Par BULLA STEPHEN. Dans cette composition magnifique, les fragments mélodiques du cantique Beecher sont transformés en une série de variations, démontrant la mélodie en plusieurs ambiances ; expressif, puis calme et doux, et enfin vif et triomphant à la fin. Composé comme morceau imposé de la 4e division pour les Dutch Brass Band Championships en 2015, des parties de solos stimulants pour cornet soprano, bugle et euphonium y figurent. Une superbe oeuvre pour chaque concert ! / Niveau : 3 / Pièce de concert / Répertoire / Brass Band

Par VAN DER ROOST JAN. ‘Toccata Festiva’ was commissioned in 1994 by the Dutch Brass Band Championships. The wind band version was made a year later by the composer himself. Historically speaking, the toccata is considered to be one of the first independent instrumental forms for keyboard instruments. Originally the toccata was typically more or less improvised, later this musical form was given a more regulated structure. Both elements are used in the ‘Toccata Festiva’: on the one hand the different themes are developed freely, on the other, the piece has an orderly structure. It is in a three part form (quick-slow-quick) and includes both strong rhythmical figures and broad melodic lines. Partof the composition is written in a more or less archaic tone idiom, referring to the period from which the toccata form originates (16th century). / Niveau : 4 / Répertoire / Brass Band

Par SPARKE PHILIP. Music for Battle Creek wurde von der Brass Band von Battle Creek im US-Staat Michigan in Auftrag gegeben. Es wurde als Pflichtstuück fuür das Finale der British National Brass Band Championships ausgewählt und dort am 20. Oktober 2007 in der Royal Albert Hall in London uraufgefuührt. Music for Battle Creek sollte ein „amerikanisches Stuück” werden, ein Stuück voll Spannung, Wagemut, Virtuosität und technischer Herausforderungen. Ein exzellentes Wettbewerb- oder Konzertstuück! / Niveau : 6 / Pièce de concert / Répertoire / Brass Band

Par SWERTS PIET. Chain was composed between June and August 2000 as the test piece for the 2002 European Brass Band Championship. The composer’s idea was to compose a one-movement piece - a work that starts mysteriously and develops in various directions. As his basic material, he chose a figure that is the abbreviation of the European Brass Band Championship: EBBC. This figure is developed in a chain of figures which gradually lead to the climax of the piece. / Niveau : 6 / Pièce de concert / Date parution : 1905-06-24/ 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

Concerto for Brass Band. Par SPARKE PHILIP. Perihelion was commissioned by the Cory Band as their own-choice piece for the 2013 European Brass Band Championships, held in Oslo, Norway. Winning the set piece section of the contest and coming second to Eikanger-Bjorsvik Musikklag with their own choice selection, Cory went on to become European Champions for the fifth time. Cory MD Philip Harper had asked for a ‘Concerto for Band’ to fully exploit his outstanding band of virtuosi, and composer Philip Sparke created a one-movement work with contiguous sections, first featuring horns and flugel, then trombones followed by cornets and a slower central section for percussion and baritones, euphonium andbasses. The piece is abstract in nature, without a specific programme, and the title merely reflects the fact that the piece was begun on January 2nd 2013, the day of Earth’s perihelion - the point in its orbit when it is closest to the sun. It could also be argued that the piece weaves between moments of brilliant optimism and dark shadow, both of which can be the result of bright sunshine. / Niveau : 6 / Pièce de concert / Répertoire / Brass Band

Par VAN DER ROOST JAN. Since most of the bands competing in the 4th Section of the Dutch National Championships have many young players, this piece is stylistically youthful especially in the opening and closing sections. An arpeggio pattern appears numerous times in all registers and is the basic musical element of the main melody, alternating with a second theme that has a slightly different melodic character. The middle section is conceived like a chorale, introduced and developed stepwise: firstly with short patterns and gradually in increasingly long snippets, until it’s played in its glorious entirety at measure 216. No real solo passages are included but rather small chambercombinations, thus offering the opportunity to various players to display their technical and performance skills. The finale recaptures musical material from the first section of the piece and provides a majestic conclusion. / Niveau : 4 / Pièce de concert / Répertoire / Brass Band