Par SPARKE PHILIP. La plupart des pays ayant institué la tradition des musiques militaires ont développé un style de marche caractéristique. Ainsi, il est relativement aisé de distinguer une marche américaine d’une marche militaire française ou une marche allemande d’une marche espagnole. À l’intérieur du cadre structurel rigide d’une marche, on réussit à percevoir même les plus subtiles différences de rythme, d’harmonie et de tempo qui caractérisent les traditions de chaque pays. Il existe un, ou plus exactement deux styles de marche typiquement anglais : celui des marches militaires représenté par des compositeurs tels que Kenneth J. Alford, et celui des marches cérémonielles ou de concert quiatteindra l’excellence avec les marches orchestrales d’Elgar et Walton, entre autres. Royal Salute (“Salut royal”) est une marche de difficulté moyenne qui perpétue cette grande tradition. On y retrouve des éléments typiques : des mélodies et contremélodies amples, et un trio nobilmente. / Niveau : 3 / Marche de concert / Répertoire / Brass Band

Par SPARKE PHILIP. Salute to the Victor est en forme traditionnelle de marche et, en hommage à Victor Grieve, un passionné de la musique anglaise (en particulier celle de Sir Edward Elgar), contient une courte citation de Sea Pictures de ce dernier dans le trio. Salute to the Victor fut commandé par Helen, Alex et James Grieve pour les Golden Kangaroos (Hornsby Concert Band) de Sydney, Australie, en mémoire de leurs parents, Louise et Victor Grieve, fondateur et directeur. / Niveau : 4 / Marche / Répertoire / Brass Band

Fanfare For Billy. Par SPARKE PHILIP. It is a tradition at Marlow High School, Oklahoma, that the band members’ parents host a Band Banquet every May, at which the senior members of the band present a gift to the band director as a token of gratitude for his year’s work. In 2009, clarinet player Brenna Hensley had the idea to commission a new piece from composer Philip Sparke to present to band director Billy Daniel, which would be played at the Spring Concert later that month. Salute to a Hero was the result. The piece opens with a decorated fanfare played on cornets and trombones and, after a short bridge passage, this reappears, played by the full band. A central lyrical section brings a mood of calm, utilisingdifferent brass colours, before the fanfare returns to close the work. / Niveau : 3 / Ouverture / Répertoire / Brass Band

Par ESENVALDS ERIKS. O Salutaris Hostia is one of Eriks E?envalds? most popular pieces. Originally written for female voices, the composer later created a version for full choir on which this arrangement is based. It has a gentle meditation with the two soloists drifting across the soft band accompaniment, alternately echoing and imitating each other or joining together in thirds. The effect is quietly ecstatic, a brief moment of adoration and wonderment. This arrangement can be played with either two cornets or two euphoniums as soloists as the accompaniment works just as effectively with either. Brings contemporary choral repertoire by a leading international composer to the band world. Arrangement of Eriks E?envalds' highly successful choral piece 'O Salutaris Hostia'. Arranged by brass band specialist Phillip Littlemore. Part of EP Brass Band SeriesMeditative, beautiful piece, highly attractive for audiences, and proven success as a choral work. Suitable for intermediate band at 2nd Section and above. / Date parution : 2022-05-17/ Répertoire / Brass Band

Par SPARKE PHILIP. Centennial Salute débute avec une majestueuse fanfare énoncée aux cuivres graves, puis reprise en tutti. Une ligne mélodique vient contraster par son expressivité, avant d’être rejointe par le thème d’ouverture pour cheminer conjointement vers un vivo passionné (une marche), suivi d’un trio. Le thème de la marche revient ; la trame s’amplifi e et la musique atteint son apogée, alors qu’éclate le contenu solennel des mesures initiales offrant une apothéose triomphale. / Niveau : 3 / Pièce de concert / Répertoire / Brass Band

Elegy For Band. Par SPARKE PHILIP. The initial idea was for a millennium piece, which it is, but rather than add to the many celebratory pieces that have understandably been written to salute the 3rd millennium, Philip Sparke thought it would perhaps be appropriate to think about the aspects of life that are constantly with us (such as faith and philosophy) rather than the exciting changes that the year 2000 has undeniably wrought. This calm meditative work will bring a moment of serenity and reflection to any concert. / Niveau : 4 / Musique pour célébration / Répertoire / Brass Band

Par SPARKE PHILIP. A Bandsman’s Overture was commissioned by British Bandsman magazine to celebrate its 125th anniversary in 2012. It was premiered by Black Dyke Band, conducted by Dr Nicholas Childs, at a special anniversary concert held in Symphony Hall, Birmingham, on July 1st. British Bandsman was for a period known as British Bandsman and Contest Field, following an amalgamation of two magazines. The then owner, John Henry Iles, celebrated this new title by commissioning Ord Hume to write the famous march, BB & CF. As a salute to this heritage A Bandsman’s Overture starts with the four notes, B(b)-B(b)-C-F, a motive which permeates an opening fanfare, which contrasts a busy opening with a more legato central section. This gives way to a bustling Vivo, based on repeated staccato notes. A change of key heralds a central cantabile melody, first on euphoniums and baritone and then played by the full band, which is followed by a short development section. This leads to a transformed reprise and a return of the opening fanfare, decorated this time by florid muted cornets. / Niveau : 4 / Ouverture / Répertoire / Brass Band