Anton Bruckner (1824-1896). Par BRUCKNER ANTON / DOSS THOMAS (Arr.). Anton Bruckner (b. 4.9.1824, Ansfelden, d. 11.10.1896, Vienna) didn?t have it easy. Throughout his life, the Austrian composer was plagued by self-doubt. Anton Bruckner came from a simple, rural background. After the death of his father, he was accepted as a choirboy at the monastery of Sankt Florian in 1837. After several years as a school assistant and his own organ and piano studies, he first worked as organist in St. Florian, then from 1855 as cathedral organist in Linz. Introduced to music theory and instrumentation by Simon Sechter and Otto Kitzler, he discovered Richard Wagner as an artistic role model, whom he admired throughout his life and also visited several times in Bayreuth. In 1868 Anton Bruckner became professor of basso continuo, counterpoint and organ at the Vienna Conservatory; ten years later court organist; and in 1891 finally honorary doctor of the University of Vienna. He was considered an important organ virtuoso of his era, but had to wait a long time for recognition as a composer. It was not until Symphony No.7 in E major, composed between 1881 and 1883, with the famous Adagio written under the effects of Wagner's death, that he achieved the recognition he had hoped for, even if he was reluctant to accept it given his inclination towards scepticism and self-criticism. Anton Bruckner was a loner who did not want to follow a particular school or doctrine. He composed numerous sacred vocal works, such as his three masses, the Missa Solemnis in B flat minor (1854), the Te Deum (1881-84) and numerous motets. As a symphonic composer, he wrote a total of nine symphonies and many symphonic studies from 1863 onwards, tending to revise completed versions several times over. Bruckner's orchestral works were long considered unplayable, but in fact were merely exceptionally bold for the tonal language of their time, uniting traditions from Beethoven through Wagner to folk music, on the threshold between late Romanticism and Modernism. Anton Bruckner composed about 40 motets during his lifetime, the earliest a setting of Pange lingua around 1835, and the last, Vexilla regis, in 1892. Thomas Doss has compiled some of these motets in this volume for symphonic wind orchestra. These motets show many characteristics of personal expression, especially Bruckner's colourful harmony in the earlier works, which is in places aligned with Franz Schubert (changes between major and minor; and movements in thirds). Later works are characterised by many components which, in addition to the expanded stature of the movements, include above all a sense of the instrumentation as an outward phenomenon and the harmony as a compositional feature that works more internally. Some aspects of Bruckner's work are the result of his long period of study, which familiarised him not only with the tradition of his craft, but also gave him insights into the 'modernity' of his time in such composers as Wagner, Liszt and Berlioz. From this developed his personal standpoint, which always pursues the connection between the old and the new. / Date parution : 2023-08-12/ Répertoire / Concert Band/Harmonie

Par HIMES WILLIAM. Who but William Himes could have composed this one? Filled with humor, pathos, excitement and surprise, LIFE DANCES is a brilliant and rhythmic overture for the adventurous band. The dauntless contemporary sounds of the opening are contrasted by an almost Medeival character. You’ll traverse many intriguing and unpredictable paths before dazzling rhythmic interplay drives the band to the astonishing ending. Like life, when you first open this “box of chocolates” you truly won’t know what wonderful treats are in store. As a director, if you’ve ever gotten a bit weary of the “same old same old, ” you’ve come to the right place for a change. This one is sure to reinvigorate youand your band as you discover together all the surprises life has to offer. A celebration! / Niveau : 4 / Répertoire / Concert Band ou Harmonie

Par WATKIN ANDREW. Music occupies an important role in the cultural life of Russia. Russian Dance is based on a famous traditional song and reflects the characteristic elements of this expansive country. This composition develops over a steady tempo using varied and colourful effects to bring pleasure to musicians and audience alike. / Niveau : 1.5 / Musique légère originale / Répertoire / Concert Band ou Harmonie

Par WATKIN ANDREW. Music occupies an important role in the cultural life of Russia. Russian Dance is based on a famous traditional song and reflects the characteristic elements of this expansive country. This composition develops over a steady tempo using varied and colourful effects to bring pleasure to musicians and audience alike. / Niveau : 1.5 / Musique légère originale / Répertoire / Concert Band

Overture. Par BOIELDIEU FRANCOIS-ADRIEN. François-Adrien Boieldieu (1775-1834) est considéré comme l’un des plus brillants représentants de l’opéra-comique français. Ses oeuvres privilégient les mélodies sans ornements superflus. L’instrumentation est légère mais soignée ; les dialogues sont spirituels. En 1800, Boieldieu remporta un véritable triomphe avec Le Calife de Bagdad. L’Ouverture est un classique du genre. / Niveau : 4 / Classique / Répertoire / Concert Band ou Harmonie

