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£49.95Malcolm Arnold Variations (Score Only)
MALCOLM ARNOLD VARIATIONS was commissioned by Philip Biggs and Richard Franklin for the 20th All England Masters International Brass Band Championship held in the Corn Exchange, Cambridge on 25 May 2008. The work is dedicated to Anthony Day, long time carer of Sir Malcolm Arnold in his final years. I first met Malcolm and Anthony in 1990 and remained in constant touch until Malcolm's passing in 2006. Anthony, of course, remains a friend and plays his own role subliminally in this piece. The work is not based on any of Malcolm Arnold's own themes, rather it is a portrait of him (and by association Anthony Day) through my eyes and as a result of my friendship with both parties over some 18 years. If there is any theme as such it is the personalities of the players, the protagonist and his carer placed together by my own efforts coloured and influenced by aspects of Arnold's style and technique without recourse to direct quotation but through allusion and parody. It is of course designed as a brass band test piece but in my eyes is first and foremost a musical challenge. The pyrotechnical elements are there but always secondary to the musical thrust of the work's structure. I have long beforehand submerged myself in Malcolm Arnold's music and ultimately delivered this tribute. Music Directors will be advised to acquaint themselves with the composer's personal music, particularly the film scores, symphonies, concertos and ballets: the solutions towards a successful interpretation of my piece are all in there - and YES, I want, and sanction, this piece to be interpreted, and therein lies the challenge for those of you 'up front'! The challenge for players is that of virtuosity, ensemble and careful attention to where they are individually in relation to their colleagues - a question of balance, taste and insight. With regard to tempi, as is my usual custom, I have indicated all metronome marks with the prefix circa. I would suggest that the fast music is played at these tempos but that the more rubato moments can be allowed some freedom in expression and fluidity of line. With regard to the type of mutes to be employed - this decision I leave to the discretion of players and conductors. Structurally the work is cast as an Introduction, 20 Variations and a Finale. Some variations are self contained, others run into each other as sequences in the same tempo. In other variations, segments are repeated and developed. I could describe the overall concept as a miniature ballet or a condensed film score - there is much drama and character and the repeated elements assist this in driving the action forward. I have deliberately avoided the more extremely dark qualities of Malcolm's own music in this, my celebration of this master-composer, as I have always viewed (and evidenced by my previous Masters scores Tristan Encounters and Chivalry) that the Cambridge contest is a 'sunshine- affair' and firmly believe that Malcolm Arnold would have had it no other way too!
Estimated dispatch 7-14 working days
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£24.95The Great Parade (Brass Band - Score and Parts) - Downie, Kenneth
This piece is intended to be a bright, sparkling concert march and features the spiritual 'I got a robe'. The quick tempo is to encourage a performance of sparkle and wit and, at the same time, to reflect the mood of celebration in the spiritual. The song was sung by slaves to encourage them to remember that, although they might be deprived of even basic items like robes in their present plight, one day, when they get to heaven, 'all God's children got a robe'.
Estimated dispatch 7-14 working days
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£12.50
The Great Parade (Brass Band - Score Only) - Downie, Kenneth
This piece is intended to be a bright, sparkling concert march and features the spiritual 'I got a robe'. The quick tempo is to encourage a performance of sparkle and wit and, at the same time, to reflect the mood of celebration in the spiritual. The song was sung by slaves to encourage them to remember that, although they might be deprived of even basic items like robes in their present plight, one day, when they get to heaven, 'all God's children got a robe'.
Estimated dispatch 7-14 working days
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£57.50The Earl of Oxford's March (Brass Band - Score and Parts) - 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.Duration: 4:45
Estimated dispatch 7-14 working days
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£68.99Jubilation! (Brass Band - Score and Parts) - Curnow, James
In 1868 William Francis Allen published a collection of spirituals, songs sung by slaves whilst they worked. This book started a flood of enthusiasm for the spiritual which continues to this day. Jubilation (a time for celebration) uses the spiritual 'My Lord, What A Morning' as the main melody for transitions and modulations throughout and to introduce three further spirituals: I'm Gonna Sing, Steal Away and Ev'ry Time I Feel the Spirit.Duration: 5:50
Estimated dispatch 7-14 working days
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£55.00EPISODES FOR BRASS (Brass Band - Score and Parts) - Churcher, Gareth
Despite the title's inference, the work's form is not episodic, but more a depiction of various episodes in the life of the composer, who penned it for his wedding to capture the excitement and majesty of the day. The piece is in three movements: Fanfare and Bells of Celebration, Solenne (dedicated to the late Shaun Thomas), and Finale, which starts with a wake-up call, followed by a fanfare for cornets and trombones.
