary in 2021 (later adapted for brass band to Smørås Skolemusikk). The title of the term Momentum can be explained by an event that creates extra energy, or the driving force of a moving object. In this case, both the driving force, The energy and the object can be translated to the music, the conductor and the band. The piece is divided in three movements; «I.Signals», «II.Light» and «III.Finale» which builds up the Momentum of the piece’ character and theme. / Date parution : 2023-07-31/ Répertoire / Ensemble de Cuivres

Par VAUGHAN WILLIAMS RALPH. In his Prelude ? The Truth from Above, outstanding arranger and curator Paul Hindmarsh has distilled the essence of a timeless Christmas classic by Ralph Vaughan Williams into five minutes of ravishingly unforgettable music for brass band. The variants of the Herefordshire tune popular from the Fantasia on Christmas Carols and The Oxford Book of Carols are skilfully and stylishly woven together, from an evocative opening to an ecstatic, multi-layered coda. Unerringly true to the timeless spirit of the original, with the added beauty of the brass-band sound at its most sonorously grave and haunting, Prelude ? The Truth from Above may be performed separately, or as the first of two preludes, preceding Paul?s arrangement of Rhosymedre from the Three Preludes Founded on Welsh Hymn Tunes, also available from Stainer and Bell. / Date parution : 2021-11-03/ Répertoire / Brass Band

Indian Sketches. Par DE HAAN JACOB. Les Indiens Dakota (Sioux) des États américains du Dakota du Nord et du Dakota du Sud sont au centre de cette fresque musicale, dans laquelle Jacob de Haan dépeint certains aspects de leur culture et de leur histoire. Dans plusieurs mouvements de cette oeuvre, le compositeur a intégré une mélodie indienne ancienne provenant du Dakota du Sud. 1. Le Grand Esprit : la culture des Indiens Dakota était liée à la terre et au monde des esprits. Dans leurs croyances, le Grand Esprit avait créé la terre en jetant une balle noire dans l’eau, puis il prit une deuxième balle et créa les êtres vivants. 2. La chasse au bison : courir à bride abattue vers un bisonvigoureux nécessitait beaucoup d’adresse et de courage. Pourtant, les hommes attendaient impatiemment l’occasion de pouvoir faire leurs preuves à la chasse. 3. Fumer le calumet : le calumet était le symbole de la paix. On l’utilisait pour sceller une entente entre les hommes et les nations. Fumer le calumet était un gage de bonne volonté. Et lorsqu’un homme-médecine fumait le calumet, il communiait avec le Grand Esprit. 4. The Ghost Dance (“La Danse des Esprits”) Pour faire renaître l’espoir, les Indiens exécutaient une danse religieuse accompagnée d’incantations et des chants rituels. En 1890 à Wounded Knee, l’armée fédérale a ouvert le feu sur tous ceux qui célébraient la Ghost Dance. 5. Les pèlerins de Wounded Knee : la tragédie de Wounded Knee est un moment douloureux dans l’histoire des nations indiennes. Ils sont encore nombreux à faire un pèlerinage sur cette colline sacrée, balayée par le vent, où tant d’innocents ont été massacrés. / Niveau : 2.5 / Pièce de concert / Date parution : 1905-06-24/ Répertoire / Brass Band

Par BULLA STEPHEN. Stephen Bullas highly descriptive work was written to commemorate the 50th anniversary of the Battle of Iwo Jima, which took place between the 19th February and 26th March 1945. Casualties on both the American and Japanese sides were horrendously high before the famous image of the raising of the flag on top of Mount Suribachi signalled the end of one of the most significant and terrifying Pacific conflicts of the SecondWorld War. The work received its first performance by the brass choir of the U. S. Marine Band at the National Cathedral in Washington D. C. and is divided into four programmatic sections. The first portrays the sense of anticipation before conflict (Prologue), before the arduous journey to the scene of the battle (Approach by Sea) is followed by introspection and prayer featuring the hymn tune Melita (Chorale Prayer), andfinally, the hostile confrontation itself (Engagement). There are frequent references to the Marines Hymn and the US National Anthem, particularly in the closing bars, depicting the ultimate raising of the American flag. / Niveau : 4 / Pièce de concert / Répertoire / Brass Band

Par SPARKE PHILIP. This is an ancient Welsh air that was first published in Relics of the Welsh Bards in 1794. Dafydd (David) Owain was a famous Welsh bard who lived on a farm called Gareg Wen (The White Rock) in Eifionydd, Carnarnvonshire, North Wales. Tradition has it that on his deathbed he called for his harp and composed this lovely melody, requesting that it be played at his funeral. Accordingly, it was later played at the parish church of Ynys-Cynhaiarn. Lyrics were later added by Ceiriog Hughes, which describe the melody's inspiration. This version for brass band retains all the beauty and simplicity of the original. / Niveau : 3 / Pièce de concert / Répertoire / Brass Band

Par DOBSON SIMON. Torsion was commissioned by the Leyland Band and first performed on 23 January 2010 at the Royal Northern College of Music Festival of Brass, Manchester, by Leyland Band conducted by Jason Katsikaris. This colourful and dynamic work is the most personal and ambitious that Simon Dobson composed during his residency with the Lancashire brass band. The dictionary defines torsion as the state of being twisted and the composer interprets this as the imagined dis-torsions and con-torsions of Time, Light and Sound in three contrasting movements. Simon Dobson fuses the traditional brass band sound with drive and energy of pop and funk jazz with optional digitally distorted'echoes' providing added aural confusion at the points of climax. Although composed as a substantial concert work, Torsion would also make a challenging test-piece for contesting brass bands in the elite divisions./ Répertoire / Brass Band

Par DE HAAN JAN. Variations on a Chord was composed on the occasion of the second lustrum of the Dutch Brass Band Championships celebrated in 1990. The piece is the immediate sequel to Contrasten a piece which was composed in 1986, and which is performed all over the world. Not only was the final chord of this previous work used as a starting point for the new composition, but Variations on a Chord is also the first concert piece for brass band composed by Jan de Haan since then. The several variations are based on a solemn theme. The so-called minor-major seventh chord is easily detectable. The structure of the piece is such that the lyrical theme is preceded by a majestic introduction, and isfollowed by eight variations each strongly contrasting in character. The piece finishes in a short but extremely spectacular coda. / Niveau : 5 / Pièce de concert / Répertoire / Brass Band

Partly based on the hymn tune Laudate Dominum. Par DE HAAN JACOB. This work is based on a well-known myth about the city of Zwolle in the Netherlands. In the waters surrounding Zwolle lived a dragon that regularly emerged. Time and time again he threatened to destroy the city with his fiery breath if he was not given a living sacrifice. The archangel, Michael, who manifested himself as a young knight, saved the city. In a fight he beheaded the monster with his sword. Later, Saint Michael fighting the dragon, which was a symbol of evil and injustice, acquired a permanent place on the city coat of arms. For this composition, the hymn tune Laudate Dominum has been chosen as a central musical theme for the archangel. The dragon isreflected in a series of chords that evoke a somewhat ominous association. / Niveau : 3 / Pièce de concert / Répertoire / Brass Band