The Japanese Spirit of Toshizou Hijikata. Par YAGISAWA SATOSHI. Cette oeuvre est une commande de l’orchestre à vent de Horikoshi High School, qui se trouve dans le district de Nakano, à Tokyo. Le directeur et chef d’orchestre, Takashi Yoshizawa, entretient une amitié étroite avec Satoshi Yagisawa depuis la naissance de cette formation, et cette pièce est la troisième que l’école a commandée au compositeur. Celui-ci fut prié d’écrire une oeuvre fondée sur un thème japonais, chose rare parmi ses nombreuses pièces - plus de 120 - pour orchestre à vent. Yoshizawa souhaitait ainsi faire entendre au monde une musique évoquant l’esprit et l’histoire du Japon. Le thème est 'Bushido' (littéralement 'la voie du guerrier'). Fondamentalementjaponais, ce code de vie des samouraïs, qui exige loyauté et honneur, s’est transmis de génération en génération tout en évoluant avec le temps. L’un des plus grands guerriers ayant incarné cet esprit durant une époque mouvementée fut Toshizou Hijikata (1835-1869). Doté d’une grande volonté, il était un fervent adepte du Bushido lors du dernier âge d’or des samouraïs. Il appliqua toujours ce code de chevalerie sans faire cas de sa vie. Cette pièce reflète donc Bushido et la vie exaltée de Toshizou. Cette oeuvre fait appel à des instruments japonais tels que tambours et flûtes en bambou. Cependant, le compositeur a désigné des instruments pouvant remplacer ceux-ci afin que la pièce puisse être interprétée par des formations non japonaises. / Niveau : 4 / Pièce de concert / Répertoire / Concert Band ou Harmonie

Arr. Frank Bernaerts. Le décès récent de l’icône du pop David Bowie a provoqué une vague de tristesse et d’incrédulité dans le monde entier. La musique et personnalité de Bowie ont influencé l’industrie musicale internationale pendant plusieurs décennies. Ses expériences suscitant à la réflexion et sa recherche continuelle à l’innovation l’ont rendu respecté partout au monde. Cette chanson, Life on Mars, est l’un des tubes qui ont rendu Bowie immortel. / Niveau : 3 / Musique pour célébration / Répertoire / Concert Band ou Harmonie

Par HANNICKEL MIKE. Take your band to the great North American plains, to a post-Columbian Sioux village. A tone poem describing the life of a young Sioux, Horse and Buffalo is based upon actual Native American melodies. A lullaby, an honor song, and a courting song are the basis of this dynamic arrangement. Your young players will be especially intrigued by the energetic, meter-shifting honor song! Great possibilities for cross-curriculum work with Social Studies teachers. One of the most memorable pieces you’ll perform this year! / Niveau : 1.5 / Musique légère originale / Répertoire / Concert Band

Par VAN DER ROOST JAN. This major concert work cosists o five movements. 1st movement: La Laguna del ShimbeSituated high up in the Andes mountains in Northern Peru are the Huaringas, a group of lagoons in isolated and mysterious surroundings. The water has healing powersand for centuries traditional healers have settled there in small villages. From far the sick come to the Huaringas to be treated in nightly rituals, in which the hallucinating juice of the San Pedro cactus gives the prophet a look inside hispatient. The biggest lagoon is the “Laguna del Shimbe”, one of the countless wells of the immense Amazon stream. 2nd movement: Los AguarunasFurther downstream in Northern Peru we come across the rain tribe of Los Aguarunas. It’s a proud, beautiful andindependent race, which has never succumbed to domination, not even from the Incas. They live from everything the forest has to offer: fish, fruit, plants, . . . . They also grow some crops and live as semi-nomads. They take their fate into their ownhands and after having made contact with modern civilisation, they have integrated new elements into their lives without betraying their own ways. 3rd movement: MekaronMekaron is an Indian word meaning “picture”, “soul”, “essence”. The Indians are theorigina inhabitants of the Amazon region. They either live in one place as a group or move around a large region. They all have their own political system, their own language and an intense social life. At the same time they are master of music andmedicine. “Everywhere the white man goes, he leaves a wilderness behind him”, wrote the North American Indian leader Seatl in 1885. As a result of these contacts with the whites, the disruption of most Indian societies began. (In this century alone, 80 tribes have vanished completely). 4th movement: KêêtuajêThis is the name of the initiating ceremony of the Krahô tribe in the Brazilian state of Goias, in which young boys and girls enter adult life. They are cleansed with water, painted with redpaint and covered with feathers, after which the ritual dance holds the entire tribe spell-bound. 5th movement: Paulino FaiakanIn 1988 the Indian chiefs Faiakan and Raoni Kaiapo came to Europe to protest against the building of the Altamira dam inBrazil. As a result of the dam the Indians would be driven from their traditional land and enormous artificial would be created. The project was supported financially by, amongst others, the European Community. In February 1989 the Indian tribesaround Altamira held a protest march for the first time in their history together. Amongst other things they paid tribute tot Chico Mendez, who, murdered in 1988, was the leader of the rubber syndicate and a fierce opponent of the destruction of theBrazilian rain forest. Brazilian and world opinion was awakened. The building of the dam was -albeit temporarily - stopped. / Niveau : 6 / Pièce de concert / Répertoire / Concert Band ou Harmonie