March of the Three Kings. Par HOSAY JAMES L.. A brilliant opener or a rousing finale! Either way, this is the piece that will make memories and stir your audience’s comments at your winter concert. A bravura exploration of the well-known 13th century melody March of the Three Kings (also arranged by Bizet as Farandole in L’Arlésienne ), the Fantasia On A 13th Century Carol will catch and hold everyone’s attention from first note to last. As you may know, James L. Hosay is a master of concert band composition, and many facets of his remarkable talent are clearly evident in this powerful new composition. Magnificent! / Niveau : 4 / Pièce de concert / Répertoire / Concert Band ou Harmonie

In 1922 Maurice Ravel heard the young Hungarian violin virtuoso and niece of Joseph Joachim, Jelly D'Aranyi, in concert in London. Following the performance, Ravel spent the remainder of the evening requesting D'Aranyi to play numerous gypsy tunes on her violin, probing her on the technical limits of the instrument. The result of this encounter is Ravel's virtuoso classic 'Tzigane?. Written originally for violin and piano or luthéal (a mechanism invented in 1919 that attaches to a piano, producing a sound similar to the rich overtones of the Cimbalon), the premiere took place in London in April 1924. The composer had finished the work only days beforehand. Ravel later orchestrated 'Tzigane? and both versions remain a 'must? for music-lovers and aspiring violinists today. Jelly D'Aranyi performed both versions regularly throughout her long career. This Urtext edition presents the first scholarly-critical edition of Ravel's masterpiece. It is published both in the orchestral version, complete with full score and performance material, as well as in the composer's earlier version for violin and piano. All known sources, including letters, have been drawn on for the new edition - one of the available sources, consulted for the first time, was a copy of 'Tzigane? from the estate of Jelly D'Aranyi, which is today part of a private collection. The version for piano and violin contains, besides the Urtext part, a second violin part as a facsimile with performance instructions by Jelly D'Aranyi. D'Aranyi's alterations and fingering reflect how Ravel must have heard the work in rehearsals and performance and as such are a document of early 20th century performance practice. The cooperation between Ravel and D'Aranyi is comparable to that of Brahms and Joachim working on the Brahms violin concerto.- First scholarly-critical Urtext edition of the work - Presented are both versions: for violin and orchestra and for violin and piano- Includes Jelly D'Aranyi's fingering / Harmonie

Par HESKETH KENNETH. The term Danceries can be found in a copy of Playford's Dancing Master which is an extensive collection of folk and popular tunes of the 17th Century (and no doubt earlier). The melodies themselves are a mixture of new and old (although where the old occurs, it has been adapted in mood and composition and is often interspersed with completely new material). The harmonies and rhythms bring a breath of the new into these themes and add to the drama of the set./ Répertoire / Orchestre D'Harmonie

Par BRIDGE FRANK. Frank Bridge was one of the finest English composers of the first half of the 20th century. The Pageant of London is his only work for wind band, comprising of two marches, one scored from Bridge’s best known organ piece and including the chimes ofBig Ben, plus three short renaissance pastiche items, one arranged from Playford (later used by Peter Warlock in Capriol Suite). The music is tuneful, approachable and, in the words of wind band ‘legend’ Timothy Reynish makes a fine alternative toHolst’s two suites, which were composed around the same time. Reynish has introduced this work to concert bands right across the world. It has been performed in USA and the Far East, recorded by the celebrated Kosei Wind Orchestra of Japan and alsoby the BBC National Orchestra of Wales in the Chandos edition of Bridge Orchestral Music./ Répertoire / Orchestre D'Harmonie

A collection of 19th century Shaker melodies. Par SPARKE PHILIP. Le contenu de cette composition offre une belle palette démotions aux teintes énergiques, dynamiques et intenses, sans omettre toutefois des intonations poétiques empreintes de douceur et délicatesse. Une introduction majestueuse céde la place à uneligne mélodique sintensifiant peu à peu en rassemblant lensemble des pupitres puis soriente vers un diminuendo. Lors du passage central, bois et cuivres sinterpellent joyeusement autour dun théme festif. La conclusion est pétulante ! / Niveau : 3 / Pièce de concert / Répertoire / 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

Par SPARKE PHILIP. To A New Dawn was commissioned by the United States Continental Army Band - Captain Timothy J. Holtan, Commander and Conductor. The brief was for a piece to celebrate the 3rd Millennium and it was the composer’s aim to provide a work which, as well as looking forward to the challenges of the new century, also contained moments of reflection about the last one. After a bright introduction featuring the trumpets a perky theme, passing quickly through several keys, appears on the woodwinds. A solo trumpet takes up a new theme over bubbling quavers (eighth notes) and this leads to a rhythmic figure on low clarinets, followed by the upper woodwinds. A brass interlude follows and, after ashort bridge passage, an oboe takes up a contrasting legato tune that builds to a climax. An andante section follows with solos for horn and flugel horn (or trumpet) and a florid flute cadenza. A passionate climax leads back to the faster music and, eventually, to a full recapitulation, revisiting the earlier material before a lively coda close the work as it began. / Niveau : 4 / Pièce de concert / Répertoire / Concert Band ou Harmonie

Prayer to the Power of Love. Par BORTNIANSKY DMITRY STEPANOVYCH. The Ukrainian Dmitri Bortniansky (1751-1825) received lessons at the local singing school in his hometown of Hlukhiv, and soon his extraordinary talent was recognised. He was somewhat of a child prodigy, writing his first opera at a young age. Following his studies Bortniansky was appointed court composer and Kapellmeister of the Imperial Chapel Choir. In the period that followed, he wrote - in addition to a number of operas, instrumental works, and a cycle of songs - more than a hundred religious works for a cappella choir, in which he combined Russian-orthodox and Ukrainian traditions with late 18th century European music. The appealing melody of Ich bete an die Macht derLiebe (Prayer to the Power of Love) became well-known, especially in Germany, in combination with German text by Gerhard Tersteegen. This arrangement by Michael Bilkes reflects the atmosphere of the original work very well. / Niveau : 2 / Hymnes et chorals / Répertoire / Concert Band ou Harmonie

Par VAN DER ROOST JAN. ‘Toccata Festiva’ was commissioned in 1994 by the Dutch Brass Band Championships. The wind band version was made a year later by the composer himself. Historically speaking, the toccata is considered to be one of the first independent instrumental forms for keyboard instruments. Originally the toccata was typically more or less improvised, later this musical form was given a more regulated structure. Both elements are used in the ‘Toccata Festiva’: on the one hand the different themes are developed freely, on the other, the piece has an orderly structure. It is in a three part form (quick-slow-quick) and includes both strong rhythmical figures and broad melodic lines. Partof the composition is written in a more or less archaic tone idiom, referring to the period from which the toccata form originates (16th century). / Niveau : 4 / Pièce de concert / Répertoire / Concert Band ou Harmonie

16th Century Traditional English Carol. / Niveau : 1 / Noël / Répertoire / Concert Band ou Harmonie

Par SPARKE PHILIP. Dating from the first decades of the 20th century and originating in vaudeville and the music hall, the soft-shoe shuffle was danced by tap dancers, wearing soft-shoes instead of their normal tap shoes. In this usually comic dance, the shoes were rubbed on the surface of the stage producing a characteristic ‘swish’. Soft-shoe Shuffle can be made into a percussion feature by bringing the sandpaper blocks to the front of the stage - with added choreography, if required! A wonderful piece of musical humour for your concerts. / Niveau : 1 / Musique légère originale / Répertoire / Concert Band ou Harmonie