Par VAN DER ROOST JAN. This hymn was commissioned by “Antwerpen 93”. And this city, on the banks of the river Schelde has been nominated “Cultural Capital of Europe” for 1993. The work-group “animatie” took the initiative and commissioned a hymn, which -as the finale to a grand open-air event on 27th March- was premièred by hundreds of musicians from all over Europe. Philippe Langlet (France) was the conductor at this majestic occasion. Musically speaking the piece can no doubt be labeled easy. Indeed it is meant to represent a hymn, playable by all in different instrumental combinations. Consequently a variable instrumentation was chosen and a type of music, which by native is easily accessible anduncomplicated. The conductor is free -in the instrumentation- to score this piece according to his own taste. It is perhaps advisable to use the sharp brass in the forte parts, in order to make the range in the sound of the orchestra as colouful as possible. The percussion parts are not absolutely essential, so that the hymn can also be performed without percussion. / Niveau : 1 / Répertoire / Brass Band

Arr. Philip Sparke. Par BYRD WILLIAM. The Battell was written during the late 14th Century when England was in a mood of national celebration after victory over the Spanish and French Armadas. The movement which Byrd called Marche Before The Battell became known as The Earl of Oxford?s Marchand it appears with that title in an early manuscript copy of the Fitzwilliam Virginal Book. Written while Byrd was at the height of his powers, it still stirs the soul to this day. A perfect opener for your concert performances. / Niveau : 4 / Transcription / Répertoire / Brass Band

Arr. Klaas Van Der Woude. Par RUTTER JOHN. For a long time John Rutter has been the composer of contemporary music for choirs. His Gloria is world-known and also his Nativity Carol is sung all around the world at Christmas time. A simple melody of great beauty accompanied by perfect chords get you in the true Christmas spirit. / Niveau : 3 / Musique pour célébration / Répertoire / Brass Band

Arr. Henk Hogestein. Par RACHMANINOV / ERIC CARMEN. Nombreux sont ceux qui connaissent cette superbe ballade interprétée par Céline Dion. Mais peu de gens savent que la mélodie originale provient du deuxième mouvement du Concerto pour piano n° 2 du compositeur et pianiste russe Sergueï Rachmaninov, une oeuvre magistrale dont le succès lui a assuré une renommée internationale. C’est avec finesse et élégance que Henk Hogestein a arrangé ce thème classique que tout le monde peut fredonner. / Niveau : 2 / Pop and rock / Recueil / Brass Band

Par GLORIEUX FRANCOIS. François Glorieux was born in Belgium in 1932, and acclaimed throughout Europe, the USA, Latin America, Canada, Japan, China, the Middle East and Africa. He is one of the most widely accomplished and versatile musicians traveling the international circuit today: pianist composer conductor, commentator, entertainer, honorary professor of chamber music at the Royal Music Conservatory of Ghent and guest professor at Yale University (USA). His particular art was the rare one of improvisation presented in five languages. Glorieux practices all musical styles and has been highly considered by great artists such as André Cluytens, Arthur Rubinstein, Yves Nat, Hiroyuki Iwaki, Enrique Jorda, Raphael Frühbeck de Burgos, but also Michael Jackson, Stan Kenton, Stéphane Grappelli, Paul McCartney, Toots Thielemans, Jacky Collins, Annie Girardot, Dionne Warwick, A.C. Jobim, and so on. / Date parution : 2022-11-29/ Répertoire / Ensemble de Cuivres

Par LARSSON LARS-ERIK. Norge i rødt, hvitt og blått ('Norway in Red, White and Blue') was commissioned by the Oslo Fagott Choir (yes, that is indeed a gay men?s choir) for a concert with The Staff Band of the Armed Forces in 2015. I was given artistic licence to write a more modern and somewhat ?eclectic? arrangement for this originally Swedish melody written by Lars-Erik Larsson, which became something of a national liberation anthem when Nazi occupation ended in May 1945 ? then with new lyrics by Finn Bø, Bias Bernhoft and Arild Feldborg. After the premiere in Oslo, and a music video with Oslo Fagott Choir and The Staff Band, broadcasted by Norwegian Broadcasting Corporation (NRK) on Constitution Day during coronavirus lockdown in 2020, I was approached by many to write an instrumental version of the arrangement for concert band. This version is now available through Norsk Noteservice. Reid Gilje has made this instrumentation for Brass Band. / Date parution : 2023-07-31/ Répertoire / Ensemble de Cuivres

Par SPARKE PHILIP. Dances and Alleluias was commissioned by the British Federation of Brass Bands for the inaugural English National Brass Band Championships, held in the Lyric Theatre at The Lowry, Salford Quays, on July 1st 2006. In this fantastic work the composer mixes wonderful slow music, vocal in nature and ecstatic in mood, along with faster dances to create a challenging piece, which will bring out the best in any band. / Niveau : 6 / Pièce de concert / 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