Par STRATFORD DIZZY. This composition by Dizzy Stratford symbolises the birth of the new Russia in the time of Mikhail Gorbachev with its new openness in public affairs (glasnost) accompanied by political and economic reform (perestroika). Glasnost is a work offering a modern vision of Russian music. Dizzy Stratford has chosen to combine the national hymn of the Soviet Union with two traditional melodies which, with a steady, energetic rhythm portray the wind of change and freedom in Russian society. / Niveau : 3 / Musique légère originale / Répertoire / Brass Band

Par DE HAAN JAN. The source of inspiration for the composer was the nuclear disaster in Chernobyl in Russia. The first movement Ostinato expresses desperation, helplessness, fear and anger. The themes from the first movement are further exposed in the second movement Fantasia which has a spectacular finale. In 1989 this composition was the test-piece for the finals in the fourth section of the National Brassband Championships of Great Britain. / Niveau : 4 / Répertoire / Brass Band

from Messiah. Par HAENDEL GEORG FRIEDRICH. En 1741, Haendel compose, en vingt-trois jours seulement, son plus célèbre oratorio, le Messie. Après avoir retravaillé et perfectionné l’orchestration de son oeuvre durant plusieurs mois, le Messie est donné en création mondiale sous les acclamations du public. L’ Alléluia est l’un des plus célèbres passages de l’oratorio. La superbe transcription de Philip Sparke traduit à la perfection l’éclat et la splendeur de cette oeuvre. / Niveau : 3 / Transcription / Répertoire / Brass Band

Sleigh Ride. Par CURNOW JAMES. Troika is a Russian word that means a group of three but it also means a light Russian sleigh pulled by three horses. Christmas Troika portrays the joy of Christmas via a musical sleigh-ride. Listen as the glistening snow crinkles beneath the weight of the sleigh and the hooves of the prancing horses as it travels through the countryside. One can almost see the frost on the trees and hear the wind blow and the sleigh-bells ring as the tune O Come, All Ye Faithful winds its way through the music. / Niveau : 3 / Pièce de concert / Répertoire / Brass Band

Par SPARKE PHILIP. Le 30 avril 1803, le Traité de cession de la Louisiane entre la France et les États-Unis était signé. L’acquisition de ces terres permet aux États-Unis de doubler la superficie de leur territoire de l’époque. Meriwether Lewis et William Clark sont alors mandatés par le président Thomas Jefferson, pour cartographier les sources du Missouri et tracer une voie vers le Pacifique. Parti de Louisville dans le Kentucky, en mai 1804, le corps expéditionnaire (‘Corps of Discovery’) traverse d’interminables territoires hostiles, réussit à atteindre le Pacifique et rentre au terme d’un périple de deux ans ! Cette composition ne fait pas le récit du voyage, mais permet au compositeur decommémorer les deux cents ans de cette fabuleuse expédition. / Niveau : 3 / Pièce de concert / Répertoire / Brass Band

Par DE HAAN JACOB. Fresena is the original name for Friesland, a northern province of the Netherlands, with its own language and culture. In this simple mars, Jacob the Haan used two traditional Friesian folksongs. Together with his composition Fox from the North this mars was a part of the festival suite that Jacob de Haan once wrote by order of the council of Friesland. / Niveau : 0.5 / Répertoire / Brass Band

Par DE HAAN JACOB. Pacific Dreams describes the experience of Miguel, a traveling composer from Spain who, feeling somewhat alienated from his homeland, is wandering through an area of Sydney known as The Rocks. At a small outdoor market in a typical street of this oldcolonial neighbourhood, he discovers a print of William DeShazos painting 'Pacific Dreams' Portrayed in the painting is the surf of one of the exotic islands in the Pacific. Next, with the impressive Sydney Harbour Bridge looming over the narrowstreets of The Rocks, he envisions sultry Pacific beaches. Suddenly a theme he once composed about the lakes in Japan comes to him. Is it the Asian influences present in cosmopolitan Sydney that bring this theme to mind? Or perhaps the waters aroundSydney, over which he could sail to Tahiti? He is uncertain. Could this same theme be used to create a new composition about his feelings for the metropolis Sydney? How then to work his Pacific Dreams into the mix? Miguel is certainly no fan ofHawaiian music. Mayby he could use the vocabularies of islands like Hawaii and Tahiti, their beautiful vowel combinations being sung ad libitum by a mixed choir. With these ideas and his newly purchased print of 'Pacific Dreams', he boards the Metroat Circular Quay. He has a final glimpse of the harbour and the Sydney Opera House as the train races into the ground. On to the hotel! To work! He must compose!Maestoso : Miguel is impressed as he gazes upon the Sydney Harbour Bridge. And yet, hewants to go away from this city. Away, to an exotic island in the Pacific. Steady Rock : In the Rocks, musicians are playing at a square. Miguel basks in the atmosphere but at the same time he is fantasizing about Hawaii and Tahiti. Andante Lamentoso :In his hotel room, Miguel is feeling sad and lonely in this big city. He takes comfort in his 'Pacific Dreams'. Allegro : Miguel boards the boat that takes him from Darling Harbour to Circular Quay. In his mind he is traveling on to Hawaii. Or is ithome, where the bolero is playing? He is pulled back to reality by the skyline of Sydney. / Niveau : 3 / Musique légère originale / Répertoire / Brass Band

Par CURNOW JAMES. In 1868 William Francis Allen published a collection of spirituals, songs sung by slaves whilst they worked. This book started a flood of enthusiasm for the spiritual which continues to this day. Jubilation (a time for celebration) uses the spiritual 'My Lord, What A Morning' as the main melody for transitions and modulations throughout and to introduce three further spirituals: I'm Gonna Sing, Steal Away and Ev'ry Time I Feel the Spirit. / Niveau : 3 / Hymnes et chorals / Répertoire / Brass Band