Estimated dispatch 7-14 working days
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£25.00
EPISODES FOR BRASS (Brass Band - Score only) - Churcher, Gareth
Despite the title's inference, the work's form is not episodic, but more a depiction of various episodes in the life of the composer, who penned it for his wedding to capture the excitement and majesty of the day. The piece is in three movements: Fanfare and Bells of Celebration, Solenne (dedicated to the late Shaun Thomas), and Finale, which starts with a wake-up call, followed by a fanfare for cornets and trombones.
Estimated dispatch 7-14 working days
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£29.95Trevithick - Christopher Bond
Trevithick (2013) is a march for brass band, written on the occasion of Camborne's 30th Trevithick Day celebration which saw six Cornish brass bands parade through the streets one after the other, performing the work. Structured as any traditional march is with the bass solo forming the central section, the work is formed from both existing Cornish tunes such as Trelawny and Camborne Hill, as well as original material.
Estimated dispatch 5-10 working days
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£30.00Janacek's 'Taras Bulba' - Janacek
Comments from Tim Paton, the arranger of Janacek's 'Taras Bulba': "I will never forget the day in 1967 when I was introduced to the music of Leos Janacek, a Czech composer born in 1854, who died in 1928. Janacek was little known in Britain until the 1960's, when the conductor Charles Macherras introduced his unique music. I heard a recording of Macherras conducting the Pro Arte Orchestra in a performance of Janacek's "Sinfonietta".It was in 1969 that I first heard Janacek's Symphonic Rhapsody, "Taras Bulba".Janacek's music is exciting, powerful, emotive, impassioned and unpredictable.I have taken the first and third movements of this piece, and adapted them for Brass Band, which was at times extremely difficult, but rewarding. It sometimes took up to an hour to be satisfied that a mere several bars had been reproduced to convey the composer's intentions.The Death of AndriThe Cossaks, under the leadership of Taras Bulba, are fighting against the Poles in the 17th century. Taras's son Andri seeks to rescue his love, a Polish princess, from a city which is being besieged by the Cossaks. Having found her, he throws in his lot with the Poles, but is finally captured by his father, who executes him as a traitor before riding off again to battle.Prophesy and Death of Taras BulbaTaras himself is finally captured and condemned to be nailed to a tree and burned alive. As the flames creep around him, Taras has the satisfaction of seeing histroops escape, and as he dies, sees a vision of his country freed at last.This is incredibly descriptive music. The mood is constantly changing, creating feelings of love and anger, celebration and melancholy, despair and triumph.This Brass Band EditionThe duration of the original symphonic rhapsody, three movements, is approximately 23 minutes. I chose the first and third movements, so the Brass Band edition is approximately 14 minutes. The main reason is twofold: Being realistic about the demands this music would place on the stamina of the brass player; Keeping the piece less than 15 minutes, so that, if desired, it could be used on the contest platform.Two unique qualities of Janacek's music had to be taken into account when preparing this brass band version. His compositional technique was individual, at times not sticking to traditional expectations, in both form and orchestration. I imagined what the genius himself would have said looking at my work, and how to tackle a particular section to emulate his original intentions. This was particularly the case when dealing with high woodwind and violin parts, the use of tremolo in string parts, and the orchestral harp.Percussion: Janacek included timpani, side drum, cymbals, triangle and tubular bells. For reasons stated previously, I have also included xylophone and glockenspiel. I have also added the gong in a couple of places to enhance the dramatic effect of the music.
In Stock: Estimated dispatch 3-5 working days
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£57.50Earl Of Oxford's March - William Byrd
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 March and 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.
Estimated dispatch 5-14 working days
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