Par VAN DER ROOST JAN. This piece was commissioned by the ‘Concert Band Vlamertinge’ and is a plea for peace: the title translates as ‘Peace on Earth’. This is expressed by means of the vocal contribution expected from the performers. In various places of the piece you can recognize, the words ‘Et In Terra Pax’ - an appeal for peace - at first jumbled together but later more rhythmically structured, developing into synchronized massed voices. The work starts with a pentatonic theme based on the notes D, E, G, A and C (taken from ‘ConCErtbAnD VlAmErtinGE’ and the name of the conductor, NiCk VAnDEnDriessChe). A somewhat sad melody is developed during an orchestral climax which leads to the firstexplosion of sound (measure 62 onwards). Suddenly the opening measures are recaptured, albeit with a differently colored sound: the words ‘Et In Terra Pax’ bring the first movement to a close. A restless Allegro follows which abruptly stops and is replaced by a calming cho-rale-like passage. A narrator reads aloud the poem ‘Sonnet’ by the young poet Charles Hamilton Sorley, who was killed during World War I. This poem fittingly puts into words the cruelty and senselessness of war. After the expanded recapitulation of the allegro, the broad, almost infinite atmosphere of the beginning returns. Clarinet and English horn play the pentatonic opening theme once more, this time broadly, while the words ‘Et In Terra. . . Pax’ are repeated again and again by the rest of the orchestra. The composer has purposely avoided all forms of aggression and bombastic sounds regularly used in works about war. Fear of violence and destruction can be heard and felt during the allegro passages. The charged opening makes way in the end for hope: May peacefulness replace cruelty in everyday life, too. / Niveau : 4 / Répertoire / Concert Band ou Harmonie

Par VAN BELCUM HENK. As the title suggests, this work is a partita: it consists of a number of variations on a chorale melody. The partita has been popular for centuries, especially when it comes to organ music. Henk van Belcum, who is active in the choir world, chose for his Partita Piccola the German hymn Wunderbarer König as a starting point. Partita Piccola consists of four variations and a choral setting. After a majestic opening fanfare, the second variation follows, based on a canon by Pachelbel. Händel’s Sarabande is the basis of the third variation. Next comes the chorale setting, after which the work ends festively with a dance that has been written in the form of a courante. PartitaPiccola is an asset for church services and for concert platforms. / Niveau : 2.5 / Pièce de concert / Répertoire / Concert Band ou Harmonie

Arr. Wil Van Der Beek. Par TCHAIKOVSKI PIOTR ILITCH. Tchaikovsky is best known for his purely instrumental compositions. However, we must not underestimate him as a composer of operas. Many of his operas such as ¬Pique Dame and Eugene Onegin are still performed regularly throughout the world. Eugene Onegin (also called Jevgeny Onegin), composed in 1877-1878, was not called an opera by Tchaikovsky himself, but “lyric scenes”. The work is entirely dominated by lyricism. However, there are two moments that contrast sharply with this lyricism: two ball scenes, for which Tchaikovsky wrote a waltz and a polonaise. After opening with a less well-known allegro dansant, this arrangement features the aforementioned waltz, which can beconsidered a beautiful Russian equivalent of the Faust Waltz by Charles Gounod. In the opera, this waltz is actually played by a military band. The arrangement concludes with the pompous polonaise (also mentioned above) which opens the last act: the ideal music to characterize high aristocracy in the salon of a palace in St. Petersburg. / Niveau : 3 / Répertoire / Concert Band

Par VAN DER ROOST JAN. Singapura Suite was commissioned by Singapore's Ministry of Education Extracurricular Activities Branch to serve as a compulsory piece for the 1999 Singapore Youth Festival. 'Singapura' is the original name of Singapore in Malay, the native language there. Because Singapore is one of the most important harbors in the world, this two-piece work opens with a seaman's dance. An authentic melody, Chan Mali Chan, is woven into the middle of this first part, whose ABA form becomes clear through the recapitulation of the seaman's dance in a somewhat altered form. Singapore is also a dynamic city-state alive with excitement, thus the second part begins with a fitting dance, a fastbourrée. As contrast there is a second authentic melody, Dayung Sampan, a more easygoing sailing song. This short but curious suite ends in high spirits with a recapitulation of the beginning. / Niveau : 2.5 / Pièce de concert / Répertoire / Concert Band ou Harmonie

Symphonic March. Par HOSAY JAMES L.. Audiences will be thrilled by the majesty and grandeur of the opening bars, and moved by the symphonic march that has become standard repertoire amongst many military bands around the world. Now your band can program this bold, patriotic tribute to those who gave the unlimited sacrifice / Niveau : 3 / Marche de concert / Répertoire / Concert Band

Conceived as a concert opener or encore piece, this holiday musical collage combines three beloved carols including, 'Adeste Fideles,' more commonly known as 'O, Come All Ye Faithful,' 'Angels We Have Heard on High,' and 'Joy to the World!' This fresh contemporary holiday medley is a joyous way to ring in the season! (2:30) / Orchestre D'Harmonie

Arr. Hirokazu Fukushima. Par JACKSON MICHAEL. Five years after the release of the monster album Thriller, which sold a record-breaking 105 million copies worldwide up to this date, this second single from the album Bad, released in 1987, also peaked at number one on the Billboard chart. This song was performed during Michael’s first solo world tour that started from Japan (Korakuen Stadium) in September 1987. The short film directed by Martin Scorsese also generated great publicity. In particular, the animated group dance scene in the subway made a huge impact on the viewers and distinguished Michael’s image. As the video depicts, “bad” in this song’s lyrics indicate the kicking, cool unruly living on thestreets. As the opening number, Bad strikes out a course of slight-but-right edginess with its dynamically groovy arrangement that underscores the electric funk in the original tune. Don’t miss the last punch line: Who’s bad? / Niveau : 3 / Pop and rock / Recueil / Concert Band ou Harmonie

Par BROSSE DIRK. This work was written at the pivotal point of both two centuries and two millennia. With its hopeful melodies and triumphant parts in the brass section, the opening pictures the dawning of a new era of great expectations, characterized by the high speed of communicating all over the world, which is one of the most important aspects of life in the 21st century. This is achieved by musical themes being rapidly transferred from one musician to another. In this vortex of information and fast business transactions, the sense of individuality threatens to become extinct. At this point, Brosse silences the orchestra (a symbol of society) and draws attention to those peoplewho are less fortunate than most of us. This focus on other people culminates with an orchestral climax in which all powers come together with a feeling of euphoria. / Niveau : 5 / Pièce de concert / Répertoire / Concert Band ou Harmonie

Arr. Philip Sparke. Par CHARLES ADAM ADOLPHE. Adolphe Adam (1803-56) is perhaps best known for his classical ballet, Giselle, but it is his Cantique de Noël (popularly known in the English-speaking world as ‘O Holy Night’, the opening line of its translated lyrics) that has made him a household name during the Christmas season. / Niveau : 2 / Musique pour célébration / Répertoire / Concert Band ou Harmonie