PARTITIONS GRATUITES :
- The News' Fore! project

Concert band (Flute 1, Flute 2/Piccolo, Oboe, Bb Clarinet 1, Bb Clarinet 2, Bb Clarinet 3, Bb Bass Clarinet, Bassoon, Alto Saxophone 1/2, Tenor Saxophone, Baritone Saxophone, Bb Trumpet 1, Bb Trumpet 2, Bb Trumpet 3, Horn in F 1/2, Horn in F 3/4, Trombone 1/2, Trombone) - grade 3

SKU: CN.S11293

Composed by Peter Meechan. Score only. Duration 4:15. Published by G & M Brand Music Publishers (CN.S11293).

Inspired by the release of Nelson Mandela in the early 1990s, Hymn for Africa pays tribute to the sense of dignity and peace that he brought not only to South Africa, but around the entire globe. As the beautifully lush chorale unfolds, quietly undulating drums murmur in the distance and gradually build into a rousing climax.

Hymn for Africa was written as part of a project known as Brass Band Aid. When I was asked to compose a piece with relevance to Africa for the project, I began to think of all the things that I associate with Africa. I have vivid memories from my childhood of the hard-hitting news reports from the famines of the early/mid 1980's (and the concerts that followed). I also associate Africa with amazing animal life - the many species from snakes to birds to lions, with their many colours. But more than these associations, there is one memory that stands out amongst all others. The release of Nelson Mandela in the early 1990's had a profound effect not only in South Africa, but all over the continent of Africa, as well as the World as a whole. The fact that one man can achieve this with peace and great dignity will always be an inspiration, not only to me, but many, many millions of humans around the globe. Hymn for Africa is inspired by this sense of dignity and peace. A simple eight bar melody is the basis of the composition. A drone is then added, before a chorale, and finally a rousing climax when the percussion and full band enter. The piece dedicated to Bob and Briony Thompson in admiration.

Chamber Music Marimba, alto Saxophone

SKU: PR.114423770

Composed by Stacy Garrop. Set of Score and Parts. 16+12+16 pages. Duration 11 minutes. Theodore Presser Company #114-42377. Published by Theodore Presser Company (PR.114423770).

UPC: 680160688579.

When RoseWind Duo’s Clifford Leaman and Scott Herring commissioned me for Silver Linings, we could not have anticipated that we would be in the middle of the COVID-19 pandemic when I composed the piece. In the early summer of 2020, when the three of us met virtually to discuss possible topics, we had all been in lockdown for several months; the causes and effects of the lockdown were at the forefront of our discussion. In themidst of daily tragedies, I had been seeing news stories using the words “silver lining” to describe unexpectedly positive situations arising from our global situation, ranging from small effects (i.e. people having time to work on projects they never could get around to doing) to global ramifications (resurging animal populations in areas where they’re no longer challenged for space with humanity).Silver Linings consists of two movements. Groundhog Day, the first movement, is slow and brooding. It embodies the strong feeling of déjà vu that so many of us experienced early on into lockdown, as we seemed to live the same day repeatedly with minor variances to our schedules. There are two main musical gestures: the first opens the piece as a slow, ascending minor chord which is a representation of uncertainty, and the secondis a falling minor scale. These gestures depict how our lives were reduced to the basic building blocks of life – wake up, eat, work, eat, sleep – as our daily activities and livelihoods were suddenly knocked down. These same two gestures are utilized in the energetic second movement, Making Lemonade, except that they are spun around to reveal their silver linings: the minor chord falls to sound centered and decisive, and the minor scale rises as it bubbles with activity. Among the seeds of despair are also foundseeds of hope, and the saxophone and marimba explore this hopefulness with great vigor and excitement.