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

O Take My Hand, Dear Father. Par SILCHER FRIEDRICH. This celebrated song is based on a poem by Julie Hausmann (1826-1901), a Latvian teacher who was probably blind. The text draws on her personal experience and unshakeable faith in God, death and eternal life. The melody by Friedrich Silcher is written in a simple and delicate style but also draws on the grand romantic tradition of Wagner and Bruckner. This arrangement can also be performed with a mixed choir. The choir parts are in German. / Niveau : 2 / Musique pour célébration / Répertoire / Brass Band

Rhapsody in Blue de George Gershwin, a été écrit pour piano solo et orchestre de jazz en 1924 et combine des éléments de musique classique avec effets influencés par le jazz. La composition a reçu sa première dans un concert intitulé An Experiment in Modern Music, qui s'est tenue le 12 février 1924, à Eoliennes Hall, New York, par Paul Whiteman et sa bande avec Gershwin jouer du piano. Cette version pour brass band, arrangé par Steve Skykes, propose une belle addidition le répertoire de concert de la fanfare qu'elle met en évidence les principaux thèmes de le oeuvre originale. / Brass Band

Par HIROSE HAYATO. Hayato Hirose spent his childhood and college days in the United States and it was his impressions and experiences from these years that acted as the inspiration for this exciting ‘American style’ overture. American Overture will make an ideal opening piece to any concert. / Niveau : 4 / Pièce de concert / Répertoire / Brass Band

Par VAN DER ROOST JAN. This stately concert opener was originally written by Jan Van der Roost for a special event in which six respected wind orchestras (two Belgian and four Dutch) of different composition (two symphonic bands, two fanfare bands and two brass bands) were featured during six concerts. Each evening brought forth a performance by a symphonic band, a fanfare, and brass band, so that the audience could experience all three types of ensembles. This was indeed an original concept. The name, ConZEnSus, comes from a combination of the words, ‘Concert Cyclus’ (concert series) and ‘zes’ (Dutch for ‘six’). This leads to a new word, which refers to ‘consensus’. The general tenor of the cycle isthus immediately indicated. The richness of color of the various ensembles is revealed through an open and friendly atmosphere. During all six concerts (over a span of three years), ConZEnSus functioned as a permanent opening number for each orchestra. Thus the same musical story was portrayed in three different packages. / Niveau : 4 / Ouverture / Répertoire / Brass Band

Par BLANKEN JOHN. Why should rock musicians have all the fun? Now your band can experience the thrill of playing a piece in a classic 12-bar blues style. Many players are given the chance to show off their skills as a soloist before the work builds to a grand fortissimo finale with the whole band playin’ the blues! / Niveau : 3 / Musique légère originale / Répertoire / Brass Band

Par HOSAY JAMES L.. At the end of the Sixties and the beginning of the Seventies, slowly but surely, a new exciting music style arose in pop music. Pop groups enlarged the musical spectrum by combining jazz harmonies with rock ’n’ roll rhythms. These experiments are now known as ‘fusion’. Fusion Factory combines elements of early fusion with modern fusion sounds. Listen to the excellent result! / Niveau : 4 / Musique légère originale / Répertoire / Brass Band